Madeira, as part of Portugal, uses the Euro as its official currency, which is denominated into seven different banknotes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, and €500. Each denomination is distinctive in size and color, with the size increasing with value. They feature images of symbolic architectural styles throughout European history and portray seven different …
MADEIRA
I spent 6 months exploring all of the beaches, hikes, and waterfalls on the incredible island of Madeira. All of my guides and individual articles with helpful tips can be found in this Madeira archive.
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, you will be in constant amazement while enjoying this list of the Best 65 Hikes on Madeira Island. I …
The Pico do Facho hike is a great coastal trail on Madeira, starting in Machicho and reaching its halfway point at Ribeira Beach. This is a great hike for plane spotting due to its proximity to the airport. This lightly trafficked trail is highlighted by the viewpoint over Machico and the beautiful coastal views all …
Nestled on the east coast, at the base of a small village called Faial is arguably Madeira’s best sunrise spot. Miradouro do Guindaste, also known as Crane Viewpoint is an incredible spot to hunt the first light of the day. Located in the Santana district, the viewpoint looks down the dramatic east coast towards the …
The Ponta do Clerigo hike is an awesome out-and-back coastal hike in Santana. This short trail takes you down to a sharp ridge on the coast with views back towards Penha da Aguia and the east coast of Madeira. In this article, I will provide a detailed guide to the Ponta do Clerigo hike, including …
Calheta Beach is one of the top sandy beaches on Madeira Island. While it isn’t as spectacular as some of the more picturesque beaches you will find on the island, its soft sand and ease of accessibility make it a popular choice for vacationers, tourists, and locals of the Calheta region. It’s a very family-friendly …
On the north side of Madeira Island, you can find a mysterious fog creating an incredible atmosphere amongst the trees of Fanal Forest. The twisted branches of the grand centenary Ocotea Foetens trees and the fog come together in this fairytale scene. In this blog post, I will share with you the details about what …
Pico de Ana Ferreira is an incredible rock formation on Porto Santo, which looks like a spine of jagged rocks running down the center of the island. There are several attractions at Pico de Ana Ferreira such as the numerous caves to explore, a hike to the summit along the jagged ridge, and the ‘Organ …
Porto Santo is an incredible island with a rich history near Madeira in Portugal. Known for its 9-kilometer beach covered in soft, powdery sand there’s a lot more to this island than first meets the eye. I spent 10 days exploring the island by mountain bike and ventured to all of the beaches, sat atop …
The Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal waterfall hike takes you along the Lombo do Mouro trail with epic ridges, several waterfalls, and incredible views! It’s a long one with 18-kilometers of trail and more than 700 meters of incline throughout the route. It’s a great trail for a sunrise start and if you are lucky …
The Levada Fajã do Rodrigues hike on Madeira Island takes you through some incredibly lush forest paths to many amazing waterfalls. The trail begins quietly beside the levada but quickly escalates with a number of tunnel passages. The final destination is an epic canyon, which hides multiple waterfalls. LEVADA FAJÃ DO RODRIGUES WATERFALL HIKE DETAILS …
The Pico de Baixo peak is a 209-meter, steep mountain on the east side of Porto Santo Island. It’s not an official hiking route but it is one of the best sunrise views on the island and a fun climb involving some sketchy scrambling, and some sand dune sliding. This is an adventure for those …