Guided Walking & Sightseeing on Madeira, Portugal

• Our experienced leaders offer the choice of two different walks each walking day
• Choose the option which best suits your interests and fitness
• We provide flexible holidays. Choose easier walking one day and harder the next or just explore independently or relax around the resort
• Our leaders are friendly and welcoming making your holiday fun and sociable

Easier walks: 5 to 9 miles (8-14.5km) on good paths, with some rocky sections. Up to 800 feet (240m) of ascent in a day.

Harder walks: 8 to 11 miles (13-17.5km) on good paths with some steep ascents and descents. There are also some rocky sections. Up to 1,000 feet (300m) of ascent in a day.

Day 1: Arrival Day

For those arriving on the HF Holidays' flights to Funchal, the onward journey to Caniço de Baixo is by coach. Depending on your arrival time you may have the opportunity to see a little of Caniço de Biaxo before your evening meal. On the first evening our leaders will explain more about our walks and there will be plenty of time to meet your fellow guests.

Day 2: Levada to Monte

Easier Walk: This walk starts from the Levada dos Tornos. This major well-maintained levada leads us through shady woodland to the delightful Hortensia Tea Rooms. Here you can relax in beautiful gardens before continuing to join the route of the harder walk to Romeiros, Babosas and Monte. There should be time to visit the famous Tropical Gardens in Monte. 6 miles (9.5km) with ascent 300ft (90m).

Harder Walk: This walk will follow the Levada da Serra do Faial through the do Paraiso estate before descending steeply to join the lower Levada dos Tornos. This leads us to the village of Romeiros which lies above Funchal. There follows a descent into a wide beautiful valley and a final ascent to the village of Babosas and our final destination of Monte. Here there will be an opportunity for a welcome drink before catching the coach back to the hotel. 7 miles (11.5km) with ascent 300ft (90m).

Day 3: Sightseeing in Funchal

Our transport will take us into the capital, Funchal. Our local interest guide will take us on a guided tour of this small, pretty city to include the cathedral, the colourful Mercado dos Labradores and a visit to the famous Blandy’s Winery, home of Madeira wine, with an opportunity to taste the products. In the afternoon, we travel by coach high into the mountains to a viewpoint overlooking the Central Highlands and the Curral das Freiras (Valley of the Nuns). Then we can walk down the old path which leads to the Curral das Freiras. For many centuries this was the only means of reaching this remote valley.

Day 4: Western Moorland and the 25 Fontes.

Our walks today take us to the western end of the island. We’ll travel past Funchal and enter the Ribeira Brava Gorge. The coach will then take us high onto the western moors. This end of the island differs greatly from the high volcanic peaks in the east. Here rolling moorland offers views over the sea in both directions on a clear day.

Easier Walk: Today’s walk follows a gentle lavada path to a lovely viewpoint over the hills and woods of Rabacal before descending to Levada des 25 Fontes which will lead us through the mountain ridge to meet our coach. 8 miles (13km) with 100ft (30m) of ascent and 1,000ft (300m) of descent

Harder: Our walk follows a similar route to the easier walk to Levada dos 25 Fontes, where we will part ways and head upstream to the spectacular 25 Fontes (25 waterfalls) before descending to rejoin the easier group and our transport home. 11 miles (17.5km) with 200ft (60m) of ascent and 1,100ft (330m) of descent

Day 5: Free Day

On your free day enjoy a leisurely lunch in one of Caniço de Baixo restaurants or try an exhilarating outdoor activity from the hotel.

Day 6: Boca da Corrida and Encumeada

Today offers both groups an exhilarating high mountain experience on the Camino Real da Encumeada. This is an ancient route which was used to connect the south of the island to the north before any roads were built and when all journeys were on foot or by horse/mule. Both walks start at the Boca (col or pass) da Corrida. There is a well constructed track where we enjoy fine views of the Curral das Freiras and then the Ribeira Brava Gorge. Ahead of us always is the looming presence of the island’s highest mountain, the Pico Grande.

Easier Walk: Our walk starts from a spectacular viewpoint near Boca da Corrida. After capturing this view, we follow the ‘Royal Path’ to the Boca do Cerro, offering views of Pico Grande along the way before returning to meet our coach. 6 miles (9.5km) with 500ft (150ml) of ascent.

Harder Walk: Like the easier group, we take the ‘Royal Path’ to Boca do Cerro, where we then continue across the western face of the mighty Pico Grande to the village of Encumeada. 11 miles (17.5km) with 900ft (270m) of ascent and 2,000ft (600m) of descent

Day 7: São Lourenço Peninsula and the Cliffs

Our walks on our final day are at the far eastern end of the island.

Easier Walk: This group will travel through the Canical Tunnel to the town of Canical and on to the most easterly point of the island, the St Laurence peninsula. The walk here gives us great views of both the northern and southern cliffs and fine views out to sea. After lunch we return to the coach and travel overland to Porto da Cruz to meet up with the harder walk group for our journey back to the hotel. 4 miles (6.5km) with ascent 300ft (90m).

Harder Walks: We’ll travel east from our hotel to start our walk at the entrance to the Canical Tunnel. A levada walk takes us through the fine agricultural terraces at the Ribeira Seca. Walking towards the head of the valley we leave the levada and begin to climb towards the Boca do Risco, a col on the north coast of the island. Here begins one of the most exciting and dramatic walks of the week. A wide path takes us along the high northern cliffs with great views out to sea and along the coast to the seaside village of Porto da Cruz. 10 miles (16km) with ascent 700ft (210m) and descent 1,300ft (390m).

Day 8: Departure Day

Please note that the itinerary outlined is provisional and could be subject to change. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and every evening your leaders will talk to you about the next day’s walks.

An introduction to the area

Over its history, Madeira has been visited by merchants, explorers and had brief periods of occupation including British troops, which has resulted in a diverse population from North Africa and blonde, blue-eyed Europeans. Christopher Columbus married the first Governor’s grand-daughter in the 15th century when the Portuguese settlers arrived on the island. The island has a wealthy history of sugar cane plantations and has bred many romantic stories of pirates. Sugar cane is no longer the main crop; this has been replaced with vines that produce the famous Madeira wine. The amazing beauty of the island rising from the ocean with steep cliffs and high mountains was once believed to be the lost civilisation of Atlantis.

Local highlights

Funchal – The island’s capital and main harbour. White houses and distinctive tiled roofs flow down to the harbour, favoured by cruise ships. Reflecting its wealth and history, this capital boasts large hotels and is a good destination for shopping and sightseeing. There are three key elements: the market, old town and seafront. The old town has narrow, cobbled streets and older fishermen’s houses. The market has two storeys, built in 1937, and is vibrant and colourful. At the seafront, a modern cable car station takes passengers to the hill top town of Monte. This is where the wealthy merchants of Funchal lived to enjoy the cooler air and is well known as the start of the famous wooden toboggan ride down the cobbled streets. There are also some beautiful botanical gardens to visit.

Rural interior – Not far from Funchal is an area dominated by small scale agricultural landscapes and more spectacular gardens to visit. The interior also has micro-climates, depending on altitude, allowing locals to grow a diversity of crops, with bananas below and vines planted on narrow terraces carved out of the mountains. There are spectacular peaks, waterfalls and vistas. 

Madeira has a unique irrigation system, channels dug out carrying water down mountains, called levadas. Alongside these is a network of walking trails wrapping around the island, which suit all ages and abilities.

Shops & facilities

There are a small selection of shops for basics, within walking distance of the hotel. Otherwise gift shopping can be done in Funchal, a bus ride away.

‘With flight’ holidays

For flight times and prices please see the Dates & Prices tab.

We offer flights from Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow (regional flight supplement £100) to Funchal.

If you book a ‘with flight’ holiday with us, we automatically include transfers between the airport and the hotel. The coach transfer to Caniço de Baixo takes 30 minutes.

Independent travellers

All our overseas holidays can also be booked without a flight. This is ideal if you are travelling from overseas, or prefer to make your own arrangements from your local airport. If you choose this option the transfer to the hotel is not included.

HF Holidays can help you to reach the hotel in the following ways:

HF Holidays’ transfer coach from Funchal airport. These are timed to meet the HF Holidays’ flights (provisional HF Holidays’ flight times can be found on the dates and prices tab or call 020 8732 1220). Cost per single journey is £7.50. Please note that HF Holidays is not responsible for your onward travel if you fail to meet the transfer coach under any circumstance.

Our Airport Taxi service operates at this resort, offering quick and easy transfers for guests booking their own flights. All prices are per taxi for single journeys, allowing you to mix and match different transfer options. Transfers must be pre-booked. Please call 020 8732 1220 for more details

From Funchal airport by taxi transfer £30 per taxi single journey