Madeira Island, Portugal | How to Visit The Hawaii of Europe
Madeira Islands are a collection of 4 islands off the northwest coast of Africa. Madeira is the largest of the 4 island and the topic of this post. It is considered the Hawaii of Europe, and it’s no wonder why! They are volcanic islands and have breathtaking views and stunning landscapes. Sitting off the coast of Morocco, the islands are semi-tropical and is a European paradise. Often an overlooked Portuguese destination, Madeira Island is one stop you won’t want to miss! Amazing hikes, lush scenery, fun festivals, and now an easily accessible island, read on for the best of Madeira Island.
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How Long to Visit Madeira
You could visit for as little as a few days! However, if you really want to explore the island give yourself a week. The weather on an island can be unpredictable, so if you want to do something specific, give yourself a few days to allow for cancellations. I ended up having my Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike cancelled the first day due to severe thunderstorms and had to rebook for the next day! An ideal 7-day itinerary could include:
- Spend 1 day in Funchal
- Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Hike
- Best of West Madeira tour including Cabo Girao and Porto Moniz
- 25 Fountains and Levada Walks
- Sunrise at Ponta de Sao Laurenco and Santa Cruz
- Fanal Forest for sunrise and Seixal Beach
- Valley of the Nuns (CURRAL DAS FREIRAS)
What To Do Around Madeira
Pico do Arieiro Sunrise
Hands down the best experience is watching the sun rise over the clouds at Pico do Arieiro. Pico do Arieiro is the third-highest peak on Madeira Island. An easy hike from the parking lot, watching the cloud inversion during sunrise is breathtaking. Be prepared for a chilly morning, even in the summer, by wearing layers!
Read more: You Have to Visit this Beautiful Madeira Viewpoint
Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Hike
If you want to try a challenging hike with stunning views the entire way, you have to try the Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Hike. You start at 1818 m at Pico do Arieiro, head down the mountain to 1500 m and then head back up to Pico Ruivo at 1861 m. The hike is mostly rock stairs set into the side of the mountain (because the slopes are so steep), so it is not for the faint of heart! Do It Madeira offers two transfers with pickup in Funchal: a sunrise hike that starts at 5:30 AM and a morning hike that starts at 9:30 AM. They will drop you off at Pico do Arieiro and pick you up at Achada do Teixeira, in Santana. Use code “passportunities5” for 5% off your booking fee!
Read more: Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Review | Amazing Madeira Hike
Pico Ruivo Hike and Sunrise
If you don’t want to do the 4-5 hour hike from peak to peak, you can also just hike Pico Ruivo. You can park your car at Achada do Teixeira, in Santana and do an in-out hike. It is relatively flat except for the last 300 m that require you to hike stairs to the summit. If you do want to watch sunrise from the peak, it requires you to start in the dark. It’s a little less accessible than the Pico do Arieiro sunrise, but still beautiful.
25 Fountains and Levada Walks
The 25 fountains is about a 3 hour hike and one of the most popular hikes on the island. It is moderately difficult, but can get very busy throughout the day. The hike takes you to Levada das 25 Fontes: a beautiful lagoon and waterfalls cascading into the lagoon. Bring your bathing suit for this one!
Mercado dos Lavradores
A farmer’s market in Funchal, open daily. It is filled with fantastic fruit, exotic flowers, local crafts, and a local fish market. It is also a known tourist trap! The fruit samples are typically dusted in sugar to entice people to buy produce at the market, and the price of food is 2-4x the price at a local grocer down the street. It’s absolutely worth visiting, just keep your wallet closed.
Fanal Forest
An eerie and stunningly beautiful forest, Fanal Forest is a magical place. The best time of day to visit is early morning, when the mysterious fog is most likely to roll in. The fog creates an ethereal and otherworldly effect. There are also a number of hiking trails you want walk through the forest. A must visit if you have time on the island!
Stay in Funchal
Funchal is the largest city in Madeira, and deserves to be explored! Give yourself some time in the city, and book a walking tour to see the best of Funchal. Head to the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, visit the harbour, try deep sea fish, and more! It’s also a great home base in Madeira, and all tour companies provide pick up and drop off in the city.
Read more: What to Do in Funchal, Madeira | A Complete Guide
Cabo Girao Cliff Walk
About 25 minutes from Funchal, and one of the stops in the Best of West Madeira tour, this free skywalk is open daily! One of the best viewpoints, walk out on the glass bottom skywalk and see the south coast of Madeira.
Porto Moniz
Made famous by the swimming pools, Porto Moniz is a small village in the northwest. There are two pools: a natural pool where the ocean water enters the pools with the tide, and a second where the water is pumped into the pools. The natural pool has a small fee and includes change rooms. The second pool is free. There are also a ton of restaurants so stop by for a swim and some lunch!
Valley of the Nuns
A small village near Cabo Girao, Valley of the Nuns is surrounded by mountain peaks and colorful flora. Historically, the nuns in Funchal would take refuge in the valley when Funchal was being attacked by pirates. You could also try the The Pico da Roda hike in Nun’s Valley!
Do you Need a Car?
No! Renting a car gives you a lot of flexibility, but it’s not necessary. There are a ton of experiences on Get Your Guide and plenty of buses that take you around the island. You can absolutely get around Madeira without renting a car.
Is Madeira Safe to Travel Solo?
Yes! Madeira, and Portugal in general, is a safe place to solo travel. It is fairly expensive but if you can get a bed at a hostel you can really keep your costs down. There are plenty of tours and buses to get you around the island. Funchal is a safe city and a great place to set up as your home base. Madeira is a fantastic destination for the solo traveller.
Is Madeira Safe to Hike Solo?
Yes! Something I wish I’d known before heading to Madeira is that the island is fairly busy. I imagine there are some trails that are less busy, but if you hike one of the more popular trails by yourself you still won’t be alone! More people on the trail = less likely something will happen and you’ll be stranded.
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