Experiences and activities in Madeira

Going up to Pico dos Barcelos, a magnificent viewpoint where you can enjoy the beautiful bay of Funchal. Then, heading to Eira do Serrado, where we come across one of the most extraordinary green landscapes. At Curral das Freiras, customers enjoy the countryside, the forest and also the typical houses of Madeiran society.

On this tour you will visit the parish of Monte where we find Largo da Fonte, the church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, the traditional basket carts, the gardens of Monte and the old train station that served Monte and which connected Funchal to Terreiro da Fight. The next place to visit is the Botanical Garden. This garden is made up of several botanical species and plants from all continents. The garden holds about 300 exotic birds and 200 other species from the region.

Our typical Evening takes us to an "Espetada", a meat tender with herb flavour and grilled over an open fire. Other delicacies will be served, highlighting the local hot bread "Bolo do caco". To complete this evening, we offer great entertainment during dinner by a lively local folk group.

Para completar esta noite, oferecemos um ótimo entretenimento durante o jantar por um grupo folclórico local, cheio de vivacidade.

Câmara de Lobos -> Cabo Girão -> Ribeira Brava -> Encumeada -> Paul da Serra -> Porto Moniz -> Seixal -> São Vicente

Situated 5km from the city of Funchal, our first stop is the quaint and famous fishing village of Câmara de Lobos; a favourite painting spot of the late Winston Churchill! Thereafter we travel up to the magnificent 580m high, glass balcony view point of Cabo Girão, famous for being the highest in Europe and second highest cliff in the world. Travelling along the coast of the island we soon arrive at the village of Ribeira Brava, where we can visit a church dated in the 15th century. Next we make our way to the 1007m high viewpoint of Encumeada, to enjoy beautiful landscapes overlooking the north and south coast of the island as well as the valleys of Ribeira Brava and São Vicente. From an altitude of between 1300-1500 meters we find the tourist attraction of Paúl de Serra and its initiation of several levada walks that connect to different points of the island through the Laurissilva forest such as Rabaçal, Risco and the 25 fountains. We then stop for a lunch and extra time at the seaside town of Porto Moniz - home of the largest volcanic natural pools of Madeira. On our descent towards the town we can enjoy fantastic views, especially those of the volcanic pools in their entirety. In the good weather it is possible to take a dip, so come prepared. Next we enjoy a brief stop overlooking the black sandy beach and natural rock pools of Seixal village. Along the way, we have the pleasure of passing several waterfalls, particularly the famous and stunning Bridal Veil waterfall. Staring up at the water pouring down the mountain, you can see how the rock-face has been delicately sculpted by the wind and rain over millions of years to form what can only be described as the perfect art form. Thereafter we visit the picturesque neighbouring village of São Vicente, where you can visit a beautiful church dating from the 17th century before returning to Funchal.

Terreiro da Luta -> Pico do Arieiro -> Ribeiro Frio -> Faial-> Santana -> Portela -> Ponta de São Lourenço -> Machico

We enjoy a great start to this tour by visiting Camacha; one of the most rural and rustic villages in Madeira where folklore is still hugely in practice. Camacha makes Madeira world-renowned for its industry of wicker and cane. Enjoy seeing a variety of production pieces on show.

Our next stop is Pico do Areeiro, the third highest peak in the island, with an altitude of 1818m providing fabulous 360' island views. Often, rocky formations can be seen to be piercing through the clouds creating the most breathtaking visuals and photo opportunities.

Next we move on to Ribeiro Frio (meaning cold river). Ribeiro Frio is a small village situated in the heart of the Laurissilva forest. It is the largest surviving area of laurel forest in the world and is believed to be 90% primary forest. In this classified UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, we can enjoy a fantastic variety of plants and species in habitat. We can also observe the interesting Trout farm made up (as naturally as possible) of stone enclosures, fresh flowing levada water, set against a beautiful backdrop of pure nature.

We continue our tour to Faial where we can view the imposing rock of Penha de Águia, which separates Faial from Porto da Cruz. With a lengthy stop at the village of Santana, you will have ample time for lunch and also take the opportunity to see Madeira’s world famous typical thatched roofed triangular houses, painted in happy primary colours.

Passing by Portela, en route to Ponta São Lourenço; situated in the most eastern part of the island, we can see this magnificent landscape characterised by the fantastic combination of rocks, sea and nature. Our final stop is the larger city of Machico; the first area of the Island that the Portuguese navigators came across, at the time of the discoveries.

Ponta do Sol -> Moledos -> Calheta -> Prazeres -> Ponta do Pargo -> Paúl do Mar -> Jardim do Mar -> Madalena do Mar

The Southwest tour has its first stop at Ponta Do Sol, which translates as point of the sun which is taken as the sunniest part of the island. From this coastal town we follow on to the viewpoint of Moledos where we can enjoy the magnificent view over the fishing village of Madalena do Mar.

We continue with the excursion to Calheta, a lovely sea area with an artificial sand beach and where we find one of the most emblematic sugar cane factories on the south coast of Madeira.

Then we move on to Prazeres, where we have the opportunity to visit the Prazeres Educational Farm; Quinta Pedagógica dos Prazeres, housing various animals as well as an array of aromatic herbs.

Going on to Ponta do Pargo, we will come across a lighthouse that was built in 1922. This area is distinguished from the entire island of Madeira by its landscape; to see it is to believe it. In Paúl do Mar we will find a traditional fishing village which also happens to be a great spot to surf. From the view point above we can also enjoy the fabulous scenery over the mountains and the Atlantic.

Next we visit the 'ever pretty' Jardim do Mar - one of three pebble beach villages; Portinho, Enseada and Ponta Jardim. These beaches attract both locals and visitors alike in search of the beauty and calm of this natural environment.

Then we finish our tour at Madalena do Mar, a small old time fishing village with beautiful views over the sea cliffs of the southeast coastline. The location and climate help make this the largest banana producing area on the island.

Ponta Delgada-> Arco de São Jorge -> Cabanas -> Porto da Cruz -> Pico do Facho -> Santo da Cruz

On the Northeast tour we get a chance to get to know both the north and east of the island a little better. This part of the island is clearly more remote, and still remains very beautiful. We move on to Ponta Delgada, a village on the north coast with pleasant views over the mountains and sea. Here you can also visit the Matriz Church which was built in the 15th century. The tour continues until Arco de São Jorge, a rural village by the sea surrounded by mountains. You can also visit the Roseiral Quinta do Arco, boasting a variety of 1000 different rose bushes. In Cabanas in São Jorge, we can enjoy the views of the northern coastline and also observe the original architecture of this district. You can also visit the famous baroque style church. We continue towards the rural village of Porta da Cruz where we can visit the old sugar cane mill, still as operational as it was in the olden days, since sugar production began in 1927. From the nearby viewpoint of Pico do Facho, we can see the stunning Ponta de São Lourenço landscape and city of Machico. Finally we stop at Santa Cruz, being one of the oldest municipalities of the island of Madeira, dating from the beginning of the 15th century. Caves entrance not included.

This is an easy and pleasant walk, where we will have the opportunity to see the vineyards, responsible for the production of the famous American wine. The view of Porta da Cruz and the beauty of the famous Penha de D'Aguia´s towering rock formation, is both amazing and energising.

At the bottom of Machico valley, also known as the Mimosa valley, we walk along the Maroços levada. We enjoy a selected 6km stretch of beauty and typical agricultural fields of Madeira with the famous terraces. It is a very special walk with magnificent views over the Bay of Machico, where the Portuguese navigators made their first visit to the island of Madeira.

This is the most suitable walk to see the various plantations of sugarcane. Throughout, this levada offers a clear perspective on the localities of Ribeira Brava, where it is possible to observe carefully worked land by the owners and the surrounding villages that make up a unique landscape.

The walk to Paradise Valley is located in the Camacha region, a district that is particularly known for its folk tradition. This is an easy walk to do and this area is a beautiful place to visit whilst on vacation. Throughout the 6.5km walk we will have the opportunity to see the cultivated fields and learn more about Madeiras´ traditions and agriculture.

Wine Route This magnificent levada crosses a part of Levada do Norte, one of the largest and most important on the island. It starts at Garachico, taking the hiker to the Strait of Câmara de Lobos. It is an easy flat course with a very pleasant landscape, and can be walked at any time of the year due to the southern zone's mild climate. In this walk we can see the rich and lush vineyards that give rise to some of the best known vineyards in Madeira.

The Serra D'Agua Valley is a half day walk that offers the possibility of seeing the stunning landscapes of the south coast of the island (Encumeada, Ribeira Brava and Campanário) with a magnificent variety of fauna and flora ever present. We urge visitors to not leave the island without walking at this 6.5km stretch of beautiful nature.

This walk will give you a more comprehensive idea of the real beauty of this island. Throughout the trek the views are simply breathtaking and near Pico Ruivo we pass through the oldest known Heather forest. These trees have stood for hundreds of years since Zarco arrived on the island. This walk of contrasts is a must for anyone's bucket list!

This is one of the most popular walks on the Ilha. Starting with Paúl da Serra, we went to the shelter of Rabaçal and from here we left in the direction of the remaining water known as Risco. Afterwards we descend to Levada das 25 Fontes and walk until we reach a small lake. This lake is found in the lower part of a rock grove where there are 25 sources. We will not return, we will take a different route and we will pass through a tunnel that leads to water on the south side of the island.

This is a unique walk, where in the depths of the valley of the plateau of Paúl da Serra you will have the opportunity to admire lagoons and rock formations, which were excavated over thousands of years by the waters that passed towards the sea, forming waterfalls d' magnificent water and waterfalls. A truly unforgettable experience!

This is probably the best known levada on the island of Madeira. Along this walk you will have the opportunity to appreciate the contrast between light and shadow, which will appear through the laurel and heather and that will keep you ever engaged throughout the journey. Near the Lamaceiros you will have the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views over the village of Porto da Cruz and Penha D'Aguia. A magnificent walk not to miss!

This trek begins at the Queimadas shelter and along the levada of Serra de São Jorge, we wander through a lush emerald green paradise. Shortly after we can enjoy magnificent views over the paths and villages that lie below, after seeing the waterfall we will go through some small tunnels to finally arrive at the incredible green caldeirão waterfall.

On this trek we will have the perspective of exuberant beauty of the northeast coast of the island, where the contrast between the land and the Atlantic Ocean makes this landscape simply unforgettable. Along the way, there are incredible views surrounding the city of Machico with its landscaping, houses and buildings. Then we will pass through the path of Boca Da Risco where we will reach a viewpoint that offers a wonderful view of the north coast of the island.