Every adventure begins with an uneasy atmosphere of naivety, expectations, and a willingness to delve into the unknown. Our journey along the ‘Royal Path’ known as Caminho Real 23 was definitely set to be a week of challenges and a first-hand insight into the past and the present of Madeira Island. CAMINHO REAL 23 INFORMATION …
Espigão Amarelo is one of my favorite coastal hikes on Madeira. It truly has it all. Beginning on the famous Vereda do Larano, this trail takes a secret detour up onto the gnarly ridge of Espigão Amarelo. Five hundred meters of up and downs through the forest then drop you back at the end of …
Madeira is the island of dreams for waterfall chasers. There just seems to be an endless amount of waterfalls to discover and often you will even drive right by them on the highway! In this guide, I will share with you 25 of my favorite hikes that lead you to a waterfall. Remember that in …
Madeira is one of the top locations in Europe for active holidays because it has flat levada trails suited to all fitness and experience levels. On Madeira, you will find more than 3,000 km of irrigation channels, most with an accessible path next to the water channel. These paths guide you around the island where …
The Pico Canãrio hike is a physical challenge that will provide uniquely epic views of Madeira from perspectives you’ve never seen. Even after five months on the island, some of the landscapes surprised me. This loop is a strenuous 26-kilometer route with 1800 meters of incline. If you’re up for a battle through the forest …
The Caminho Real da Encumeada is an incredible, mountainous trail that leads you along an ancient path with views of Madeira’s highest peaks! I really love this trail because it is one of the King’s Paths, which were commissioned by the King to help link certain parts of the island together. This means the path …
Levada do Castelejo and Levada do Furado are both great levada walks in their own right but when combined together on this adventurous route, you are in for a challenging and exciting hike on Madeira Island. The walk begins on the Levada do Castelejo with a cliffside path and views to Pico do Arieiro and …
Madeira Island is one of the top all-year hiking destinations in Europe with a combination of easy levada walks, forest adventures, coastal routes, and steep mountain treks. With lush UNESCO listed Laurissilva forests and consistent cloud inversions, it provides jaw-dropping moments on a daily basis. These are the characteristics of Madeira that led me to …
The Empenas hike is a challenging ascent in Nun’s Valley to reach a small passageway between two huge rock walls, which is known as ‘The Window’. The route involves lots of bouldering, using safety ropes, and over a vertical kilometer of climbing as you navigate your way up the steep, crumbly cliff-side. EMPENAS HIKE DETAILS …
The Levada do Plaino Velho hike on Madeira takes you from Estanquinhos to the stunning viewpoint of Pico Ruivo do Paul da Serra. After the viewpoint, you head down into the Laurissilva Forest along the levada to reach the incredible Riberia do Inferno waterfall and tunnel passageways. The hike loops back up the steep climb …
Rocha do Navio is a Fajã in Santana, which is on the north coast of Madeira Island. A Fajã is a flat depression near the coast that is used for farming. There is a cable car that takes tourists up and down to the coastal village below but you can also take the more adventurous …
The Fajã da Nogueira loop hike is a spectacular trail that begins and ends at the electricity plant in the center of the island. The route leads you up, high above the canyon, and follows a levada along some sketchy, narrow paths through tunnels and underneath waterfalls. A backdrop of the highest peaks on the …