by Scott Crowe, Villa Plus Contributor
Welcome to our quintessential guide to hiking in Madeira. This enchanting Atlantic Ocean island offers a landscape so diverse and dramatic that it feels purpose-built for a walking holiday. There are towering volcanic peaks, deep green valleys and mist-shrouded forests that give its topography of trails something different to offer every time.
Let’s take you through all the things to consider when hiking Madeira, from the best trail times to tick off in the calendar to essential tips for your hike. To tee up your hiking holiday in style, we’ll shortlist our best hiking routes to tackle in this Portuguese paradise, complete with a recommended Villa Plus villa to relax and rejuvenate at.
Madeira’s unique geography
Madeira’s formation through volcanic activity millions of years ago has created a mountainous island that’s truly discovered in all its glory on two feet. At the highest peak, Pico Ruivo stands at an impressive 1,862 metres above sea level and dominates the Madeira sky, whetting the appetite for a hiking holiday.
Hiking Madeira doesn’t only unlock the delights of the island’s natural geography; it also offers a journey of discovery around the engineering genius of the human mind. The island’s network of levadas is a 16th-century infrastructure marvel, distributing the abundance of water from the relatively lush north of the island to the drier south. There are over 2,000 kilometres of these unique irrigation channels today, creating hundreds of scenic levada walks for Madeira hikers to tackle. Following one of these is one of the best ways to discover the island’s mountainous interior.
The best time to go hiking in Madeira
Madeira is southwest of the Portuguese mainland and located around 500 kilometres off the coast of Africa. This gives it a subtropical climate that’s generally great for hiking all year round. Given the diverse topography, conditions may differ at altitude, but when you consider that average temperatures range between 18°C in the winter to 28°C in the summer, Madeira is a very accommodating place for a hiking holiday throughout the calendar. This allows visitors to plan their hikes around other factors, such as the price of flights to Madeira and the availability of premium accommodation like our Villa Plus Signature range.
Generally speaking, the best time to go hiking in Madeira is in the ‘shoulder season’ periods of spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). These times of year have a great balance between warm, welcoming temperatures and slightly quieter trails, allowing you to appreciate the flora of the island in even greater measures. The levada trails are a particular delight in spring, with blossoming bursts of blue and purple from the nearby wildflowers.
The best hikes in Madeira
With hundreds of rewarding Madeira hikes to consider, we’ve whittled down the abundance of options into a shortlist of trails to tackle, taking you through their distance, difficulty, highlights and an all-important Villa Plus villa to stay at to complete your Madeira hiking holiday.
1. Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo
Distance: 12km round trip
Difficulty: Hard
Highlights: Mountain ridges, tunnels, sunrise views
This hike is up there with the best in Europe, let alone Madeira. The trail route connects the island’s two highest peaks, Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo. Along the way, you’ll stroll along narrow ridges that rise above the surrounding clouds.
Although it’s a well-maintained popular path, the 12-kilometre route does come with its challenges. There are several steep ascents and descents, as well as tunnels carved into the rocks along the way. These obstacles make the hike even more rewarding and simply unmissable on any Madeira walking holiday, with a section widely known as the ‘Stairway to Heaven’.
Many hikers get up bright and early to see the sunrise at Pico do Areeiro, before starting the journey to Pico Ruivo. When you reach here, your reward is a panoramic view stretching across Madeira and into the Atlantic Ocean, a picture that lives long in the memory.
Stay at: Villa Atlantic Sunset, Funchal – 18km from Pico do Areeiro
2. Levada do Caldeirão Verde trail
Distance: 9km round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Caldeirão Verde waterfall, Laurissilva Forest (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
This route is what hiking Madeira island is all about. Hidden within the misty heart of the Laurrisilva Forest, this trail takes you through the heart of its invaluable environmental heritage, so much so that it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its ecological importance. Starting at Quiemadas National Park, lush woodland complements the levada as you follow it along steep mountainsides, crossing narrow paths carved into the rock and passing several hand-bored tunnels, a key reminder of Madeira’s incredible engineering heritage.
You’ll be rewarded for your efforts by the sight of the Caldeirão Verde waterfall, or Green Cauldron in English. Here, slender water plunges more than 100 metres down a vertical rockface, a true sight to behold.
Stay at: Villa Sea Shore, Santa Cruz – 25km away
3. Levada das 25 Fontes
Distance: 8km round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Rabaçal Valley, waterfalls
Undoubtedly one of Madeira’s most popular levada walks, this trail again touches on the UNESCO-listed Laurissilva Forest through the Rabaçal Valley. You’ll hear the sound of trickling water and birdsong as you meander through one of Madeira’s most picturesque areas.
As you progress along the levada, you’ll be impressed by the views over the Ribeira da Janela valley, before reaching the Lagoa das 25 Fontes, named as such due to its 25 water springs. These cascade down a moss-covered cliff surrounded by vegetation. Whilst you’re here, it’s also worth checking out the nearby Risco waterfall, standing 100 metres tall. This Madeira hike is a great way to cover the island’s natural beauty over a relatively short distance.
Stay at: Villa Grayci’s House, Calheta – 18km away
4. Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
Distance: 6km round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Highlights: Stunning Atlantic Ocean views, coastal cliffs
A truly perfect panoramic picture awaits all those who head for the Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula on the eastern tip of Madeira. This semi-arid stretch of volcanic cliffs and rugged coastline traverses into the Atlantic Ocean, where the greens of forest give way to red rocks, shaped by a sea breeze on both sides.
That’s what defines this special stroll, the fact that you can look left and right and feel like you’re out at sea. On a clear day, you’ll be able to spot Madeira’s sister islands. Porto Santo stands 80 kilometres to the north, whilst Deserta Grande is just 23 kilometres to the south. Remember your camera and cherish the memories of this stunning setting.
Stay at: Villa Sea Shore, Santa Cruz – 16km away
5. Caminho Real do Paul do Mar
Distance: 2km round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Highlights: Historic stone path, panoramic ocean views
This historic coastal path connects the clifftop village of Prazeres with its quaint seaside neighbour, Paul do Mar in the west of Madeira. A part of the ‘Caminhos Reais’ or Royal Road, the stone-built trail winds steeply down cliffs, offering breathtaking views over the Atlantic.
It’s a living reminder of the routes once used by farmers and fishermen to move between the highlands and the coast. Overall, the stroll is a great way to capture the beauty of one of the island’s quieter parts at a pace that suits you – a short but sweet Madeira hike.
Stay at: Villa Theo’s House, Prazeres – 5km away
Hiking in Madeira: trip essentials
- Check the weather forecast
Whilst temperatures in Madeira are generally great for hiking, conditions on certain routes can change rapidly, especially at higher altitudes. Double-check the weather forecast before you head out and prepare for every eventuality.
- Bring the right gear
Maximise your experience by investing in the right gear for your hike. Sturdy walking boots, a waterproof jacket and a torch if you’re encountering tunnels are all handy additions for a Madeira hiking holiday.
- Carry water and snacks
One that’s especially applicable to longer hikes, many of which are in remote areas of the island where you’ll need nourishment to keep your energy levels up. For shorter hikes in more populated areas, plan a stop or two at a local eatery.
- Generally, the earlier, the better
You’re rewarded to get up and out early on a hike in Madeira. Generally, trails are quieter in the morning, and it leaves you plenty of daylight hours to complete your trip in a way that suits you.
- Stay on marked paths
As tempting as the beauty is, never venture off the trail in Madeira. Take particular care on cliffsides and near waterfalls. Be wary of trip hazards and slippery sections of each route – terrain may change suddenly and differ in quality.
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