6 outstanding hikes in Madeira (+ hidden gem Villa)

Have you heard of Madeira? It’s a small Portuguese island located about 900km west of the coast of Morocco.
It’s a volcanic island about 60km wide and 20km north to south. South, you’ll find a few pebble beaches, fisherman villages and Funchal, the biggest city on the island. The north shore is in striking contrast with the south. It has dramatic scenery of waves crashing against massive cliffs covered with lush vegetation. The perfect place to venture for a hike.

The best hikes in Madeira

We explored Madeira for 10 days, and we feel like we barely scratched the surface. There are hundreds of hikes on the island but here are our favourites in no particular order.

1. Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo

Pico de Arieiro is located in the middle of the island and easily accessible. It’s the 3rd highest peak and will likely give you an opportunity to stand above the clouds.
This hike to Pico Ruivo is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a serious 12km hike return that will take 5 to 6 hours to complete.

Be aware that weather conditions change very quickly up there. So plan for the worst. It’s also always a lot colder there than on the coast. Don’t forget to check out the webcams (see our tips to hike in Madeira section below) to make sure everything’s OK.

Even though we couldn’t fit the entire hike because of our baby’s schedule, we had a blast. The first hour will give you unbelievable views on the valley and the peaks around.

2. Achada do Teixeira

It’s a more accessible alternative to get to Pico Ruivo and stand above the clouds. The 3km trail takes about 2 to 3 hours (return) to complete. It can take longer depending on the number of photographs you capture along the way. The views are breathtaking. As for the previous hike, the air is crisp, and the weather can change quickly.

3. Caldeirao Verde

Located in the Parque Forestal Das Queimadas (Queimadas Forest Park), the trail follows the Levada of Caldeirao Verde. Levadas are irrigation channels that were used to bring large quantities of water from the north and west coast to the drier east side of the island. There are over 2,000 km of levadas on Madeira.

The 13km hike is relatively flat and should take a bit more than 5 hours return. The trail starts after the charming fairytale house and the small cafe. On the way, you’ll see waterfalls, cross a few tunnels (don’t forget your headlight), and get glimpses of the valley below.

4. Achadas da Cruz

Stuck between massive cliffs and the ocean, Fajã da Quebrada Nova seems to have escaped time. And as you look over the viewpoint’s fence, you understand why. The cliffs are a few hundred meters high. And if you’re afraid of heights, it’ll probably make your head spin.

The cable car was installed to help farmers access their crops. It operates from 10AM to 6PM (with a break for lunch between 12PM to 1PM). It will cost you 3 euros to go up and down, and kids travel for free.
It’s very steep, and if I’m honest, I was a bit worried about hopping onto it. But I’m glad Rafika managed to convince me.

We decided to walk down the cliffside despite the worrying “you will cry” warning from the old lady at the cafe (you can take the cable car down). It took us about an hour to get to the pebble beach. Some parts were a bit steep with the baby but overall very doable and we had the whole path to ourselves.

Once at the bottom, you can walk along the ocean for about 15 minutes. Then, take some time to wander amongst the cute little houses at the bottom. It was a sunny spring afternoon so there were many flowers around as well as so many lizards!

When you’re ready to go back up, just press the button, and the lift will come to you in minutes.
Definitely one of Madeira’s highlights.

5. Ponta de São Lourenço

This 4-hour hike offers incredible views on colourful cliffs overlooking the ocean. The layers on the cliffs tell the story of an island formed by an underwater volcano million years ago. The colour palette is astounding, and you’ll realise how huge the cliffs are when you see hikers so tiny they look like ants.

The hike is classified as moderate and goes up and down a few times.
It’s best to avoid this hike on very windy days as the trail follows the cliff and there is sometimes not much to hold onto.

6. The Caminho do Entrosa, in Boaventura

Boaventura is a small village on Madeira’s north shore. This is where we stayed for a few days. It was ideally located to serve as a base to explore the area. We could see this trail from our place, so we decided to give it a go.

The trail takes about 2 hours return and is set between the villages of Boaventura and Arco de São Jorge. There are many tiny steps on the way up (and/or down). You can choose to come back with a cab if you feel tired or just lazy. We managed to carry the baby both way, so you should be able to do it too.

The trail starts near Restaurant Sao Cristovao and finishes at Restaurant Arco (or vice versa if you prefer going downhill first). When you arrive at the yield sign, you’ll see a small house right behind the little white fountain. The trail begins there. There is a second access point, at the end of the restaurant’s parking but it seems to be inaccessible from time to time when the vegetation is overgrown.
After the small bridge, head straight and start climbing or go left first if you want to add a little detour to the nearby beach.

Tips to prepare your hike in Madeira

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you get ready for a hike in Madeira:

• The weather can change quickly. Be prepared for sun, rain, wind, and sudden temperature drops. Bring warm clothes.
• There are webcams in all parts of the island. So before you head out, check them here.
• Trails can get really muddy so bring sturdy shoes.
• Tunnels are everywhere in Madeira, including during hikes. Don’t forget your headlight (or torch).
• Some parts can be tricky if you’re afraid of heights. There can literally be nothing protecting you from the cliffs below.
• Some tracks like São Lourenço are treeless and don’t offer any sort of shade. Bring a hat and sunscreen.
• We traveled in April, and it was sometimes tricky to find parking at the beginning of the tracks. I can’t imagine what it would be like in summer! Start early when you can.

Where to stay in Northern Madeira

If you’re looking for a great place to stay to explore the area, you should check out MadeiraCasa. It’s a 3 bedroom house located at the top of a hill overlooking Boaventura, and has breathtaking views over the mountains and the ocean. It’s a real hidden gem and a great place to stay for nature lovers.

The house has everything you need for a perfect holiday. Fully equipped kitchen, large table to share a meal with your family or friends, a huge veranda to soak in the views from anywhere, a beautiful garden with a large terrace and even a fireplace. But let’s be honest, to us, the best features were the view, and the location. It felt very secluded and It was so peaceful that you could hear the waves crashing on the beach below. The access path to the property is a nice touch as well. From the small parking, you’ll follow a little Levada for a couple of hundred meters. Again, the views are out of this world.

More information on their website.

If MadeiraCasa is full, you can check out Casa do Miradouro. There are 3 apartments, with a swimming pool and hot tub for the rainy days.

We want to thank the owners of MadeiraCasa for hosting us. As always, all our opinions are our own and we would never promote anything we don’t fully support.