Searching for the best hikes on Madeira? Then you’ve come to the right place, because in this blog post we’re sharing our five bucket list hikes on Madeira with you. Whether you’d like to hike to the highest peak of Madeira or wander through the lush Levadas, this list will provide you with everything you need to know before visiting Madeira.
Only around four hours away from most European cities lies an absolute paradise for hikers: Madeira. Located directly on the African coast, the small island delights visitors with warm temperatures all year round. We spent a week in Madeira in March and December and absolutely fell in love with the little island. After our first visit in March, we came back to do some of the other hikes on the island, because there are literally hundreds of hiking trails and levada walks. Thus, Madeira is an absolute dream for outdoors lovers.
The best hikes on Madeira: When to go
As previously mentioned, the weather on Madeira is relatively warm all year round. The average temperature does not fluctuate much and is about 16-22 degrees celsius every month. Usually, April to October are the driest months and therefore a good time for doing the best hikes on Madeira.
However, our personal experience is that the weather can change quite quickly on Madeira and that it’s not necessarily bad to visit from October to March. During both visits it only rained for one day and this did not cover the entire island. Hence, even if it rains on one part of the island, that does not mean that it rains on the entire island. It’s still possible that you can catch great weather on another part.
Our quick tips for Madeira
- The best way to get around in Madeira is by rental car. The roads are in great condition and it’s easy to navigate. However, due to the mountainous terrain the roads can get quite steep.
- If you want to explore Madeira, stay for at least one week. You may look at the size of the island and think that 3-4 days are enough to cover everything, but don’t underestimate how much there is to do and see in Madeira.
- Plan ahead, but be spontaneous with changes. Since Madeira has several microclimates, it’s nearly impossible to stick to an itinerary for 100%. The weather can quickly change and then you should simply adapt your plans to enjoy the island to the fullest.
- Always check the webcams before heading somewhere. By doing so, you can easily see if it’s worth driving all the way up to Pico do Arieiro, for example.
We also have a 7 day itinerary for Madeira which is the perfect starting point for your travels. Don’t miss out on the best view points in Madeira as well.
What to pack for the best hikes on Madeira
If you want to go hiking on Madeira, you should definitely pack layers. On most hikes or levada walks, the temperature will change at least once along the way. This could either be due to the mountainous environment or because most hikes lead through forests. Hence, you should be prepared for warm and colder weather. We packed the following things for 5 hikes in 7 days (only hiking equipment):
- 2 hiking shorts
- 2 hiking pants
- 5 base layers
- 2 fleece layers
- 1 warmer jacket
- 5 pairs of hiking socks
- hiking boots
- head lamps
- hiking backpack
Best hikes on Madeira: 5 Bucket List hikes
1. PR 1 Vereda do Arieeiro | Pico do Ariero to Pico Ruivo
The PR1 hike did not make it to our Madeira bucket list without reason. It’s one of the best hikes you can do on Madeira and it’s probably also one of the most beautiful hikes we’ve ever done. The PR1 hiking trail connects three characteristic points of Madeira: it starts at Pico do Areeiro (1,818 m), goes over Pico das Torres (1,851 m) and ends at Pico Ruivo (1,862 m). All in all, this route is 7 km long and has a medium difficulty.
You should definitely know that Vereda do Arieeiro is no circuit hike. There are two ways you can complete this hike. The first would be to hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo and then hike all the way back to your car. In option two, instead of returning the same way after you’ve reached Pico Ruivo, you will head down the other side of the mountain to the parking lot at Achada do Teixeira. The only downside is that you’re now without your car and you will have to get a taxi back to the parking lot at Pico do Arieiro.
Key Facts about the PR 1 hike on Madeira:
Trail length: 7 km one way, 14 km in total
Time: 3.5 hours one way
Difficulty: Medium
Start point: Pico do Arieiro parking lot
Tip: Don’t miss out on the beautiful viewpoints along the way: At first you’ll come across Miradouro Ninho da Manta which alone would have earned a place on the list of the best things to do in Madeira.
2. PR 8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
If you don’t fancy spending a whole day hiking, the PR 8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço is the best hike on Madeira you can do. It’s one of the shorter hikes on the island and only counts 3 km one way. Since the trail is located on the east side of the island, it is the ideal place to admire the breathtaking rugged coastline of Madeira.
The hike itself is not particularly demanding. You start it at the Ponta de São Lourenço parking lot and finish it there again. Nevertheless, you should have a head for heights to do this hike. You spend most of your time walking along a cliff. This is also one of the few hikes where you can buy food and drink. At the end of the hike, a small restaurant awaits you with fresh cakes, cold drinks and some warm dishes. We had the banana bread and a small Coke before heading back.
From PR 8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço you can see the Ilhas Desertas and the Porto Santo island. By the way, you can take a day trip to the latter from Funchal. As soon as you enter the port you will find some offers.
Key Facts about the PR 8 hike on Madeira:
Trail length: 3 km one way, 6 km in total
Time: 1 hour one way
Difficulty: Medium
Start point: Ponta de São Lourenço parking lot
Tip: Since this hike is completely exposed, you should pack plenty of water, sunscreen and also layers if it’s getting too hot.
3. PR 9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde
Levada do Caldeirão Verde is the first levada trail on our list of the best hikes on Madeira. What is a levada trail?, you may now ask yourself. The levadas are channels of water, originally created to transport the water of the north of Madeira to the south of the island. Nowadays, the levadas are also a way to discover the magnificent nature of Madeira, with landscapes and species of flora and fauna that are unique in the world. Most levada trails are completely green and lead through forests.
PR 9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde is one of the longest trails on the island and the most time-consuming on our list of the best hikes on Madeira. However, it’s absolutely worth it and one of the best things you can do on the island. The trail boasts greenery all year long and there are several waterfalls you can admire along the way. We absolutely loved this as the hike does not seem quite as long.
If you want to do this hike, you might want to pack a headlamp as there are a few long and dark tunnels along the way. When we first did this hike, we forgot our headlamp and used our mobile phone, but a headlamp will be significantly better.
Key Facts about the PR 9 hike on Madeira:
Trail length: 8.7 km one way, 17.4 km in total
Time: 2-3 hours one way
Difficulty: Hard – because of the time and length
Start point: Queimadas Park
Tip: This is the only hiking parking lot on this list that costs money. You should definitely pack some cash to pay for the parking ticket afterwards.
4. PR 6.3 Lagoa do Vento
Now, this is one of our favorite hikes on Madeira, because it leads you through the most scenic road on Madeira before you’ve even started. Driving to this trail is an attraction itself and it’s worth stopping every now and then to take in the mesmerising beauty of Madeira.
However, we struggled a bit to find the starting point of PR 6.3 Lagoa do Vento, because it’s not marked in Google Maps. However, you should be fine by searching for Rabaçal Shelter or PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes as the parking lot is also the head of the trail for PR 6, PR 6.1 and PR 6.2. We decided to opt for PR 6.3 Lagoa do Vento, but the Levada das 25 Fontes hike is also one of the most popular hikes on the island and is definitely worth checking out.
The PR 6.3 trail is less crowded than the other hikes on the island and this is what we really loved about this hike. You can really enjoy the power of nature here and wander along a levada waterfall, see different smaller waterfalls throughout the hike and then it all ends with a huge waterfall that drops into a natural pond.
Key Facts about the PR 6.3 hike on Madeira:
Trail length: 1.8 km one way, 3.6 km in total
Time: 2 hours total
Difficulty: Easy
Start point: Rabaçal Shelter
5. PR 14 Levada dos Cedros
Most „best hikes on Madeira“ lists now include the PR 13 Vereda do Fanal hike. However, we did not feel like hiking from the Paúl da Serra plateau to the Fanal Forest as it’s also accessible by car. Hence, if you only want to see the Fanal Forest, you don’t need to complete the PR 13 hike. We prefer hikes that reward you with stunning nature and places that cannot be reached otherwise.
Thus, we opted for the PR 14 Levada dos Cedros hike. You can easily park your car either on the Fanal Forest parking lot or nearby as the PR 14 hike starts very close to the forest. The first part of the hike is a little bit harder than the rest, because you need to walk a lot of stairs and decent a few hundred meters. Afterwards it’s a very flat hike out and back.
Key Facts about the PR 14 hike on Madeira:
Trail length: 12 km in total
Time: 4 hours in total
Difficulty: Medium
Start point: Fanal Forest parking lot
Now, these are some of the best hikes Madeira has to offer. They will take you to the highest points of the island, through lush forests, among rugged coastlines, above the clouds and to beautiful waterfalls. By completing all – or some – of these hikes, you will see so many different facades of Madeira.
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