Located off the coast of Morocco, approximately 900 km from continental Portugal, the island of Madeira is nothing less than heaven on earth for walkers! Originally covered by an immense primary forest, the Portuguese spent centuries carving intricate terraces into the steep hillsides, creating no less than a 2000 km network of scenic canals (Levadas) to allow the settlers to grow virtually anything in the island’s rich volcanic soils. Nowadays these Levadas are the basis of the incredible walking map of Madeira.
This is why we’ve carefully selected the absolute must-do walks of this island: along the jagged coastline through the storybook village gardens where yam and sweet potatoes grow along papayas and avocados, or along the pleasant Levada running through the subtropical laurel forests… You will enjoy the island from the lush green north coast to the high Pico Ruivo peak ending your Madeira walking tour in Funchal, a colourful capital with undeniable charm.
Please note : if you suffer from severe fear of heights, please contact us to get more information about the tour.
Arrive on your own at Madeira's international airport. Private taxi transfer to Machico. The island’s historic capital is today a small seaside town with a pebble beach and a nice marina.
Meals included : Dinner
Night: Machico
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contact@intura-travel.com
Characterized by a craggy coastline, drawn by the combined action of the wind and the sea over thousands of years, the São Lourenço peninsula displays unusual rock formations with amazing colours. It is famous for its many birds, endemic plants and fossils. You may like to enjoy a swim, along the way, in isolated coves. Transfer back to Machico.
A 10 minutes transfer takes you just above the village of Machico. Here you will find the first of many levadas that you will be following over the course of the week. This Levada – levada do Caniçal – takes us through the cultivated terraces above Machico, passing modest homes and small farmlands. A short climb up the Ribeira Seca valley where houses will gradually disappear before reaching the Boca do Risco pass. Now on the northern slope of the island, the cliff drops directly 300 metres down into the Atlantic Ocean. A spectacular path leads you to the village of Porto da Cruz where you may enjoy a swim in the sea saltwater swimming pool.
Today you are going to discover, thanks to an ancient Levada carved centuries-ago in the rock, the primary forest of Madeira – the incredible Laurissilva - a UNESCO World Heritage site. Perched at about a 1000 m above sea level, you will have spectacular views of the lush, green slopes that tumble into the ocean below. The Levada rises above vertiginous cliffs, goes through 4 tunnels dug in basalt (do not forget your headlamp) to finally reach the source of the Levada: the Caldeiro Verde, an amphitheatre of subtropical vegetation, framing a waterfall as it dives into a pool of water. You leave the Levada to descend on a forested crest and on ancient paths to the sleepy village of Ilha where you will be met by your taxi for your transfer back to your accommodation.
Today, you enjoy a superb descent towards the sea, through terraced crops, on a panoramic trail bordered with beautiful vegetation. You discover the village of São Jorge with its elegant baroque style church and then descent to the sea where you could have a swimming opportunity in a large sea water pool. You continue on the path that leads to your accommodation.
An easy return walk on a wide and well maintained path leads you to the summit of Pico Ruivo, at 1862m above sea level, the highest peak in Madeira. A breathtaking landscape atop the volcanic peaks, with the blue of the ocean and the sea of clouds as a backdrop.
Follow another beautiful levada punctuated by waterfalls and views of the valleys, leading you through the laurisilva (primitive forest of laurel and heather trees). The first part of the Levada do Furado is cut into the rock. Arriving at Ribeiro Frio, you enjoy fantastic views over the highest peaks of the island. 
End of your trip in Funchal, the capital city of Madeira! Bye-bye Madeira!