Madeira Island Walking: East to West

On arrival at Funchal airport, a short taxi transfer is included to Machico on the east coast. Machico was the landing point when the island was discovered. This peculiar corner of the island boasts the oldest church, the 'Capela dos Milagres', and two forts still bear witness of the locals’ defence against the many pirate attacks on the village. Accommodation: Stay for two nights at either a hotel by the ocean or a small residencial (guesthouse). All rooms have private facilities. Both the hotels and guesthouses have their own restaurants where you can enjoy your evening meals, and there are also several other good places to eat nearby.

After breakfast you have a choice of two walks. Option 1: This is for walkers with a head for heights and in reasonable weather without high winds. Taxi or walk to the start of the Levada de Canical, which you will soon leave to climb to the Boca de Risco pass (300m). From there a cliff hugging coastal path takes you along the wildest stretch of coastline in Madeira, round the Espigao Amarelo, an exposed path with large drop below and down to Larano (200m). From Larano walk down road to Porto da Cruz and transfer by road (included in tour price) back to Machico. Option 2: A shorter option that can be done in adverse weather. Taxi or walk to the start of the Levada de Canical. You can follow this to its source near Ribeira de Machico/Marocos and transfer (included) back to your hotel in Machico in the afternoon. This levada was built in relatively recent times and is easy to follow. Both walks can be extended by 4.4km, 1.5 hours and over 300 metres of ascent by walking from Machico up to the viewpoint of Pico de Facho (322m) and then down to the start of the levada (irrigation channel) by the Canical Tunnel.

A circular coastal walk around the Sao Lourenco peninsula, on the eastern point of Madeira island. This is different to any other walk during your week in Madeira, taking a trek through the volcanic remains, which are now a nature reserve. There are spectacular cliff views and wonderful flowers. Accommodation: Overnight in Santo da Serra, a village situated on a broad ridge at 650m above sea level. Two nights in a charming hotel, located near the village centre. All rooms have en-suite facilities. The hotel has its own restaurant and an attractive large garden. *Today's walk includes an early morning transfer to the start and a transfer back from the end.

Transfer to Monte (included), at 550m high in the hills above Funchal. You have time to visit the tropical gardens and palace, and even take the wicker sledge ride down the road a couple of km. However, today's walk is one of those Madieran classics, starting at the top station of the cable car that comes up from Funchal. This is at the northeast corner of the Tropical Garden. You will follow the Levada dos Tornos and then climb up the hillside to follow the Levada da Serra. This levada contours at a higher level (about 750m) around the head of the ‘Valley of Paradise’. You reach Camacha (700m), from where you will be transferred back to Santo da Serra.

Today you follow the Levada do Furado up into the wild, forested hills of the Madeira Natural Park. With magnificent views at a number of points, the levada threads its way along the hillsides covered with Laurisilva vegetation and the water is very pure. Today’s levada is a whole lot more dramatic and challenging than anything on the previous walks; with narrower paths and uneven going underfoot. At Ribeiro Frio (Cold Stream, 850m above the sea) you are met and transferred to Santana, a village set, 400m/1300 feet above the north coast (transfer included in tour price). Overnight in Santana. This village, perched on a shelf high above the north coast, is known for its traditional architecture.You will be driven to Santana this afternoon for the next part of your holiday. Accommodation: Stay two nights at a 4* pension. Rooms have hair dryer, cable TV, double-glazing and balcony, with views over the fields and countryside. General facilities include a small indoor pool, sauna etc. The hotel has a popular restaurant and offers traditional island fayre.

Today offers the chance to follow the scenic Levada do Caldeirão Verde trail, a lush route that contours along one of Madeira’s historic irrigation channels at around 880 metres. You'll step into the island’s ancient Laurisilva forest, a remnant of the original subtropical montane rainforest that once covered the island. Remarkably, this unique ecosystem has survived centuries of deforestation and now forms part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Expect an immersive walk under a canopy dominated by laurel trees, interspersed with heathers, ferns and moss-covered trunks. You will reach Caldeirão Verde, a beautiful green lagoon fed by a spectacular waterfall. The cool mist rising from the forest often adds a dreamlike atmosphere. It is the result of prevailing northeast trade winds, which lift moist Atlantic air upwards, cooling and condensing into frequent drizzle or cloud cover. Locals say the forest makes its own rain, and when you walk beneath its sheltering trees, you’ll understand why.

Step straight from our charming base in Santana and into Madeira’s lush, lesser-seen heartland. This rewarding loop explores the tranquil backroads and fertile terraces of the island’s northeast, following the historic Levada da Silveira, an impressive 18th-century irrigation channel that still waters much of the region’s farmland today. As you stroll through this quiet corner of the island, you’ll pass smallholdings where locals tend to fields of sweet potatoes, taro, strawberries, and even kiwi fruit, crops that flourish in the island’s rich volcanic soil. Keep an eye out for traditional palheiros (haylofts) and the occasional thatched Santana house tucked into the hillsides, a nod to Madeira’s rural past. With views stretching from forested ravines to the sparkling Atlantic, this walk offers a gentle immersion into the rhythms of Madeiran country life, far from the tourist trail but deeply rooted in island culture. If you prefer a rest day, the hotel offers plenty of options to relax - or visit Madeira's famous Casas Tipicas (thatched houses), local market, viewpoints, or the Parque Tematica da Madeira, which a 10-minute walk from our usual hotel.