We invite you to explore a unique island, full of unusual places and full of secrets! This is Madeira, which means "wooded" in Portuguese. Here you'll find ancient forests of laurel and eucalyptus and the island is covered with a dense network of original irrigation channels called levades. Most of the hiking trails along the levadas allow you to discover the secrets of the island, hidden among the dense forests and deep gorges.
We will also climb the highest mountains of Madeira, which used to be the top of a volcano and now surprise us with their steep cliffs and sharp peaks. We will get acquainted with the culture of the locals and immerse ourselves in its color.
The route of the hiking in Portugal is relatively easy, because we will hike with light backpacks, and every night we will stay overnight in hotels or guest houses.
There will be tunnels along the route. Sometimes 150-300 meters, and sometimes up to 1 km. So you need to be prepared for this.
This trek in Madeira is not recommended for people with vertigo or fear of heights.
You may also be interested in other options for hiking on the islands:
We do not cancel or shift groups. If the manager approved the purchase of a ticket, you can surely buy it. The hike will not be canceled due to our fault.
Experienced Kuluar teamleader will accompany the group on all route, will make the trip as safe and unforgettable as possible!
A consultant will help you prepare for the trip and answer all your questions
All overnight stays will be in pre-booked guest houses and hotels, where you can take a shower, charge your smartphones and cameras, try the local cuisine
The program is specially made for those who want to trek without heavy backpacks, while visiting the most interesting places in Madeira
More than 25000 participants have already gone to the mountains with the Kuluar and 97,8% were satisfied.
We begin our hike of the Madeira island with the capital city of Funchal. It is a rather cozy and small town on the southern coast. Tidy white houses with tiled terraces sit on a mountain slope. We walk through the city park and along the promenade. In the park against the backdrop of exotic plants quite nice looking pond and fountains, and on the waterfront moored boats of all sizes - from fishing boats and pleasure yachts to large cruise ships. We also visit the Lavrador Market, one of the local attractions, which is quite large by local standards. Depending on the time of arrival on the island, we will choose the best tour program, because you can take the cable car up over the city, visit the botanical garden Monte and enjoy the view of Funchal and the ocean from a height. And then go down from Monte Monte on an asphalt sled! That's right, you heard right. This activity is called "Carros de Cesto do Monte," and since 1850, locals have used such transportation to get down the hill.
In the evening at dinner we get acquainted and find out what lies ahead.
The landscape of Ponta de Sao Laurenço is different from the rest of the island of Madeira. There is no forest on the cape, only huge rocks and waves of the ocean crashing against them. The cape looks like a huge dragon that has collapsed into the water and is petrified. The cliffs of the cape are striking for their severity and diverse rock, multicolored layers of which are clearly visible. The trail goes quite close in some places, and although there is a fence in these places, you should be wary of strong gusts of wind, which are not uncommon here. The hiking route on the cape is about 8 km round trip, so the walk will take most of the day. We will see a completely different Madeira.
Distanse: 8 km. Climb 550m. Drop 550 m.
Today is going to be an incredibly busy day!
We move further and higher up to the mountain plateau of Paul da Serra. On its slopes many mountain streams have their source and afterwards they carry their water through special irrigation canals like blood vessels all over the island. These canals are called levades and were built to irrigate the fields at the time the sugarcane plant, a very water-loving plant, was introduced to Madeira. Later, many of the canals lost their original role and the paths along them were used as walking trails.
Today we will stroll through several of these Levada das 25 Fontes, Levada do Risco. The Levada das 25 Fontes is one of the most popular in Madeira, its name corresponds to the number of small waterfalls you can see along the trail. The highlight is the high Risco waterfall at the end of the Levada of the same name.
After visiting the waterfalls by early booked minibus we move to the next fabulous place - the Fanal laurel forest. Depending on the weather, this forest changes incredibly. It looks especially beautiful and even a little mystical in the fog, which is not uncommon here. We will walk among ancient laurels with bizarre trunks and branches, and then take a minibus down to the ocean. We will stop in the town Porto Moniche.
Distanse: 15 km. Approximate travel time: 5 hours. Climb: 200 m. Drop 600 м.
Today, participants can choose to either travel to the west coast of the island or stay to relax by the lava pools of Porto Moniz.
The small town of Porto Moniz is known to the world for its lava pools. The frozen lava reminds us of Madeira's "hot" past, and at the same time protects visitors from the harsh ocean by delaying the waves.
We still recommend seeing Câlau das Ashadas with your own eyes, as this place is famous for its stunning unique landscapes, which are not so easy to reach.
Distance: 16 km. Altitude gain 1200 m. Altitude loss 1200 m.
We drive along the coast to the opposite side of the island, to the town of Santana. There is no hurry on the way to visit a beautiful levada called Levada do Rei. After listening to the birds we go to Santana. There we visit the famous open-air museum with beautiful traditional houses. You can enter them and get acquainted with the life of the pioneers of the island.
Distanse: 12 km. Approximate travel time: 4 hours. Elevation gain 40 m. Drop 40 m.
Are you longing for narrow levards and waterfalls? Today, after a good rest, we will continue to explore the laurel forests and deep gorges of Madeira. We will go to two lakes and the waterfalls that form them. On the way to Caldera Verde we will pass through tunnels that were cut through the rocks in the 18th century.
Caldera Verde Lake is a deep bowl with crystal clear and cool water. This bowl fills the waterfall, falling from a height of one hundred meters. The walk will take almost a whole day.
We will return to the same point where we started, in Keimadas, where there are very photogenic and traditional-looking lodges. From there a early booked bus will take us back to Santana.
Distanse: 12 km. Approximate travel time: 5 hours. Climb 260 m. Drop 260 m.
Today we rest again after trekking through the levads, but still as active and interesting. A minibus will take us to one of the shortest trails in Madeira, leading to the Balconouche Lookout. The name speaks for itself. From this balcony over the abyss you have a stunning view of the deep gorge and the sharpest and highest mountain peaks in Madeira. And we will be there tomorrow! After we go to the levada along the route PR 10 Portela - 11 km. The route Ribeiro Frio - Portela gives the opportunity to see the nature that met the first settlers.
Distanse: 14 km. Approximate travel time: 6 hours. Elevation gain 50 m. Drop 232 m.
Today is the climax of our hike, and let's hope we have good luck with the weather. After all, we are going to the two highest peaks in Madeira. Clouds will be strewn at our feet, and the heights and cliffs around us will be breathtaking. A stony trail winds along a ridge between rocks, connecting the two peaks. The views are panoramic - a full 360!
We wake up early this morning, as this fascinating route will take all day. Our trusty minibus will take us to the beginning of the trail at Pico do Arieiro, and will meet us on the descent from Pico Ruivo. In the evening in Funchal we will definitely go to a cafe and share our impressions of the day.
Distanse: 10 km. Climb 650m. Drop 750 m.
Today is the last day of our fascinating trip to Madeira. If you have a later flight, you can walk along the ocean.
We hug and say "see you soon!" - Because there's still so much to see and do!
The consultant will advise you on equipment, help you choose the best flight, share information on hotels and excursions. You make payments and purchases yourself. If you want the manager to buy a ticket for you, then this is possible, but for extra money, because this is a big responsibility. More in the article: additional services and service fee
For citizens of Ukraine to visit Portugal enough biometric passport, insurance and return ticket (you may be asked these documents at the airport). Citizens of other countries need to have a Schengen multivisa or a visa to Portugal specifically for the tour. We provide the necessary documents and help with registration.
To take part in the tour, you must have no illnesses from this list >>.
After the hiking in Madeira, we recommend the following routes:
As always, we recommend that you buy your tickets in advance, but only after we confirm your participation in the hike.
Our recommendations for airline ticketing services can be found in this article
You need good insurance to participate in the program. Please do not neglect this item. For some participants, it saved thousands of dollars. You can find our recommendations for taking out insurance here: "Insurance for Kuluar hikers"
Accommodation on the route - in colorful small towns. These are hotels in one or two-story buildings; rooms for 2-3 people with internet, hot water, laundry facilities, and breakfast.
Breakfast and dinner are local specialties; for lunch we bring snacks, and when we can, we try local delicacies in cafes. Breakfasts are included in the price of lodging and included in the total cost of the hike. Snack lunches on days where there is no cafe lunch are also included. The rest of the meals (dinners and some of the lunches) you choose according to your taste in the cafe.
In the mountains, you only take a small backpack up to 20 liters, where you should put a windbreaker, fleece, raincoat, a sandwich for lunch, a power bank and other small things.
As for the other things you brought with you, there is no need to carry them with you always in the mountains.
You can leave the things you don't need in the hotel or transfer that will accompany the group throughout the trek. Therefore, you can even fly to the program with a suitcase on wheels, but for daily hiking you need to have a small backpack up to 20 liters.
Minimum group for this program: 5 participants. We have calculated the costs for a smaller number, but increased them slightly. So as not to be in the red ourselves.
So we can confirm the date earlier, and you will have the opportunity to buy tickets and plan your unforgettable trip!
| Number of participants | Value |
|---|---|
| 5 and more | €1180 |
| 4 | €1320 |
| 3 | €1550 |
The total amount of additional expenses not included in the price will be about 250 € - depending on how to eat in the cafes and how many souvenirs to buy. In a cafe you can have dinner for about €20 (at a time).
It is advisable to have 100 - 200 € in reserve on your card just in case.
If the amount of prepayment is too much for you at the moment, but you still want to book a place, write to the consultant and he will break it down into comfortable parts.
👉 Check out: payment methods and refund conditions in case of cancellation or departure from the route
Dear friends, please don't take 500 euro banknotes. There are always problems with them when settling payments with partners in Europe. Thank you for your understanding!
*Please note: the consultant will help with the selection and search for air tickets, recommend an insurance company, but it is not his task to purchase them. Participants do it themselves or contact our partners, all contacts are in the article: tickets, hotels and insurance
