Discover Madeira - 5 Days of Peaks, Poncha & Pure Magic

WHY GO?

• Scenic beauty: Madeira offers a diverse range of landscapes, from lush forests and rugged mountains to picturesque valleys and coastline. Hiking allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the island's natural beauty and take in the stunning views.
• Variety of trails: Madeira offers a variety of hiking trails that cater to different levels of fitness and experience. From easy coastal walks to challenging mountain treks, there is something for everyone.
• Unique flora and fauna: Madeira is home to a wide variety of unique plant and animal species, many of which can only be found on the island. Hiking allows visitors to see these species in their natural habitat.
• Cultural experiences: Many of the hiking trails in Madeira take visitors through traditional villages and historic sites, allowing them to experience the local culture and history of the island.
• Variety of weather: Madeira offers a different type of weather in different seasons which makes it a year-round destination for hiking.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS?

• Funchal – Madeira’s vibrant capital, perfect for wandering colorful streets, savoring local fruits, and soaking in seaside café vibes.
• Ribeira da Janela – A challenging hike through dense forests and towering ridges, offering surreal landscapes straight out of a fantasy novel.
• Rabaçal – A lush valley known for its levadas and waterfalls, offering serene trails and a rustic stay in nature’s embrace.
• Encumeada – A tiny mountain village with breathtaking valley views, a reward for completing a long yet rewarding hike.
• Pico Ruivo – Madeira’s highest peak, gifting you 360-degree views of dramatic mountains, rolling clouds, and pure hiking euphoria.
• Faial & Curral das Freiras – A scenic descent from Pico Ruivo, passing through stunning valleys before heading to Machico.
• Machico – A charming seaside town perfect for winding down with ocean views and fresh seafood after days of mountain trekking.
• Vereda do Larano – A thrilling coastal trail with jaw-dropping cliffside paths and endless Atlantic views, the perfect trip finale.

TRIP DETAILS

Start & End Date: Fri, 6 June - Wed, 11 June

Meeting location & time: Meet your guide at the airport or directly at the accommodation in Funchal on Friday, 6 June. Note: Exact accommodation details will be advised to confirmed participants closer to the trip date.

Finishing location & time: Accommodation in Funchal @ 10:30 AM on Wednesday.

Note: If you are leaving earlier or later, please us know in the sheet that will be shared with you closer to the event date, so that we can accordingly make the relevant drop-off arrangements.

Madeira 5-Day Hiking Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Funchal, explore the Old Town, enjoy local markets, and relax by the seaside.
• Day 2: Hike PR15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela (20 km), a tough but stunning trail through forests and ridges.
• Day 3: Trek from Rabaçal to Encumeada (21 km), following levadas and lush valleys with breathtaking views.
• Day 4: Summit Pico Ruivo (15 km), Madeira’s highest peak.
• Day 5: Madeira island roadtrip followed by some beach time.

Hiking Difficulty: Hard– hiking at relaxed pace on well-marked paths, with steep inclines and descents, sure-footedness & good fitness required

Price: Starting from 895 euros for adults (before any discounts are applied). Note: Anyone 12 & over will be considered as an Adult for this trip.

What is Included?

• Community leader & guide for the entire duration.
• 5 x nights shared apartment accommodation. Note: Additional accommodation upgrade options are available.
• Transportation for the entire trip starting from the meeting location to the finishing location including taxi's to get to & from certain hikes.
• Guided on all the 3 x epic hikes.
• Breakfast on all days.
• 2 x dinners included: Dinner on day 2 and on Day 5 (final dinner for the trip).
• Madeira roadtrip
• Entry to Monte Palace Madeira.
• Organizing lunch & dinner places. Note: Participants need to pay themselves except where mentioned previously.

How to get to Madeira?

• Flying is the fastest way to reach Madeira (Funchal Madeira Aeroporto) with direct flights from most European cities.

Other Things of Note:

• Weather tends to change quickly in Madeira, so you need to be prepared (raincoat, beanie etc.).
• We will walk through caves and tunnels please bring a torchlight.

Optional Add-on

• Whale watching will be provided as an optional add-on closer to the trip date.

Check out some pics from our previous Madeita trip in June 2024 here.

What is the plan?

• Day 1 - Arrival in Funchal & Self-Exploration: Arrive in Funchal and dive straight into island life — but on your own terms. Wander the Old Town, get lost in colorful alleyways, sample local fruits at the market, or find a shady spot at a seaside café and do absolutely nothing. No pressure, no schedule, just you and the town

• Day 2 - PR15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela Hike (20 km | 8–9 hours | Difficult): Taxi to the northwestern corner of Madeira and tackle PR15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela — one of those hikes that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a fantasy novel. Expect dense forests, towering ridges, and more ups and downs than your last relationship. It’s tough, it’s long, and it’s absolutely worth it and we fiinish the night by staying in the middle of the forest in a fabulous accommodation setting.

• Day 3 - Rabaçal to Sao Vicente Hike: Another big day, but slightly less dramatic than Day 2. You'll meander through levadas and lush valleys, with fewer steep climbs but plenty of distance to cover. The trail leads you to Sao Vicente, a beautiful seaside town where we have a beautiful accommodation for the night.
  
• Day 4 - “Um Caminho Para Todos” — The Scenic Showstopper (15 km | 5–6 hours | Steep): This is the grand finale of the mountain stages. A short but steep hike that gifts you with 360-degree views over Madeira’s dramatic peaks. You’ll summit Pico Ruivo, the island's highest point, and then it’s all downhill (via taxi) back to Funschal
  
• Day 5 - Madeira Island Roadtrip : Drive around this beautiful island and discover the many places that we have not covered in our hike.

• Day 6 - Head back home: We say our goodbye's and head to airport to catch our respective flights to head back home

Check out some pics from our previous Madeita trip in June 2024 here.

WHAT ARE YOUR REVIEW'S LIKE FROM PREVIOUS TRIPS?

To go through our amazing reviews by participants, please click on the links below:

• Google Reviews
• Facebook reviews
• Trustpilot reviews.

WHAT IS NEXT ?

• WhatsApp Group: In the ticket confirmation page, you will find a link to a whatsapp group dedicated to this event. This group is where you can connect with trip mates, coordinate arrival options & stay in touch.
• Trip Briefing: You will find a link in the whatsapp group description to a detailed trip briefing document providing details on what to expect, how to prepare etc.
• Google Photos Album: You will find a link in the whatsapp group description to the shared google photos album where you can upload & view all shared photos & videos from the trip.

HOW DO I CONTACT YOU FOR ANY QUERIES / CONCERNS?

• WHATSAPP (fastest): Reach out to us directly by clicking here.
• EMAIL: Reach out to us by clicking on "Contact the event organizer" option below.
• FACEBOOK: Message our facebook page @urbanaturetravel
• INSTAGRAM: Message our Instagram page @urbanaturetravel

OTHER CONDITIONS:

• Please note that the program, as well as the venue is subject to change due to extreme weather conditions, as well as to the characteristics and size of the group.
• UNT reserves the right to cancel the trip, modify the route, change the accommodation or re-schedule hikes and without prior notice.
• UNT is not responsible for any loss, theft, damage or personal injury that occurs during the trip.