Madeira in 6 Days: Funchal, Levadas and Peaks Above the Clouds

Funchal

💬 Worth getting a car with a strong engine, because the climbs are very steep. On the old roads drive slowly and carefully.

Funchal

💬 Historic hotel on a cliff above the sea, and even afternoon tea there is an experience. On a smaller budget it's worth looking for a hotel in the Lido area.

Funchal

A street in Funchal's old quarter where the doors of the houses were painted by artists as part of the 'Arte de Portas Abertas' project.

💬 Wander among the painted doors and stop for poncha at a small bar.

Funchal

💬 Black scabbardfish (espada) with fried banana. It sounds strange, but it works. Start with bolo do caco with garlic butter.

Funchal

Funchal's covered market from the 1940s, with fruits, flowers and the fish stall.

💬 Taste exotic fruits, but it's worth asking the price beforehand, some sellers overcharge. The fish stalls are at the back.

Funchal

💬 A one-way ticket is enough, because you come down on the toboggans.

Funchal

A tropical botanical garden in Monte, with lakes, Portuguese tile walls and a mineral collection.

💬 A large garden with lakes, little bridges and azulejo tiles. Worth dedicating two hours to it.

Funchal

💬 Two 'carreiros' in straw hats steer the toboggan down the road for about ten minutes. From the finishing point take a taxi to the centre.

Pico do Arieiro

The third highest peak in Madeira (1,818 m), and you can reach it by car all the way to the summit.

💬 Leave Funchal an hour before sunrise, and it's very cold up top. Since 2025 small entry fees are charged on most PR trails, so it's worth checking the official Madeira website before heading out.

Pico do Arieiro

💬 About 14 km round trip, with hundreds of steps and tunnels, so you need a torch. Parts of the trail are closed after fires and landslides, so check in advance that it's open.

Pico do Arieiro

💬 Chunks of beef on a skewer made of laurel branch, hanging above the table. This is the dish of the island's traditional restaurants.

Santana

A levada (historic irrigation channel) in the Laurisilva forest, ending at a tall waterfall inside a green bowl.

💬 Start from Queimadas Forest Park. It's about 13 km round trip along a water channel, with four tunnels. Bring a torch and a rain jacket.

Santana

Traditional houses with thatched triangular roofs in the centre of the town of Santana in the north of the island.

💬 A short photo stop on the way back.

Porto Moniz

A levada trail in the Laurisilva forest ending at a pool fed by dozens of small waterfalls.

💬 Park on the ER110 road and walk down or take the shuttle to Rabaçal house. After 10:30 it's very crowded.

Porto Moniz

💬 Lava pools with seawater, lifeguards and changing rooms. Check opening hours.

Porto Moniz

💬 A volcanic black sand beach facing green cliffs. The water is cold even in summer.

Caniçal

A narrow rocky peninsula at the eastern tip of Madeira, a nature reserve with brown and red cliffs.

💬 About 8 km round trip in an almost desert landscape, with no shade at all. Start early and take plenty of water.

Caniçal

💬 The airport is about 20 minutes' drive from the trail.