The Best Hiking Trails in Madeira
Madeira, a volcanic Portuguese island in the Atlantic off northwest Africa, is a haven of dramatic landscapes. It has long attracted adventure tourists due to its diverse routes - from coastal walks to high-altitude hikes - and its year-round sunshine and sub-tropical climate. While its misty green valleys bring to mind a South American or Asian rainforest, its steep, jagged ridgelines overarched by rainbows make it feel like Europe’s answer to Hawai’i or Réunion Island.
Written by Natalie Berry
I visited the island of Madeira with my family in 2020, just before the pandemic hit. We hiked the first three routes on this list, so it’s over to you for the long-distance trails! There are numerous itineraries of various difficulties for people of all abilities and official routes are well signposted and marked.
Entry to the walking areas costs €3, to be paid at the car parks. Weather can change quickly at altitude on Madeira: take plenty of layers and shoes that handle wet terrain well! Also, be sure to pack a traditional Madeiran bolo do caco flatbread and pastel de nata custard tarts (or three!) for sustenance...
Here’s my pick of the top hikes to tick on your trip to Madeira:
1. Pico Ruivo via multiple routes
Starting from 5.6km | 300m elevation gain and upwards
Hiking to the island’s highest point, Pico Ruivo (1862m) is a must. You can choose from multiple trails of varying lengths and difficulties across the island that lead to the summit.
The easiest and shortest route begins at the car park at Achada do Teixera for a 2.8km (5.6 km round-trip) route with 300m elevation gain. Early in the walk, you will pass under the watch of the Homem em Pé (Standing Man) rock formation.
As we neared the summit, clouds gathered and we were treated to a Brocken Spectre phenomenon on multiple occasions, as our shadows were magnified in the mist with a rainbow halo above our heads.
From the top, the views across the archipelago, with its ridgelines cascading down to the sea, were spectacular. This hike can be very popular and there is a café and toilets before the summit section. The walk took us just under one and a half hours in total.
Three other trails connect to Pico Ruivo at the Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo shelter if you wish to extend your walk to the summit: PR1 Vereda do Pico Areeiro, PR 1.3 Vereda da Encumeada or PR 1.1 Vereda da Ilha.
The more challenging 7km PR1 Vereda do Pico Areeiro route traverses Madeira’s three highest peaks and takes 5-7 hours, involving walks along an epic ridge and through dug-out volcanic tuff tunnels used to shelter cattle and sheep. This route is typically done one-way with a taxi or shuttle.
2. PR 6 | Levada das 25 Fontes (or one of the many other levada walks) and Risco Waterfall
8.6km/11km | 400-500m elevation gain
Note: PR stands for 'Pequena Rota' meaning short route, marked by yellow and red stripes on the island.
To the west of the island, the PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes is a popular walk following the man-made irrigation channels, or levadas, that carry water from the mountains down to towns and villages. This trail is a gently undulating 8.6km out-and-back route, but can be extended to 11km with a visit to the Risco Waterfall.
The Lagoa das 25 Fontes is a lagoon fed by a cascade of 25 small springs flowing from Paul da Serra, the island’s only plateau. The levada path leading to it overlooks the Ribeira da Janela valley and the lush greenery of the 20-million-year-old UNESCO-protected subtropical Laurissilva rainforest with its endemic wildlife species.
Before reaching the springs, many visitors extend this walk (adding an extra 2km or so overall) by making a short detour along the PR 6.1 Levado do Risco path to see the 100-metre-high Risco Waterfall. The spray of the waterfalls is particularly refreshing in the heat! We took about three and a half hours to combine both.
Go early to avoid the crowds. There are many other levada walks on Madeira, most of which are shorter in length than this option.
3. PR 8 | Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
6km | 400m elevation gain
Visiting the easternmost point of the island just a stone’s throw from Funchal offers a completely different landscape and feel from the verdant inland areas. The rock here is volcanic, with impressive basalt cliffs and barren, wind-sculpted hills.
This moderate 3km (6km round-trip) coastal peninsula walk is often busy, but the views above the waves and across the Atlantic make up for it. Climbers and geologists will also be inspired by the sea-cliffs here. Look out for some interesting volcanic rock formations in the sea.
For the more adventurous walkers, continue up to the highest point at the Miradouro Ponta do Furado. At the end of the walk, you will see the two islets of Desembarcadouro and Farol.
To cool down before the return journey, swim at Cais do Sardinha and refuel at the Casa do Sardinha Sea Spot Cafe.
The round-trip takes around two and a half hours in total. It was windy here during our visit despite the sunny weather, so hold on to your hat!
4. Long-distance options: The Caminho Real 23 (CR23), the Madeira Island Ultra Trail and the Boca do Risco trail
For those seeking multi-day hikes, there are some options that take in sections of different routes across the island. Many shorter routes can be combined and extended for those wanting to stretch their legs a little further.
The Caminho Real 23 (CR23) is the longest walk on Madeira and consists of a 180km coastal perimeter loop with some inland detours and ~8,000 metres of elevation gain. Most hikers take about 7-10 days to complete the route. The path was commissioned by the King of Portugal in the 19th Century as a walking and transport route. Given the island’s tendency for landslides, some sections are now unpassable, eroded or in need of repair and require detours. Hiring a guide is a good option to help with route-finding. If you want to circumnavigate Madeira, this one’s for you!
The Madeira Island Ultra Trail follows the 115km route run by elite endurance athletes and is typically walked in 3-4 days with ~8,000 metres of elevation gain. This trail is a point-to-point hike from Porto Moniz in the west to Machico in the east and crosses Madeira’s central mountain range, including Pico Ruivo and Pico do Areeiro. Elite runners complete the route in under 24 hours (13 hours for the fastest!) during the annual race.
Another option for experienced trail runners (or keen walkers) is the difficult 15km Boca do Risco, which begins to the east of the island in Ribeira Seca and ends in Machico with an elevation gain of +1057m/ -1032m. The steep climb up to Pico do Facho viewpoint rewards you with a striking panorama across to the island’s central mountains to the west and the Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula to the east.
The Visit Madeira website run by the local tourism board is an excellent resource for hiking trail information and other activities on the island.