Walking in Madeira

A Madeira walking holiday is the best way to discover the extraordinary natural beauty and cultural heritage of this volcanic Portuguese island, whether you’re walking as part of a small group with a guide, moving between accommodation or based in a single place, or on a self-guided, point to point route. Manmade levadas carve through mountainous peaks and UNESCO protected laurel forest, leading you to hidden waterfalls and majestic views of the Atlantic, where whales and dolphins can often be seen dancing in the waves off the coast. Walks take you to isolated villages surrounded by terraces of cultivated vine, along rocky shorelines and up to mountain summits where cloud swirls beneath your feet.

Some of Madeira’s most dramatic scenery is to be found around the São Lourenco Peninsula, the far easterly point of the island. For much of the year this narrow spit of land is stark and barren, yet the towering sea cliffs on each side and the blue Atlantic more than compensate. The walk itself is fairly gentle, although it can get windy and you’re quite exposed up there.

Madeira walking holidays are a sublime combination of relaxation and exercise amid stunning scenery. Most trips last around a week during which you can see a great deal of the island, and begin with arrival into the picturesque capital, Funchal. Typically these are guided small group tours with a maximum of 16 participants, making walking the trails very sociable. A guide will lead each walk, explaining more about what you’re seeing, from the landscapes to the flora, and will also have the experience to pick alternative routes if rough weather threatens.

In terms of the walks themselves, Madeira’s inland is mountainous so there can be some challenging sections where a degree of physical fitness is useful. The more demanding treks such as the climb up Pico Ruivo (1,862m), the highest peak on Madeira, will see you covering around 16km over eight hours, with ascents of up to 650m involved. Most days are far less strenuous and if you tend to walk fairly regularly at home you shouldn’t have much difficulty. Tailormade self-guided options are also available, allowing you the freedom to set your own pace.

The majority of trips use a couple of bases, and involve changing accommodation at least once so that you get to see different parts of the island. Accommodations themselves range from historic houses to coastal guesthouses and locally run bed and breakfasts, and on point to point itineraries your luggage will be transferred by vehicle so you can walk with just a daypack.