Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Madeira: Levadas, Peaks and the Coast
8 days walking Madeira from two bases: Pico do Arieiro at sunrise, Pico Ruivo, the levadas to Caldeirão Verde and 25 Fontes, the Fanal forest and Ponta de São Lourenço.
8 days · Round trip from Madeira Airport · up to 12 guests
Sunrise above the clouds from Pico do Arieiro, 1,818 m Photo: Bex Walton, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Watching_the_sunrise_at_Pico_do_Arieiro_(52893160405).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Madeira Airport
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Five walking days of about 6 to 14 km and 3 to 5 hours each, mostly on level levada paths with some steep stone steps, narrow sections with drops and short tunnels; one easy day in Funchal. Easy options are written into each walking day.
- Meals included
- 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner
- Room of your own
- + CAD 800
- Season
- May to October
Highlights
Why this trip
- Sunrise above the clouds on Pico do Arieiro, on the clearest morning, with a second chance built in
- The walk up to Pico Ruivo, Madeira's highest point at 1,862 m
- The Levada do Caldeirão Verde and 25 Fontes, walked first thing before the tour groups
- Ponta de São Lourenço in low early light
- Old til trees in the mist at Fanal
- The Monte cable car, garden and wicker toboggan, and a rum distillery in Porto da Cruz, all included
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 800.
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Madeira and the north coast
Madeira Airport to Santana
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Santana
We meet you at Madeira Airport (FNC) in Santa Cruz and drive about 45 minutes past Machico and over to the green, steep north coast, where you spend your first three nights near Santana. This side of the island is quieter than Funchal and sits right below the trailheads for the high peaks and the laurel forest, so the next two mornings start with short drives instead of long ones.
Afternoon
In the late afternoon your guide walks you around Santana's traditional thatched A-frame houses, painted white with red doors and blue trim.
Evening
Over a welcome dinner you meet the group and hear how the week works: the summit sunrise goes on the clearest morning, and we check the webcams and forecast each evening.
Included
- Pick-up at Madeira Airport (FNC)
- Short walk among the traditional houses of Santana
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Time to settle in before dinner
Levada do Caldeirão Verde
Queimadas Forest Park and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Santana
Morning
After an early breakfast we drive about 20 minutes up to Queimadas Forest Park, aiming to be walking by 8.30, ahead of the day-tour groups. The trail follows the Levada do Caldeirão Verde, one of the irrigation channels cut along Madeira's mountainsides to carry water, for about 6.5 km through laurel forest, the Laurisilva that UNESCO lists as World Heritage. The path is mostly level but narrow in places, with railings along some of the steeper drops and several tunnels, so bring a headtorch. It ends in the Caldeirão Verde, a green cauldron of cliffs where a tall waterfall drops into a pool.
Afternoon
We picnic there, then walk back the same way and are at the hotel by mid-afternoon, with the rest of the day free.
Included
- Guided walk on the Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR9) from Queimadas Forest Park
- Picnic lunch at the waterfall
- Trail fees
Easier option: Walk the first hour of the levada and back, then spend the afternoon at the hotel.
Free time: Late afternoon free
Activity: About 13 km there and back, around 5 hours with stops, on a mostly level but narrow path with tunnels and some drops. If the summit forecast is better today, this walk swaps with day 3; it is just as good in cloud.
Sunrise on Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo
Pico do Arieiro, Achada do Teixeira and Pico Ruivo
- Breakfast
- Stay in Santana
Evening
On the clearer of days 2 and 3, chosen from the webcams and cloud forecast the night before, we leave in the dark and drive about 50 minutes up to Pico do Arieiro, at 1,818 m Madeira's third highest peak. When the cloud sits below the summit, the sun comes up over it. We arrive 45 minutes to an hour before sunrise, use the larger lower car park and stand on the viewpoint with hot drinks and a packed breakfast. Then your guide walks you out along the ridge path as far as it is open that season, to the views of the jagged peaks. Afterwards we drive round to Achada do Teixeira and walk about 2.8 km up to Pico Ruivo, at 1,862 m the island's highest point. You are back by early afternoon, with the afternoon free.
Included
- Pico do Arieiro at sunrise
- Guided walk on the open section of the ridge path from Pico do Arieiro
- Guided walk from Achada do Teixeira to Pico Ruivo (PR1.2) and back
- Packed summit breakfast
- Trail fees
Easier option: Watch the sunrise and walk the first stretch from Arieiro, then wait at Achada do Teixeira while the group climbs Pico Ruivo.
Free time: Afternoon free
Activity: About 6 to 8 km in all, with stone steps and around 300 m of climbing to Pico Ruivo. It is cold at the top before sunrise in any season: bring a warm layer, hat and gloves.
Ponta de São Lourenço and on to Funchal
North coast to Ponta de São Lourenço, Caniçal and Funchal
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Funchal
We check out early and drive about 40 minutes to the end of the road beyond Caniçal, to walk Ponta de São Lourenço while the light is low and before the trail fills up. This narrow peninsula at Madeira's eastern tip looks nothing like the rest of the island: bare volcanic rock in red, ochre and black, low windblown plants, and the Atlantic on both sides. The path runs about 4 km out to the Casa do Sardinha, a small ranger house with picnic tables, with a steep optional climb to a final viewpoint over the islets. There is no shade on the way, which is why we start early.
Afternoon
Lunch is grilled fish in the old whaling village of Caniçal, then it is about 35 minutes to your Funchal hotel and a free afternoon.
Included
- Guided walk on Ponta de São Lourenço (PR8)
- Sit-down lunch in Caniçal
- Transfer to your Funchal hotel
- Trail fees
Easier option: Walk to the first two viewpoints, about 1 km from the car park, and wait there for the group.
More active option: Climb the steep final hill beyond the Casa do Sardinha for the view of the lighthouse islet.
Free time: Afternoon free in Funchal
Activity: About 8 km there and back with the final climb, 3 to 4 hours, with rough steps and no shade. Wind is common; bring sun cover and a windproof layer.
25 Fontes, Risco and the Fanal forest
Funchal to Rabaçal and Fanal, and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Funchal
An early start for the west. We leave Funchal around 7.30 and drive about an hour and a quarter up to Rabaçal on the edge of the Paul da Serra plateau, to be on the trail before the tour coaches arrive and the narrow path gets busy in both directions. From the forest house below Rabaçal two levadas branch off. The first leads to the Risco waterfall, which pours off a high cliff into the valley. The second continues to 25 Fontes, a green pool where many small springs and streams run down a mossy rock wall.
Afternoon
We have a packed lunch on the way and climb back up by early afternoon. Then it is about 30 minutes across the plateau to Fanal, where centuries-old til trees stand in open pasture, often wrapped in drifting mist.
Evening
We are back in Funchal for the evening.
Included
- Guided walk on the Levada do Risco (PR6.1) and the Levada das 25 Fontes (PR6) from Rabaçal
- Minibus down the Rabaçal road, when it runs
- Packed lunch
- Time at Fanal
- Trail fees
Easier option: Walk only to the Risco waterfall, about 1.5 km from the forest house and nearly level, and back.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: The longest day: about 10 to 11 km, 4 to 5 hours on foot with a steep set of steps down to 25 Fontes and back up, plus about 3 hours of driving.
Funchal, Monte and Cabo Girão
Funchal, Monte and the south coast
- Breakfast
- Stay in Funchal
A slow day, and the week's built-in weather day.
Morning
If cloud spoiled the sunrise on day 3, we take a second chance this morning from Funchal, about 40 minutes from Pico do Arieiro. If not, there is no alarm. Mid-morning the cable car lifts you from the Old Town up to Monte, above the city. Monte Palace Tropical Garden fills a steep valley with plants from around the world, ponds and old tile panels, and nearby is the church where Charles I, the last Austrian emperor, is buried. You ride down part of the hill in a wicker toboggan, steered by two drivers in white with straw hats, and our vehicle brings you back.
Afternoon
The afternoon is yours, for the Mercado dos Lavradores or the painted doors of Rua de Santa Maria. In late light we drive to Cabo Girão, a sea cliff about 580 m high, with a glass-floored viewing platform.
Included
- Second-chance sunrise on Pico do Arieiro, if day 3 was clouded
- Cable car from Funchal to Monte
- Monte Palace Tropical Garden
- Wicker toboggan ride down from Monte
- Cabo Girão skywalk in the late afternoon
Optional experiences
- Whale and dolphin watching from Funchal marina
Free time: Afternoon free in Funchal
Activity: Easy walking in the garden and the town.
Balcões, Levada do Furado and Porto da Cruz
Ribeiro Frio to Portela, then Porto da Cruz
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Funchal
We drive about 40 minutes into the mountains to Ribeiro Frio, a hamlet with a trout farm in the middle of the laurel forest. First a short, level walk of about 1.5 km to the Balcões viewpoint, which looks over a deep valley to Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, the peaks you climbed earlier in the week. Then we follow the Levada do Furado for about 11 km east to Portela, a gentle, mostly level walk under the trees, with views to the north coast and Penha de Águia, the huge rock above Faial.
Afternoon
Our vehicle meets us at Portela and takes us down to Porto da Cruz for lunch and a visit to its sugar cane mill and rum distillery, whose machinery still runs on steam in the spring harvest, with a tasting.
Evening
Back in Funchal, we finish with a farewell dinner.
Included
- Guided walk to the Balcões viewpoint (PR11)
- Guided walk on the Levada do Furado (PR10) from Ribeiro Frio to Portela
- Sit-down lunch in Porto da Cruz
- Rum distillery visit and tasting in Porto da Cruz
- Farewell dinner
- Trail fees
Easier option: Walk to Balcões and back, then meet the group at Portela by vehicle.
Activity: About 14 km in all, 4 to 5 hours, mostly level and shaded, on a path that is narrow in places.
Departure
Funchal to Madeira Airport
- Breakfast
Morning
Your last morning is free. After breakfast there may be time for a final walk along the Funchal seafront or a coffee in the Old Town, depending on your flight. The Mercado dos Lavradores, Funchal's market hall decorated with tile panels, is a good place to buy passion fruit, custard apples and other island fruit to take with you, and is closed on Sundays. We drive you the 25 minutes or so to Madeira Airport in Santa Cruz, whose runway is partly built out over the sea on tall columns, and you can watch the coast drop away as the plane climbs. If your flight is late in the day, ask your guide about leaving bags at the hotel.
Evening
Your guide checks your flight time with you the evening before.
Included
- Drop-off at Madeira Airport (FNC)
Free time: Free morning, depending on your flight time
- Madeira Airportstart
- Santana3 nights
- Funchal4 nights
- Madeira Airportend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Madeira is mild all year. The mountains are much cooler than the coast and can be wet and clouded in at any time, most often in winter.
Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Walkers who want Madeira's best trails without carrying a pack between hotels
- Travellers who like early starts in exchange for quiet paths and good light
- A mix of guided walks and free afternoons
Not for you if you want
- Anyone uneasy on narrow paths beside long drops
- Step-free access: most walks have uneven ground and stone steps
- A beach holiday
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
7 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Santana3 nights
- Funchal4 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 7 nights in air-conditioned 3 to 4-star hotels: 3 on the north coast near Santana, 4 in Funchal
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up and drop-off at Madeira Airport (FNC)
- A private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the group
- The Rabaçal minibus, when it runs
Activities
- Guided walks: Levada do Caldeirão Verde, Pico do Arieiro ridge, Pico Ruivo, Ponta de São Lourenço, Risco and 25 Fontes, Balcões and the Levada do Furado
- Pico do Arieiro at sunrise, with a second chance on day 6
- Fanal
- Trail fees on every walk
- Cable car from Funchal to Monte
- Monte Palace Tropical Garden
- Wicker toboggan ride from Monte
- Cabo Girão skywalk
- Rum distillery visit and tasting in Porto da Cruz
Meals
- Breakfast daily
- Packed summit breakfast on the sunrise morning
- Picnic or packed lunches on days 2 and 5
- Sit-down lunches in Caniçal and Porto da Cruz
- Welcome dinner and farewell dinner
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide for the whole trip, with local walking guides on the mountain and levada days
Not included
- International flights to and from Madeira
- Travel insurance
- Lunch on days 3 and 6, and dinners other than the welcome and farewell dinners
- Drinks
- Whale and dolphin watching and other optional activities
- Tips
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 800
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We confirm your departure within 24 hours.
Want your own dates? We can book the same hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your confirmation.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Seven nights in air-conditioned hotels with breakfast, airport transfers, a private vehicle and driver, your See Sight Tours guide with local walking guides, every guided walk and its trail fee, the sunrise on Pico do Arieiro, the Monte cable car, garden and toboggan, the Cabo Girão skywalk, the rum distillery with a tasting, four lunches, a summit breakfast and two dinners.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, so the group fits on narrow levada paths without long queues and everyone can hear the guide at the viewpoints.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section: we can book the same hotels, transfers and local walking guides for you.
What happens if the summit is in cloud?
We pick the sunrise morning from the summit webcams and the cloud forecast the night before, so it can fall on day 2 or day 3, with the Caldeirão Verde walk on the other. If both mornings are cloudy, we try again from Funchal on day 6. Clear mornings are never guaranteed, but you get three chances instead of one.
Is the walk from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo included?
We walk the section of the ridge path from Pico do Arieiro that is open that season, and reach Pico Ruivo by its own trail from Achada do Teixeira. The full ridge path has had closures and one-way rules, so we do not build the trip around it. If it is open and the group is keen, your guide can plan it instead.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderate. Expect five walking days of 3 to 5 hours, mostly on level levada paths, with some steep stone steps at 25 Fontes and Pico Ruivo. Each walking day has an easy option, and day 6 is gentle.
Are the levada walks safe?
They are well-used paths, but some are narrow, with drops beside them and railings only in places, and Caldeirão Verde has dark tunnels. Our guides check each trail's status before the walk, set the pace and carry spare headtorches. If you are uneasy with heights, tell us before you book.
Where do we stay?
Two hotels: three nights on the north coast near Santana, close to the mountain trailheads, and four in Funchal. Both have air-conditioned rooms. We name the hotels when we confirm your dates.
When is the best time to go?
Madeira is walkable all year. May to October is usually driest, with the longest days. Winter brings more rain and cloud to the mountains and shorter days, and the summit can be very cold before sunrise.
How much does it cost?
Prices are per person sharing a room, with taxes, and differ by style: small group or private. The small group starts from CAD 3,235 per person, and a room of your own is from CAD 800 more. Pick your start date when you request to book, and we confirm your trip within 24 hours. Nothing is charged until then.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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