Madeira Walking Holiday: Island of Flowers

7 Nights Self Guided
Available all year round
£575.00 Per Person Based Upon 2 Sharing

The Portuguese island of Madeira lies to the west of the African coast out in the Atlantic Ocean and enjoys a climate ideal for walking almost all year round.

Basic Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Funchal
Day 2 Funchal to Camacha 4h
Day 3 Camacha to Machico 4h30m
Day 4 Machico to Porto da Cruz 6h
Day 5 Transfer to Ribeiro Frio and walk to Porto da Cruz 6h
Day 6 Transfer to Teixeira and walk to Encumeada 6h30m
Day 7 Encumeada to Curral das Freiras 6h. Local bus to Funchal
Day 8 Departure

What's Included:
• Bed and breakfast in medium class hotels
• Maps and route details in English
• Luggage transfers
• All lifts and transfers described in the itinerary
• Emergency support

The lush landscape of Madeira makes it a perfect destination for an independent walking holiday the whole year round. The rugged coastline and mountainous interior combine with a gentle climate to create a memorable walking experience. A system of levadas bring water from the mountains to the centres of population, but they also create a system of walking routes which take you contouring around the island or gently into the interior. Wilder walks which are easy to navigate also run along the spine of the island providing dramatic views across a truly "Andean" landscape to the deep blue ocean to the north and south.

Grade: Moderate

Getting there: Fly to Funchal Airport. From there you will be transferred to your hotel nearby.

Day 1 Arrive Funchal

Day 2 Monte to Camacha.
Your walking holiday in Madeira begins in the village of Monte, set back in the hills with fantastic views over Funchal and the ocean beyond. Monte is reached by a dramatic cable car ride over Funchal or by local transfer. The walk soon joins the Levada dos Tornos, the most important of Madeira's levadas. You follow it as it contours through the countryside through groves of mimosa and pine. The levada passes through a couple of short tunnels, where torches are useful, before ending in Camacha, renowned for its basket weaving. ~ 4h

Day 3 Camacha to Santo da Serra.
Today's walk continues along the Levada dos Tornos as the countryside becomes progressively wilder and more dramatic. Birdsong and cascading water are the ever present sounds as you cross the valley of the Ribeiro do Porto Novo. You pass isolated farms and hamlets and wild flowers abound. As you round corners, new vistas open up, often to the Atlantic Ocean, seen in the distance beyond the cultivated terraces below you. You then leave the levada through the woods to reach Santo da Serra, from where a bus takes you to your hotel in Machico. ~ 4h 30m

Day 4 Peninsula Sao Lourenco and Ribeira Seca to Porto da Cruz.
Today your walk takes you to the eastern tip of the island at Sao Lourenco. This is where the rocky cliffs of the island meet the Atlantic currents and the scenery is spectacular. You are then transferred to Ribeira Seca from where you can follow a coastal path leading to Porto da Cruz. This splendid path really helps you to appreciate the wildness of the coast and the location of Porto da Cruz. It is, however, a little exposed in places and you should have a head for heights. ~ 4h 30m

Day 5 Ribeiro Frio to Porto da Cruz.
You are transferred to Ribeiro Frio to begin the walk back to Porto da Cruz. You follow at first the faster flowing Levada Furado through woodland and past waterfalls to emerge into a completely different landscape of sunny pastures with views of towering mountain ridges and isolated villages along the island's north coast. The second half of your route, from Portela, was used in the 19th century to transport wine in goatskins. The trail zigzags steeply down with excellent views until eventually reaching the coast. ~ 6h

Day 6 Teixeira to Encumeada.
Without doubt today's walk is the highlight of walking on Madeira. You are taken up high to Teixeira to start the walk along the mountain ridge that foms the backbone of the island. You follow a good path that climbs to the summit of Pico Ruivo, which at 1862 metres, is the highest point on Madeira. The route then continues westwards with dramatic views to both north and south. You gradually descend to Encumeada for your overnight stay. ~ 6h 30m

Day 7 Encumeada to Curral das Freiras.
A superb final day's walking begins by leading you up into the small valley of Curral Jangao before traversing below the peaks of Pico Grande to reach the col at Boca do Cerro. Views are stunning once more, into hidden valleys and the sea beyond. Alovely descent through chestnut groves brings you to the valley at the village of Curral das Freiras. A detour from Boca do Cerro to the summit of Pico Grande brings fantastic views and adds 1h 30m to the walk. At the end of the walk a scenic bus journey takes you back to your final hotel in Funchal. ~ 5h or 6h 30m

Day 8 Departure.

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