Overview
Set in the cobalt blue waters of the Atlantic and warmed by the Gulf Stream, the island of Madeira is a world of its own, blanketed in lush green laurel forests and topped by sharp volcanic peaks that sheer out of the sea. Between mountains and shore live a unique and colorful people whose cultural roots stem from ships sent by Portugal’s Prince Henry the Navigator in the early 1400s. Our veteran (and much beloved) Trip Leader Skye McDonald has been exploring this fabled island for years. We’re thrilled to invite you to join her on our special hiking journey to explore the island’s many personalities and terrain. Walking “levada” trails along ancient irrigation canals through green valleys and UNESCO-protected laurisilva forests rich in mosses and lichens, we discover the island’s interior landscapes, and from high vistas, peer into deep gorges, over distant red-roofed villages, and all the way to the sparkling Atlantic. Along the way, we’ll visit a producer of Madeira’s famous fortified wines, sip afternoon tea at the elegant Reid’s Palace Hotel, taste the catch-of-the-day fish, explore coastal villages, and go dolphin and whale watching by private boat. Madeira Island is a rare wonder and our journey is the perfect way to celebrate its beauty!
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-3
Funchal, Madeira / Hike the Levada do Furado / Fado Music
Hike the Levado do Furado into indigenous laurel forests alive with birdsong, then stop by the town of Santana, with its triangular houses. After we watch an antique steam-driven machine crush sugar cane, we’ll try the local rum and listen to Portugal’s evocative Fado music at dinner. Hike at Ponta do Sao Lourenco, then roam the Farmers’ Market, and sample Madeira’s wines at Blandy’s winery.
Days 4-5
South Coast / Camara do Lobos / Spectacular Ridge Hike
Riding Funchal’s unique wicker “toboggans” is sure to bring a smile, and we get vast panoramas from a glass skywalk atop the sea cliffs of Cabo Girou before our hike through fern-carpeted forests at Ribiera da Janela. Day 5 is for Madeira’s most breathtaking hike: the high ridge trail from Encumeada to Achada do Teixeira, traversing the island’s highest point, Pico Ruivo at 6,100 feet.
Days 6-8
Tea at Reid’s Palace / Hike to Curral das Freiras / Dolphin and Whale Watching
The classic afternoon tea service on the terrace at Reid’s Palace is a Madeira must-do, and after our descent on a cobbled path through chestnut trees to the village of Curral das Freiras, we head out by private boat for dolphin and whale watching. Depart on Day 8.
Hiking the Isle of Madeira
