Hiking in Madeira
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Madeira is a stunning Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean, which is a hikers paradise. What we loved about this beautiful island is that you can have a really varied Madeira holiday, We managed to combine, beautiful walks, day trips, swimming/ relaxing by the pool and exploring the city of Funchal. Of course many come here to spend all their time exploring the trails. With so many to choose from you could easily fill your whole holiday hiking in Madeira. We have rounded up our favourite walks. They are all family-friendly and achievable for anyone with a basic level of fitness.
Need to know information for hiking in Madeira
In Madeira you will see the word ‘vereda’ which generally refers to any kind of walking trail. There are then also ‘Levada walks’ which are trails that follow some of the levadas that criss-cross the whole island. Levadas are man-made streams which were built to help irrigate this mountainous island.
The official trails are numbered with PR preceding the number e.g. PR1. In general these trails are well signposted and you can easily buy guidebooks with descriptions of these trails. We had the Sunflower Walking guide, which is highly recommended. We found this great, with clear descriptions of the walks, maps, and it also gives some ideas for driving tours too.
What to wear for hiking in Madeira
Obviously this may depend to some extent on the time of year. The main thing to note when choosing your hiking outfit is that weather can be very changeable in Madeira. Also, the weather can be very different just a few miles away on another part of the island. You could leave Funchal in the sunshine and find thick cloud or rain on another part of the island. Due to these factors I highly recommend having layers that you can remove/ add depending on the temperature. I would definitely recommend hiking shoes or boots with a decent grip. When we were in Madeira we were lucky that it was pretty dry. However with frequent rain, trails can get pretty muddy. I would also highly recommend always carrying a waterproof jacket with you to be prepared for showers, which are always a possibility.
What’s in the pack?
When hiking with our family our highest priority is always plenty of snacks! It’s the best way to encourage reluctant children to keep plodding onwards. Some of Madeira’s trails go through tunnels, so if you are heading for one of those a head torch is recommended. For most of the popular trails in Madeira the routes are clearly marked and signposted, so map-reading skills aren’t necessarily needed.
A map is always a good idea as a back up plan though- I also happen to love maps, I could spend hours looking at them!
Transport to your hikes
Wherever you are staying in Madeira, you will need transport to get you to the trails. We hired a car which gave us full flexibility for taking as long as we wanted on the trails and when we wanted to get there.
Many of the most popular walks are linear, meaning you will need to either retrace your steps in the opposite direction or have transport waiting at a different place to where you started. Many hikes are not easily accessibly by public transport and an organised transfer or booking a taxi may be the most convenient option.
Madeira hikes
Hiking in Madeira: PR6 25 Fontes Levada walk
This is one of the most popular Levada walks on Madeira and with good reason. It’s a walk that will give you spectacular views, as well as the chance to see lots of waterfalls en route. The main downside to this hike is that it can be very busy. I would recommend either going early in the morning or later in the day to avoid the crowds if possible. This is a hike that starts and finishes at the same point so a hire car is a good option. We combined this hike with one of our day trips around the island.
Getting there
If driving you will need to park in the carpark at Rabacal on the ER105, it’s around 50 minutes driving from Funchal. There is no public transport here so the only other options are a taxi or organised transfer/ tour.
To get to the start of the PR6 trail you will need to either walk 2km down the narrow road or pay for the shuttle bus which will transport you down. We opted to walk down but got the shuttle bus back.
Transfers
Return transfers from Funchal on minibus – allows you to walk at your own pace.
Guided 25 fontes hike with transfers– in a small group if you would like to learn about the local environment and not have to worry about which trail to choose!
Private guided hike of 25 fontes trail– If you would like to be on your own schedule and try to avoid the crowds.
Amenities
Restaurant and toilets at the trail head, once you have descended the 2km road from the main road.
Trail length
PR6 25 Fontes is 8.5km return (just over 5 miles). You will add a further 4km to this if you walk to and from the car park.
The Hike
The walk follows levadas for pretty much the whole way. It is mostly downhill on the way out, meaning that it is up on the return. The paths are well made, although in places quite narrow. There is a small one way section towards the waterfalls end of the walk where the path is at its’ narrowest. If you don’t want wet feet I would recommend waterproof footwear as there are places where the Levada spills over the trail.
You will start the trail through the forest and after around 5 minutes you’ll see the 25 Fontes trail signposted to your left. If you want a shorter walk the Risco waterfall walk (PR6.1) continues straight ahead at this point. This walk is only just over a mile so if you have the time you can easily do the Risco hike and then continue on to 25 Fontes.
As you descend and then start to emerge from the forest there are stunning views of the surrounding mountains. This does mean there are steep drop offs in parts, keep young children close! Thankfully there is a handrail between you and the edge, but a child could easily slip under it. You will know as you are reaching the endpoint of the hike, as you start to see and hear water tumbling off the mountains.
Once you reach the final waterfalls, it’s time to turn around and retrace your steps. You could stop and reward yourself with a drink at the restaurant at the end of the trail before either the shuttle bus or hike back up to the main road.
Hiking in Madeira: PR1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo
Pico Ruvio is the highest mountain in Madeira, so it goes without saying that this hike offers fantastic mountain views. Yes, it obviously involves a decent amount of climbing, but it is on a well made path and is not too long. We completed this walk as a family, rather than doing the very popular PR1 trail, which crosses the three highest peaks in Madeira finishing at Pico Ruvio. The PR1 trail looks amazing but contains sections with steep drops on either side, which we didn’t quite trust our 8 year old on. We just about managed to contain him on Pico Ruvio when the drops were just on one side!
We hired a car again for the day and completed this hike as part of a day trip from Funchal where we also drove to Pico Areeiro (the start of the PR1 trail) to see the views from there.
Getting there
The hike starts from Achada do Teixeira, which is around 1 hour drive from Funchal. You start and finish the hike at the same point.
Bus 103 from Funchal to Santana and then get a taxi up to the trailhead.
Amenities
There is a large restaurant near the carpark. Toilets are available, but need to be paid for unless you are using the restaurant.
There are a few roofed huts along the trail, for picnics, or just to shelter for a while if it rains.
Trail length
5.5 km/ 3.4 miles return
The Hike
As you would expect with any mountain hike the first half is mostly uphill. It mostly isn’t too steep, so you can just take the time needed (and snack bribes) to get up. As you ascend, you will see fantastic views out over the central mountains in one direction and to the ocean in the other.
At the summit, you’ll find a large flat area with lots of opportunities for selfies and of the awesome 360 degree views. We stopped for a picnic on the way down. We were lucky to have clear blue skies but if the weather happens to turn we passed a few shelters which would be a great picnic venue in bad weather.
To descent is on the same trail, so you get to enjoy the same stunning views again!
Hiking in Madeira: PR11 Vereda dos Balcões
This is a short hike achievable for all so is perfect for families with young children. Despite its short length it packs in a bit of everything that Madeira has to offer. Trails through the forest, a Levada to follow and of course some stunning mountain views.
Getting There
This short walk starts at the village of Ribeiro Frio. If driving, this takes around 35 minutes from Funchal on the ER103.
Bus line 103 from Funchal- around 1 hour on the bus.
Amenities
There are a few restaurants in the village for refreshments.
Trail Length
2km / 1.3 mile return
The Hike
The official trail start point is from the ER103 just before the main village of Ribeiro Frio if you are approaching from Funchal. The trail is well signed from the road, so difficult to miss. Alternatively, we had parked closer to the village and there is a set of steps ascending from the village that joins on to the trail. If taking this route, go up the steps and then turn right onto the trail. The path is wide and through the trees and so nicely shaded if it is a hot day.
Unlike some of the other routes there are no steep edges so it felt really safe for the kids to run around if they wanted. The trail follows a Levada until it bears away and you will come out to the most spectacular views over the surrounding mountains. We were there mid-afternoon and although we didn’t have the place to ourselves it didn’t feel too crowded.
There are decent railings around the whole viewpoint so no fears of small children falling. Take your time to drink in the beautiful scenery before retracing your steps back to Ribeiro Frio. We enjoyed a cold drink at one of the restaurants before getting back in the car.
We’re looking forward to more hiking in Madeira at some point to try some of the island’s other trails. If you have any recommendations get in touch to let us know.
If you want to read more about our Madeira adventures check out our other posts:
