Madeira, Portugal – Hiking Tours

Madeira (Overview)

Madeira is an island made for walking: a dramatic volcanic landscape where high mountains, ancient forests and the Atlantic Ocean come together in astonishing proximity. Trails follow historic levadas cut into the mountainsides, pass waterfalls and the ancient laurel trees of the UNESCO-listed Laurisilva forest, and trace narrow ridges between Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo, often above a shifting sea of cloud.

Santo da Serra, Portugal

Santo da Serra is a small countryside village set on the verdant slopes of Eastern Madeira, surrounded by gardens, wooded slopes and rolling countryside. Vineyards, lush vegetation and hills dotted with colonial style homes define an idyllic landscape found only in this corner of the island. Its elevated setting offers a quiet retreat at the end of the day, just half an hour from most trailheads and from the legendary Pico Ruivo – Pico Areeiro trail. The Enotel Santo da Serra offers spacious rooms, delicious food and a very extensive wine list.

Porto Moniz, Portugal

Porto Moniz is a little fishing village on the wild north-western edge of the island, where steep green mountains fall towards black volcanic rock and the open Atlantic drives hard against the shore. Its famous natural pools sit among the lava formations, seemingly carved from the coastline itself, and dolphins and whales can sometimes be spotted from shore. Nearby trails explore the western plateau, remote levadas and the atmospheric forests of Fanal, and the 4-star Aqua Natura Madeira overlooks the pools.

All trips have two or three guides with a maximum group size of 12. Three levels of hiking are offered each day.