Whether you prefer challenging mountain ascents or easy-going waterfall ambles, all of the best hikes in Madeira will leave you speechless.
Magnificent viewpoints, called miradouros in Portuguese, peek over vegetation-clad cliffs toward the Atlantic Ocean. Levadas, centuries-old irrigation channels, furnish generally flat trails leading deep into the rugged interior. And veradas, mountainous paths that track hair-raising peaks, often protrude above the clouds.
With out-and-back trails and loops, intense and more moderate walks, and varied topography spanning ancient laurel forests and ocean-weathered headlands, Portugal’s most mountainous island has trails for all abilities. These are Madeira’s best hikes to discover the so-called Island of Eternal Spring.
Levada das 25 Fontes PR6
Levada das 25 Fontes PR6
Combining Madeira’s signature levadas, jungle-like canopy, far-reaching valley viewpoints, and a waterfall dip into a spectacular 5.4-mile return route, the Levada das 25 Fontes is rightly one of the most popular and best hikes in Madeira.
En route, western Madeira’s dramatic scenery slowly reveals itself. After the slightly unimpressive first stretch from the starting point on Rabaçal’s main road—a shuttle bus can skip this part—the narrow path takes shaded shelter under the finger-like branches arching over the walkway, before stairs descend alongside a rushing levada.
Levada das 25 Fontes PR6
Given the moderate trail’s name translates to “25 springs”, it’s unsurprising that water continues to define the route. In around three hours, you’ll pass under trickling springs and through damp tunnels and end at the route’s namesake lake, Lagoa das 25 Fontes, where a streaming waterfall can provide a refreshing shower before returning the same way.
In addition to the cascades, the most remarkable vista comes as the canopy breaks, affording far-reaching views across the dramatic and unapologetically green Ribeira da Janela valley. The return journey is slightly more challenging, with an ascent of 1,062 feet.
For an easier alternative to the main trail, formally PR6—an abbreviation for Pequena Rotas, official short hiking routes that usually take two to seven hours—opt for the PR6.1 Levada do Risco. This flatter, 1.9-mile round trip ends at the remarkable Risco Waterfall.
Vereda do Areeiro PR1
Vereda do Areeiro PR1
Madeira’s most famous hike, the vertigo-inducing, jaw-dropping PR1 trail linking the island’s three highest peaks, is almost otherworldly. Arrive at sunrise, and you might even find yourself above the clouds. But whatever time you decide to tackle the Vereda do Areeiro, the elevated views across the rugged island will leave you spellbound.
Starting from 5,965-foot Pico do Areeiro, a 40-minute drive from Funchal, the roughly four-hour, one-way, 4.4-mile hike tops out at 6,109-foot Pico Ruivo, after which the brief PR1.2 trail continues to Achada do Teixeira with road access and transfers.
Along the trail, narrow, rock-hewn staircases ascend the jagged peaks, the swoon-worthy valleys of the Central Mountain Massif spill out in every direction, and rare fauna and flora, such as the endemic and endangered Zino’s petrel seabird, can be sighted.
Vereda do Areeiro PR1
Two options exist to pass Pico das Torres before reaching Pico Ruivo, allowing for a more shaded, partly tunnelled passage or a steep staircase climb. It’s certainly not for the faint-hearted, but the jaw-dropping panoramas make this arguably Madeira’s most dramatic hike.
If you’d like to enjoy the scenery without climbing ridges, the Miradouro do Pico do Areeiro lookout is just a few minutes’ walk from the car park where the trail begins.
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço PR8
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço PR8
Beyond the small, east-coast town of Caniçal, the weathered Ponta de São Lourenço headland arches into the ocean. This area offers one of the best hikes in Madeira for windswept coastal views.
The headland’s namesake trail is a moderate 3.8-mile return route that traverses dirt tracks to the Miradouro Ponta do Furado, denoting the final point of the main island. From here, the islets of Ilhéu da Cevada and lighthouse-crowned Ilhéu do Farol fade into the Atlantic, with the archipelago’s further-flung Ilhas Desertas, or Deserted Islands, beyond.
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço PR8
Given the number of photogenic vantage points along the way, you’ll want to allow around three hours for the return hike. Due to the volcanic nature of the peninsula, there’s little shade, so be sure to bring plenty of water and wear sunscreen.
Along the trail, nicknamed the Dragon’s Tail, you’ll pass craggy bays carved by aggressive waves and soaring cliffs that house hundreds of seabirds. On rare occasions, you might sight one of the Mediterranean monk seals detouring from their home on the Deserted Islands.
For a refreshing dip, descend the wooden staircase at Cais do Sardinha to the pocket-sized, stony beach. Pre-booking a kayak rental or boat trip departing from the dock is possible.
Vereda do Fanal PR13
Vereda do Fanal PR13
Snaking across misty plateaus and ethereal, ancient forests, the linear, 6.7-mile Vereda do Fanal trail puts the Laurisilva Forest of Madeira, the island’s sole UNESCO World Heritage Site, center stage.
Nowadays, these laurisilva, or laurel forests, are only found on the Portuguese archipelagos of Madeira—home to the largest surviving area—the Azores, and Spain’s Canary Islands. Thus, this trail offers an excellent peek into a historic ecosystem possessing 75 endemic plants.
On the roughly four-hour hike across the conservation area, you’ll pass open fields and marshes alongside dense vegetation. Keep your eyes peeled for the Madeiran Laurel Pigeon, one of two endemic species of bird living in the forest.
Ending in Fanal, after circling a small volcanic crater hemmed with knotted trees and often enveloped by fog, you’ll have a far greater appreciation for why the remote island—uninhabited until the 13th century—is named Madeira, meaning “wood” in Portuguese.
Levada do Caldeirão Verde PR9
Levada do Caldeirão Verde PR9
Close to the village of Santana—best known for its Casas de Santana, traditional thatched-roof A-frame houses hemmed in crimson and cerulean—the Levada do Caldeirão Verde is one of the best hikes near Madeira’s north coast.
The 11-mile out-and-back trail starts slightly inland at the Parque Florestal das Queimadas, a pristine setting of laurels, berry trees, and thatched-roof buildings. You could spot buzzards overhead, too.
To tackle the entire route, as cars can’t reach the end point, you’ll want to allow around seven hours, although given that the trail has many scenic points to pause at, you could happily just walk as far as is comfortable before turning back.
Mainly tracing an 18th-century levada, constructed to deliver water to the farmlands, the narrow, adjacent walkway slices through damp, dark tunnels and snakes underneath diminutive waterfalls. Occasional breaks in the canopy afford spectacular views across the lush valleys.
Levada do Caldeirão Verde PR9
Towards the trail’s end, the Caldeirão Verde, or Green Cauldron, is a pond-like lake fed by a waterfall streaming down a moss-clad rockface. Pause for a refreshing paddle and a picnic before returning or tackling the final, steep climb to a second waterfall at the Caldeirão do Inferno.
The Nuns’ Path
The Nuns’ Path
With impeccable views across the dramatic and verdant Curral das Freiras, known as the Valley of the Nuns, the Nuns’ Path is one of Madeira’s most cinematic yet short hikes, mainly following a steep staircase that descends into the valley.
Best tackled as a descent—a bus from Funchal reaches both the upper and lower parts of the valley—the staircase begins by the Miradouro da Eira do Serrado. From this sweeping viewing platform, rugged, greenery-carpeted peaks cocoon a whitewashed village below, the end point of this one-to-two-hour trail.
Miradouro da Eira do Serrado
It’s said that when pirates advanced on Funchal in the 16th century, the nuns of Santa Clara Convent fled here, carrying the convent’s treasures. They remained largely cut off from the world until a road was finally built in 1959.
Descending the path, a mix of rough stairs and old shepherd’s tracks, is to retrace a similar route to the nuns first took. It’s steep in parts, but the jaw-dropping panoramas and wholesome welcome at the village’s restaurants make every step worthwhile.
More challenging trails in and around the valley will lead you to lofty lookouts or agricultural land rich in chestnut trees, used for local specialties, including liquors and even chestnut soup.
Read: Best Things to Do in Funchal
Levada do Rei PR18
Levada do Rei PR18
Situated in the island’s north, Levada do Rei is one of the best hikes in Madeira for visitors seeking a less strenuous introduction to the island’s levadas. The 6.6-mile out-and-back trail tracks the levada entirely, meaning elevation variation is only a maximum of 125 feet across the walk.
Beginning at the São Jorge Wastewater Treatment Plant, the trail passes through subtropical forests, which are kept lush thanks to the continuous flow of streams in the wetter north. At one point, a cascade briefly tumbles over the walkway, so wear clothes that can be quickly dried.
Ending in the Ribeiro Bonito, an area of dense Laurissilva forest, you’ll witness one of the island’s traditional water mills, still powered by the levada. Allow around four hours to complete the hike both ways.
Vereda dos Balcões PR11
Vereda dos Balcões PR11
Short and sweet but particularly scenic, the Vereda dos Balcões is one of the best hikes in Madeira if you’re pursuing cinematic panoramas with little effort. The trailhead is accessed directly from the ER 103 road, only a 30-minute drive from Funchal, and makes an excellent pit stop en route to Porta Cruz.
The two-mile, out-and-back trail tracks the Levada da Serra do Faial, keeping the route essentially flat. It takes around 80 minutes to complete.
Tracing narrow passages sliced through soil and sheltered by ferns and gnarled trees, the brief walk affords an entry-level introduction to Madeira’s landscapes. Keep your eyes peeled for chaffinches and the Madeira firecrest, the island’s smallest endemic bird.
The finale at Balcões viewpoint, a jutting platform peering over the Laurissilva forest carpeting the Ribeira da Metade valley, is unforgettable. In the distance, the hulking Penha d’Águia rock formation adds an otherworldly backdrop.
Levada do Furado PR10
Levada do Furado PR10
Commencing almost opposite PR11, the Levada do Furado is an excellent alternative to or addition to its shorter sibling.
The moderate, 6.8-mile one-way trail with a descent of around 720 feet mostly tracks one of Madeira’s oldest levadas and takes four to five hours to complete.
You’ll witness much of the same scenery as PR11—laurel forests, Penha d’Águia, and birdlife—alongside far-reaching views across fertile farmlands and Madeiran chrysanthemums and orchids, thanks to more breaks in the canopy.
Just after the trail ends, the Miradouro da Portela offers impeccable views of the villages below and the Atlantic beyond. Nearby, Restaurante Portela À Vista serves Madeiran specialties, like espetada beef skewers. From here, a bus departs for Funchal.
Levada Fajã do Rodrigues PR16
Levada Fajã do Rodrigues PR16
Leading away from São Vicente, one of the north coast’s prettiest valley towns where it’s possible to explore underground volcanic caves, the moderate PR16 traces its namesake levada deep into the rugged Ribeira do Inferno ravine, translated as the River of Hell.
Yet, while the name might sound ominous, this is one of Madeira’s most eye-pleasing hikes. Allow around four hours to complete the 4.8-mile trail, including plenty of stops for photos.
Following the generally flat course, you’ll cross multiple waterfalls, sometimes raining down on the narrow pathway clinging to the rockface, and appreciate outlandish forest-swathed valley and ocean vistas.
Most fascinating are the old waterway tunnels that sprinkle the route, carved to allow the irrigation channels to have an uninterrupted flow. While most are brief, a head torch is essential for the final pass, stretching over a mile in damp darkness.
Caminho Real do Monte PR3.1
This 2.6-mile descending trail is one of the best hikes in Madeira for visitors who don’t want to stray far from Funchal and are keen to combine a walking route with some of the island’s top attractions.
Funchal Ecological Park
The route, which takes around two hours to complete, links the lofty Funchal Ecological Park with Monte, home to the island’s finest tropical gardens and former palace. From Monte, you can take a cable car back to the city.
While not as dramatic as the trails on the north coast—though the PR3 from towering Pico do Areeiro feeds in for an extended jaunt—the Caminho Real do Monte encapsulates much of Madeira’s magnetism in a less challenging hike.
Featuring dense woodlands, a 250-year-old levada, and the park’s plant nursery—alongside plenty of sweeping views over Funchal and its bay—it’s a flawless introduction to Madeira’s culture and terrain.
Vereda Do Larano
Vereda Do Larano
While not an official Pequena Rota, advanced hikers will enjoy the Vereda Do Larano’s dazzling views. The roughly four-hour hike covers 7.5 miles between Machico and Porto da Cruz on the north coast, taking in much of Madeira’s diversity.
Commencing inland from Machico—home to one of Madeira’s rare, golden sand beaches—the trail starts easy-going, tracking a tree-lined levada before reaching a panoramic viewpoint from which the Ponta de São Lourenço and neighbouring islands are visible.
Vereda Do Larano
Beyond, the hike becomes more challenging as it clambers across the mountains, eventually tracing the edge of the north coast’s cliffs. The second half of the trail, which features impeccable views of dramatic rock formations, should only be tackled by experienced hikers and in dry weather due to the sheer vertical drops.
Descending into Porto da Cruz is a fetching finale, especially as the public ocean-facing pools come into view, calling out for a refreshing post-hike swim.
Read: Best Things to Do in Madeira
Funchal
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