You drive through a waterfall. You stand above the clouds at 1,818 metres as the sun rises over the Atlantic. You swim in pools carved from lava with the ocean breaking around you. That is Madeira in seven days — and this is the itinerary that gets you there without missing anything worth seeing.

Built by locals who live on this island, this guide covers four full-day routes across the island's main zones, one legendary levada walk, one day on the ocean, and one hidden valley most tourists never find. Every restaurant, every poncha stop, every sunset viewpoint is a real local recommendation.

⭐ Trusted by Over 5,000 Travellers

Beyond Madeira has 400+ five-star reviews. We've helped thousands of visitors plan their perfect Madeira week — with hand-picked local partners, honest advice, and no deposit required. You only pay on the day.

🗓️ Your 7 Days at a Glance

Day 1Funchal on foot — Old Town, cable car, Monte Palace, toboggan ride, sunset
Day 2West & North Coast — Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, Seixal, Porto Moniz volcanic pools
Day 3East Madeira — Pico do Arieiro sunrise above clouds, Santana, Ponta de São Lourenço
Day 4Southwest Coast — Calheta, Jardim do Mar, Ponta do Pargo, Achadas da Cruz
Day 5Ancient Forests & Levadas — Fanal, 25 Fontes or Caldeirão Verde full day hike
Day 6Ocean Day — whale & dolphin watching, snorkel, sailing or canyoning
Day 7Hidden Madeira — Curral das Freiras, Poço dos Chefes secret lagoon, final Funchal

Before You Start Planning

A few things to read before the itinerary begins — they'll save you time, money and surprises on the island.

🏨 Where to Stay in Madeira Funchal zones, sunny West, wild North — which base suits you. 🚗 Renting a Car in Madeira 12 practical tips. No deposit, no credit card block, from €25/day. 🥾 Trail Reservations 2026 All hiking trails now require €4.50 online booking. How it works. 🌦️ Madeira Weather by Month Microclimates explained. North vs South vs altitude — what to expect. ⚠️ 3 Mistakes to Avoid Weather changes, driving times, hike planning. Read before you land. 🍽️ Eat & Drink Guide What to eat, what to drink, where locals actually go.

📚 More useful guides for your trip

🌿 Best Levada Walks 🎒 Levada Packing List ⚡ Only 3 Days? ⭐ Best-Seller Experiences ↔️ West vs East

⚠️ Do you need a car? Yes — for Days 2 to 5 a rental car is the most flexible option. If you prefer not to drive, Beyond Madeira offers jeep tours, mini-van tours and guided experiences with pick-up included for every zone. See options throughout this guide.

Day 1 · No Car Needed

Funchal — Culture, Cable Cars & 150-Year-Old Traditions

Start where Madeira's personality lives: the island's colourful, layered, completely walkable capital.

Most visitors land, drop their bags, and immediately drive somewhere else. That's a mistake. Funchal is genuinely worth a full day — and it's the only day you don't need a car at all. The old town has some of the best street art in Portugal. The market is one of the finest in Europe. And the toboggan ride down from Monte is something you won't find anywhere else on the planet.

🏙️ Funchal

Morning: Market, Old Town & Cathedral

9:00 AM — Mercado dos Lavradores

Start at the 1940 farmers' market before the cruise-ship crowds arrive. Ground floor: exotic fruits (monstera deliciosa, passion fruit, anona), flowers, local cheese. Basement: fresh fish, including the dramatic black scabbardfish (espada) hauled up nightly from depths of 800 metres. This is real Funchal, not a postcard version of it.

💡 Local tip: Visit on a Friday for more local farmers at honest prices. Ask a vendor to open a passion fruit for you to taste — the ones at the market are nothing like what you find in supermarkets abroad.

🍊 Mercado dos Lavradores

10:30 AM — Zona Velha & Rua de Santa Maria

Walk down into the Old Town. The painted doors of Rua de Santa Maria are an ongoing street art project where every door on the street has been transformed by a different artist. It's an open-air gallery on a human scale — completely free, never crowded at this hour, and genuinely beautiful. Follow the street to Forte de São Tiago (the yellow 17th-century fortress) and São Tiago beach just beyond.

Old Town Zona Velha painted doors street art Madeira

🎨 Painted Doors, Zona Velha

12:00 PM — Sé Cathedral

Madeira's 16th-century cathedral has one of the most beautiful carved wooden ceilings in Portugal — Manueline style inlaid with ivory. Takes 20 minutes and is free to enter. Worth it.

⛪ Sé Cathedral

Lunch: Where to Eat in Funchal

Funchal restaurants all offer a prato do dia (dish of the day) at lunch — typically a full meal with soup, main, bread and drink for €8–12. Far better value than the same restaurant at dinner.

🍽️

Restaurante do Campo / Aqua

Good mid-range restaurants where the prato do dia is genuinely excellent. More expensive at dinner — lunch is the smart move. Expect fresh fish, grilled meat and proper Madeiran cooking.

Prato do diaMid-range

🥢

Restaurante Londres

A genuine local cantina where Funchal workers eat lunch. Plastic chairs, no fuss, and honest traditional cooking. Exactly the kind of place tourists walk past and locals love. Try whatever the daily soup is.

TraditionalLocals onlyBudget-friendly

☕

Bica

Classic Funchal café-restaurant in the city centre. Good for a lighter lunch or late morning coffee and pastry. A reliable local institution.

CaféCentral

💡 Food tip: Order espada com banana (black scabbardfish with banana and passion fruit sauce) at least once during your week. It sounds wrong. It tastes extraordinary. Every serious seafood restaurant in Funchal serves it.

Afternoon: Monte & the Toboggan

2:30 PM — Cable Car to Monte

The teleférico climbs 560 metres in 15 minutes with panoramic views over the city, the marina and the Atlantic. One of the most beautiful urban cable car rides in the world.

⚠️ Important: The cable car is closed from 5 January to 5 April for annual maintenance. Check current status before planning your visit.

🚡 Cable Car Funchal–Monte

One-way: Adult €16.00 | Child 7–14 years: 50% discount
Return: Adult €22.00 | Child 7–14 years: 50% discount
Children up to 6 years: Free

🚡 Cable Car to Monte

3:00 PM — Monte Palace Tropical Garden

One of Madeira's finest gardens — oriental design, koi ponds, azulejo panels tracing Portuguese history, and plants from five continents. Give yourself at least an hour.

🌺 Monte Palace Garden

Hours: 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00)
Adult: €18.00 | Children up to 14: Free

Monte Palace Tropical Garden Madeira koi pond azulejos

🌺 Monte Palace Gardens

4:30 PM — Toboggan Ride

The carreiros do Monte have been steering wicker toboggans down these cobblestone streets for over 150 years. Two men in white linen uniforms and straw hats push and steer the sled 2 km downhill. It's faster than it looks, genuinely thrilling, and completely unique to Madeira. Tourists ride it, locals are proud of it.

⚠️ Note: Toboggans do not run on Sundays or 25 December. Last descent is approximately 17:15–17:30.

🛷 Toboggan Prices

1 person: €30.00
2 people: €40.00
3 people: €60.00
Hours: 09:00–18:00 Monday to Saturday

🛷 Toboggan Ride

🌅

Sunset: Cristo Rei (Garajau) or Miradouro das Neves

Cristo Rei offers sweeping views over the south coast as the light turns golden. Miradouro das Neves is quieter and sits above the city. Both are 10–15 minutes from the city centre.

Cristo Rei Garajau sunset Madeira south coast panoramic

🌅 Cristo Rei Sunset

Day 2 · Car Recommended · Full Day

West & North Coast — Cliffs, Waterfalls & Volcanic Pools

Madeira's most dramatic coastline. Drive through waterfalls, swim in lava rock pools, stop at Europe's highest sea cliff.

The west and north coasts are where Madeira stops being polite. Vertical cliffs plunge into the Atlantic. Waterfalls fall directly onto the road and you drive through them. Black volcanic sand beaches sit at the bottom of green mountain amphitheatres. And at the end of the road, natural pools carved from lava by ten thousand years of ocean have been turned into the island's most visited swimming destination.

🎣 Câmara de Lobos

Morning Route

Câmara de Lobos — 9:00 AM

The fishing village where Winston Churchill once sat and painted the harbour. Brightly coloured boats, working fishermen, stone walls and the kind of atmosphere that has mostly disappeared from Mediterranean Europe. Try a poncha de maracujá (passion fruit poncha) at one of the tabernas on the waterfront — this village invented its own version.

Cabo Girão — 10:00 AM

At 580 metres, one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The glass-floor skywalk platform extends over the edge and looking straight down through the glass to where the ocean meets the volcanic rock is one of those moments that stays with you. Free access. Take your time.

🏔️ One of the highest sea cliffs in Europe: Cabo Girão drops 580 metres straight down to the Atlantic. The glass skywalk platform was added in 2012. Below, farmers still cultivate the terraces (poios) accessible only by a separate cable car.

Cabo Girão glass skywalk Madeira sea cliff 580m

🌊 Cabo Girão (580m)

Drive North: Véu da Noiva — 11:30 AM

Continue west along the south coast, then cut north. Stop at the Véu da Noiva ("Bride's Veil") viewpoint — a coastal waterfall that cascades down a cliff directly into the ocean. Named for the way water sprays into fine mist on the wind.

💒 Véu da Noiva

🍽️

Almoço: Casa de Pasto Justiniano — Chão da Ribeira

A real local restaurant on the way north, in the small village of Chão da Ribeira. Traditional Madeiran food, honest prices, the kind of place the locals eat when they're driving through. Don't miss it for the sake of a tourist restaurant in Porto Moniz.

Local gemTraditionalOn the route

Afternoon: Seixal & Porto Moniz

Seixal Beach — 1:30 PM

One of the finest beaches in Europe on a volcanic island where most beaches are pebble. Black volcanic sand, a natural waterfall at one end of the bay falling directly into the sea, and a mountain amphitheatre of green cliffs above. Go for a swim if the ocean allows.

🏆 European Best Destinations Award: Seixal Beach was voted 3rd Best Beach in Europe in 2022 — beating famous Mediterranean beaches with nothing but natural black sand and Atlantic drama.

🏖️ Seixal Beach

Poças das Lesmas — 2:15 PM

A few minutes from Seixal Beach: two volcanic rock pools with the most photographed feature on the north coast — a natural lava arch over the main pool. Turquoise water against black basalt against green mountains. When the Atlantic is rough, waves wash over the rocks and into the pools. Entry €2.50/person (includes €1 bar credit).

⚠️ Safety: Rocks are slippery with algae — water shoes strongly recommended. The main pool is deep. Do not climb the lava arch; the volcanic rock is unstable.

Porto Moniz Volcanic Pools — 3:00 PM

The largest and most developed volcanic pool complex on the island. Natural lava basins filled by the Atlantic, with a full facility complex: restaurant, bar, lockers, lifeguard, and a diving board that launches you directly into the open ocean. Entry €3/adult, free under 3.

💡 Timing matters: Tour buses arrive between 11am and 3pm. Arrive early or after 3pm for a completely different experience — same pools, a fraction of the people.

🏊 Porto Moniz Volcanic Pools

💡 Free alternative: Five minutes' walk from the paid pools are the Piscinas Velhas — free, rustic, almost untouched lava pools with no facilities but genuine character. Water shoes essential; sharp edges.

🍹

Poncha stop on the way back: Venda do Burro

A legendary local institution on the road back south. Strong poncha, honest atmosphere, the kind of stop that locals make on every drive back from the north. Don't skip it.

🚙 Don't Want to Drive?

The West & North Coast Jeep Tour covers all highlights — Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, Véu da Noiva, Seixal, Porto Moniz — with a local guide and pick-up included. From €65/person. Mini-van option from €40/person.

West Jeep Tour from €65 → Mini-Van from €40 →

Day 3 · Early Start · Full Day

East Madeira — Sunrise Above the Clouds & Volcanic Horizons

Set your alarm. This is the day you stand above the Atlantic at 1,818 metres and watch the sun come up.

The East is about altitude, drama and geological extremes. You start the day above the clouds on Madeira's third highest peak. You end it on a peninsula where the island tapers to a narrow volcanic ridge between two seas — an otherworldly landscape unlike anything else on the island.

🌅 Pico do Arieiro Sunrise

Very Early Morning: Pico do Arieiro

Pico do Arieiro (1,818m) — Leave Funchal by 5:30 AM

Drive up in darkness. Arrive before sunrise. Stand on the summit as the sun rises over a sea of clouds stretching to the horizon. The peaks of Pico Ruivo and the central range emerge from the mist below you. It is, without exaggeration, one of the great sunrise experiences in Europe.

💡 Before you go: Check the live webcam — cloud can completely block the view. Also: it's cold at altitude even in summer. Bring a warm layer.

⚠️ Trail status 2026: The PR1 trail (Arieiro to Pico Ruivo) remains partially closed following wildfires in summer 2024. The first 1.2 km to Pedra Rija viewpoint — including the "Stairway to Heaven" — is open and worth doing. Pico Ruivo is accessible from the other end via PR1.2 from Achada do Teixeira. All trails require €4.50 online booking — reserve at visitmadeira.com/SIMplifica.

⛰️ PR1 Trail

🏔️ Arieiro Viewpoint

Morning: Ribeiro Frio & Balcões

Ribeiro Frio & Levada dos Balcões — 8:30 AM

Descend from Arieiro and stop at Ribeiro Frio, a cool forested village at 880 metres. The Levada dos Balcões is the perfect short walk: flat, 3 km return, ending at a viewpoint over the central mountain range that is one of the most-photographed views in Madeira. Allow 1.5 hours at a comfortable pace. Trout restaurant in the village if you need breakfast.

👀 Balcões Viewpoint

Midday: Santana

🍽️

Almoço: Cantinho da Serra — Santana

A solid local restaurant in the Santana area, known for traditional cooking and genuine Madeiran character. A natural stop before exploring the traditional houses.

TraditionalSantana area

Santana — Triangular Houses

The most photographed houses in Madeira: triangular thatched-roof casas típicas painted in bold colours. Built with steep roofs to handle mountain rainfall. They look like something from a fairy tale and they're completely real — some are still lived in.

Santana traditional triangular thatched houses Madeira

🏠 Santana Houses

Afternoon: East Coast & Ponta de São Lourenço

Miradouro do Guindaste — 2:30 PM

One of the most dramatic viewpoints on the entire island. The northeast coast seen from height: mountains dropping into ocean, impossible cliffs, villages clinging to terraces below.

Miradouro do Guindaste northeast coast Madeira dramatic cliffs

👁️ Guindaste Viewpoint

Ponta de São Lourenço — 3:30 PM (optional if energy allows)

The island's easternmost peninsula is where Madeira becomes an entirely different landscape: arid, volcanic, bare ridges between two seas, rust and ochre tones where the rest of the island is relentlessly green. The PR8 trail follows the ridge for 8 km return (3–4 hours). Do the first 2 km for the view if you're short on energy after the day.

🎬 Star Wars: The Acolyte (Disney+, 2024) — Planet Ueda
Ponta de São Lourenço was confirmed by Lucasfilm as a filming location for the series. The peninsula's arid, volcanic landscape was used to portray an alien planet — the dramatic contrast with the rest of green Madeira made it an ideal choice.

🎬 Confirmed Lucasfilm filming location

🏜️ Ponta de São Lourenço

🌅

Sunset: Cristo Rei (Garajau) on the way back to Funchal

Cristo Rei is 20 minutes from Caniçal and perfectly placed on the return route. Golden hour over the south coast from the statue viewpoint — one of the best sunset spots on the island.

🌄 Don't Want to Drive in the Dark?

The East Jeep Tour and East Mini-Van Tour include pick-up, sunrise timing, and all highlights — Pico Arieiro, Balcões, Santana, Guindaste, Ponta de São Lourenço — without driving mountain roads at 5am.

East Jeep Tour from €65 → Mini-Van from €40 → Arieiro Sunrise Transfer from €33 →

Day 4 · Car Recommended · Full Day

Southwest Coast — Sandy Beaches, Sunsets & the Edge of the Island

The sunniest stretch of Madeira. Yellow sand, banana plantations, the westernmost lighthouse, and a cable car that drops 400 metres down a cliff.

The southwest is the most unhurried part of the island. Villages where surf culture meets traditional Madeiran life. The only yellow sand beach on the south coast. A lighthouse at the westernmost point where the Atlantic stretches to the horizon in every direction. And Achadas da Cruz — a cable car that farmers still use to reach their land on terraces below near-vertical cliffs.

☀️ Ponta do Sol

Morning

Calheta Beach — 9:30 AM

One of only two yellow-sand beaches on Madeira. The sand was imported from Morocco in 2004 and the beach is sheltered by two breakwaters, making the sea unusually calm by Madeiran standards. PADI dive centre on site, water sports available, full facilities. Good for a morning swim before the day gets moving.

💡 Seasonal note: The imported sand is subject to seasonal erosion. The beach is at its best from June to September. In other seasons the edges may show exposed dark stones — still swimmable, just less postcard-perfect.

Jardim do Mar & Paúl do Mar — 11:00 AM

Continue west along the coast. Jardim do Mar and Paúl do Mar are small surfing villages built at the base of vertiginous cliffs, connected by a coastal road that was only completed in the early 2000s. The surf breaks here are some of the best on the island. Walk the seafront, have a coffee, feel the pace drop significantly.

🍽️

Almoço: Fontes do Horário

A local restaurant on the southwest route, known to people who live and drive this coast. Traditional Madeiran cooking in a genuine setting. The kind of lunch that reminds you why you came to Madeira.

Local recommendationSouthwest route

Afternoon

Ponta do Pargo — 2:30 PM

The westernmost point of Madeira. A lighthouse on a headland above sheer cliffs, with the Atlantic stretching to the horizon in every direction. One of the island's finest sunset spots — arrive in the afternoon and stay as long as you want. Almost no other tourists come this far west.

🗼 Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse

Achadas da Cruz — 4:00 PM

A cable car descends 400 metres down near-vertical cliffs to tiny agricultural terraces below. Farmers still use it to tend their land. The view from the top before descent is extraordinary — cliffs, ocean, nothing else. Slightly terrifying. Completely worth it.

🚡 Achadas da Cruz

🌊 View from the Top

🌅

Sunset: Ponta do Sol or Ponta do Pargo

Ponta do Sol is the sunniest municipality on the island — it gets more sunshine hours than anywhere else. The sunset here, with colourful village houses and banana plantations on the hillside, is one of the south coast's finest.

🌅 Southwest Jeep Tour

The Southwest 4×4 tour covers Anjos Falls, the coastal route, Ponta do Pargo and the best viewpoints on this side of the island — with local knowledge that no GPS can provide.

Southwest Tour from €69 →

Day 5 · Full Day · Hiking

Ancient Forests & Levadas — The Madeira That Doesn't Look Real

The most magical day of the week. Laurel trees 600 years old. A waterfall pouring into a turquoise lagoon. Tunnels carved by hand a century ago.

Madeira has 1,400 kilometres of levadas — irrigation channels carved into the mountains over 500 years, now turned into some of Europe's finest walking trails. They run through UNESCO laurel forests that once covered all of southern Europe, past waterfalls, through hand-carved tunnels, and along sheer cliff edges with views that don't look real. Today is levada day.

Start the Day: Fanal Forest — 8:00 AM

Before the levada, drive to Fanal in the Paúl da Serra plateau. Ancient laurel trees, some over 600 years old, twist into impossible shapes. On misty mornings — which is most mornings at altitude — the fog wraps around the gnarled trunks and the whole forest feels like another time, another world. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free to visit. Allow 45 minutes.

🌳 600-year-old survivors: Fanal's trees are part of the Laurissilva — a UNESCO-protected ancient laurel forest that once covered all of southern Europe and North Africa. This is the last significant surviving example.

🌫️ Fanal Forest

Choose Your Levada — Pick One

Don't try to do two. Each trail below is a full experience on its own. Choose based on your fitness level and what you want to see.

⭐ Most Popular

25 Fontes (PR6)

25 streams pouring down a mossy cliff into a turquoise lagoon. 10 km return, 3–4 hours. Moderate terrain, flat levada path. The most photogenic destination on the island.

From €39 self-guided transfer · From €45 guided walk

For Adventurers

Caldeirão Verde (PR9)

A 100-metre waterfall into an emerald lagoon. 13 km return, 4–5 hours. Four dark tunnels without lighting (bring a torch). The most dramatic levada walk on the island.

From €33 self-guided transfer · From €45 guided walk

Easiest Option

Levada do Rei

11 km return, 3 hours, almost entirely flat. Beautiful forest, no exposure, suitable for all fitness levels. Perfect for families or anyone who wants the levada experience without the challenge.

From €45 guided walk

⚠️ Trail booking required: All PR trails require online reservation and payment of €4.50/person via the SIMplifica platform. Book in advance — popular trails sell out on weekends. How to book →

💧 25 Fontes Lagoon

💚 Caldeirão Verde

🥾 Levada Walks & Hiking Transfers

Beyond Madeira offers guided walks with local experts (pick-up included) and self-guided transfers for those who prefer to hike independently. All operators are certified. You only pay on the day.

All Levada Walks & Transfers → Levada Guide → What to Pack →

Day 6 · Ocean Day

On the Water — Whales, Dolphins & the Atlantic

Madeira sits in one of the richest marine corridors in the Atlantic. Go and see what lives there.

The waters around Madeira are home to over 20 species of cetacean year-round. Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins are sighted on almost every trip. Sperm whales, blue whales and fin whales appear seasonally. On most days, you'll be in the water alongside dolphins within an hour of leaving the marina.

Day 6 is yours to design. Choose one experience, or combine two if you have the energy — whale watching in the morning and an afternoon canyoning, or a full-day boat trip.

🐋 Whale & Dolphin Watching

Catamaran or speedboat, 3 hours, with marine biologist guide. Some of the best cetacean watching in Europe — Madeira's mid-Atlantic position makes it exceptional.

Catamaran from €35 · Speedboat from €49 · Luxury all-inclusive from €79

🧗 Canyoning

Rappelling down waterfalls, jumping into natural pools, swimming through gorges. No experience needed for the beginner course. One of Madeira's most exhilarating activities.

Beginner from €70 · Intermediate from €80

⛵ Sailing & Coastal Cruising

Santa Maria replica ship (wine tasting + swim stop), catamaran cruise, or private yacht charter. The island from the sea is a completely different Madeira.

Santa Maria from €45 · Calheta Yacht from €69 · Private from €450

🤿 Snorkel & Garajau

Garajau beach sits inside Madeira's oldest marine reserve (est. 1986). Fishing prohibited since then — the result is extraordinary marine life. Dusky grouper, manta rays, moray eels. The best snorkel on the island.

Snorkel boat tour from €35 · Guided kayak & snorkel available

🐋 Whale & Dolphin Watching

💡 Booking note: All Beyond Madeira ocean experiences are pay-on-the-day with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. No upfront payment, no risk.

🌊 Browse All Ocean & Adventure Experiences

Whale watching, sailing, snorkelling, canyoning, buggies and more — all with selected local partners. You only pay on the day.

Whale Watching from €35 → Canyoning & Adventure → All Best-Sellers →

Day 7 · Your Choice · Perfect Ending

Last Day — One More Levada or the Valley of the Nuns

How do you want to end a week in Madeira? Still in the mountains, or slow and quiet in a hidden valley? Both are right.

By Day 7 you know what kind of traveller you are. Some people arrive at the last day wanting one more proper hike — a levada they didn't get to on Day 5, one final morning in the mountains before the flight. Others are ready to slow down completely: a dramatic viewpoint, a village at the bottom of a caldera, a poncha in the sun, and nothing else on the agenda. This day gives you both options. Choose the one that fits how your week went.

🥾 One More Levada

If you hiked 25 Fontes on Day 5, do Caldeirão Verde today — or vice versa. Or try something completely different: Levada do Rei (easy, beautiful forest, great for tired legs), Ribeiro Frio to Portela (moderate, classic Madeira scenery), or the Larano coastal hike with ocean views the whole way.

Transfers from €31 · Guided walks from €45

⛰️ Nuns' Valley & Relax

Curral das Freiras — a village at the bottom of a volcanic caldera, completely hidden by vertical peaks. Eira do Serrado viewpoint, descent to the village, chestnuts and medronho, and no agenda for the rest of the afternoon.

Self-drive 30 min from Funchal · Jeep tour from €50

Option A — One More Levada

Madeira has over 1,400 km of levada trails. You walked one on Day 5. There are others worth your last morning — some completely different in character, some easier on tired legs, some with ocean views instead of mountain views.

⭐ If you did 25 Fontes

Caldeirão Verde (PR9)

100-metre waterfall into an emerald lagoon. Four hand-carved tunnels in the dark. 13 km return, 4–5 hours. The most dramatic levada on the island.

From €33 transfer · From €45 guided

⭐ If you did Caldeirão Verde

25 Fontes (PR6)

25 streams pouring into a turquoise lagoon below a mossy cliff. 10 km return, 3–4 hours. The most photogenic levada walk.

From €39 transfer · From €45 guided

Easy — tired legs welcome

Levada do Rei

Almost entirely flat. Beautiful laurel forest, no exposure, suitable for everyone. 11 km return, 3 hours. The gentlest full levada experience on the island.

From €45 guided walk

Ocean views

Larano Coastal Hike

Boca do Risco viewpoint with dramatic northeast coast ocean views the whole way. 4 hours, moderate. Completely different landscape from the levadas in the mountains.

From €45 guided walk

Classic Madeira

Ribeiro Frio to Portela

One of the island's classic levada walks — varied terrain, beautiful forest, mountain views. Full day, moderate difficulty. A perfect last hike.

From €45 guided walk

Hidden gem

Levada do Alecrim

The Madeira Lakes levada — less visited, easy walking, peaceful forest. A quiet last morning on the island that most visitors never find.

From €45 guided walk

⚠️ Trail booking: All PR trails require online reservation and €4.50/person via SIMplifica. Book the night before if you decide late. How to book →

🥾 Levada Walks for Day 7

Self-guided transfers or guided walks with local experts — pick-up from your Funchal hotel included. You only pay on the day.

All Levada Options → Levada Guide →

Option B — Nuns' Valley & Relax

Curral das Freiras translates as "Valley of the Nuns" — named after the nuns of Santa Clara convent who fled Funchal in the 16th century to hide here from pirate raids. The valley was so effectively hidden by the surrounding peaks that it remained almost unknown until a road was finally carved down in the 1950s. Today it is still one of the most quietly dramatic places on the island.

Nuns Valley Eira do Serrado viewpoint Curral das Freiras Madeira caldera

⛰️ Eira do Serrado — looking into the caldera

Eira do Serrado Viewpoint — 9:30 AM

Stop at the pass before descending. The view from here — straight down into the caldera, vertical peaks on every side, the village a cluster of white dots 600 metres below — is one of the most striking geographical views in the Atlantic islands. There is genuinely nowhere else on Madeira that looks like this.

Descend to the Village

The road down is a series of tight switchbacks carved into the caldera wall. In the village, slow down completely. Try the local specialties: licor de medronho (arbutus berry spirit, strong and herbal), bolo de mel (dark molasses cake), and anything made with chestnuts — the valley has been famous for them for centuries, and they appear in everything from bread to liqueur to soup.

💡 Hidden gem inside the hidden valley: About 200 metres from the village centre, look for the sign near the bend after the bridge — Poço dos Chefes, a clear freshwater lagoon where local youth swim and jump from the rocks. GPS is unreliable; ask a local to point you to it. Almost no visitors know it exists. Warmest months only — cold in winter. No facilities; bring water.

Afternoon — No Agenda

That's the point. Return to Funchal whenever you feel like it. Walk the Jardim Municipal. Sit at the marina. Browse the Zona Velha one last time without a plan. After seven days of mountains, waterfalls and volcanic coastline, an afternoon with nothing scheduled is exactly right.

🏔️ Nuns' Valley Jeep Tour

The Nuns' Valley + Pico do Arieiro half-day tour combines the caldera with the mountain peaks — with a local guide and pick-up included from your Funchal hotel.

Nuns' Valley Tour from €50 →

Evening: Last Night in Funchal

However you spent the day, the last evening is the same: Funchal, dinner, and a final poncha. If you haven't had espetada yet — beef skewers on laurel wood over open charcoal, hung from an iron hook at the table — this is the night to fix that. It's the definitive Madeiran dish and you won't find it like this anywhere else.

🍹

Final poncha: Zona Velha, Funchal

The old town has the best concentration of poncha bars on the island. Order the traditional lemon, ask what's local, or try the poncha de maracujá (passion fruit) if you didn't have it in Câmara de Lobos. A proper ending to a proper week.

📋 Planning Your Week

When to Visit

Season	Weather	Crowds	Verdict
🌸 Spring (Mar–May)	Mild, wildflowers, waterfalls at peak	Moderate	✅ Highly recommended
☀️ Summer (Jun–Aug)	Warm, more sun, less cloud	High — book early	⚠️ Hot for hiking
🍂 Autumn (Sep–Oct)	Excellent — warm sea, stable weather	Lower	✅ Highly recommended
❄️ Winter (Nov–Feb)	Cool mountains, lush green, snow possible at altitude	Fewest crowds	✅ Good for culture & coast

Getting Around

Rental car is the most flexible option for Days 2–5. Small cars handle the narrow roads better than SUVs. Book in advance for summer — supply gets tight. Beyond Madeira car rental: no deposit, no credit card block, from €25/day →

Guided tours and transfers cover every zone if you prefer not to drive. West Tour, East Tour, Southwest Tour, levada transfers — all available with pick-up from Funchal hotels. See all experiences at beyondmadeira.com/experiences.

Budget Guide (Per Couple, 7 Days)

Category	Budget	Mid-Range	Comfortable
Accommodation	€350–500	€600–900	€1,200+
Car rental (6 days)	€150–200	€250–350	€400+
Food & drink	€280–380	€450–650	€900+
Activities & entry	€150–250	€300–500	€700+
Total (couple)	€930–1,330	€1,600–2,400	€3,200+

🗺️ Free Interactive Map — All 7 Days in One Place

Every viewpoint, restaurant, beach, levada trailhead and activity from this guide is pinned on our interactive offline map. Download before you go — signal in the mountains is unreliable.

Open Free Map → Live Webcams → Complete Travel Guide →

⭐ Ready to Book? Browse All Experiences

Every activity in this guide is bookable through Beyond Madeira — with selected local partners, honest prices and no upfront payment. You only pay on the day. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Best-Seller Experiences → Jeep Tours → Whale Watching → Rent a Car →

⭐ Trusted by Over 5,000 Travellers

Beyond Madeira has 400+ five-star reviews. Built by locals, trusted by travellers from over 50 countries. No deposit. No hidden fees. You only pay on the day.

Prices and trail access correct at time of writing — February 2026. Always verify current trail status at visitmadeira.com and check operator details before your visit.

Live now from Madeira

Achada do Teixeira · Santana

Calheta

Eira do Serrado · Câmara de Lobos

See all webcams →

🗓️ Your 7 Days at a Glance

Before You Start Planning

📚 More useful guides for your trip

Funchal — Culture, Cable Cars & 150-Year-Old Traditions

Morning: Market, Old Town & Cathedral

9:00 AM — Mercado dos Lavradores

10:30 AM — Zona Velha & Rua de Santa Maria

12:00 PM — Sé Cathedral

Lunch: Where to Eat in Funchal

Afternoon: Monte & the Toboggan

2:30 PM — Cable Car to Monte

🚡 Cable Car Funchal–Monte

3:00 PM — Monte Palace Tropical Garden

🌺 Monte Palace Garden

4:30 PM — Toboggan Ride

🛷 Toboggan Prices

West & North Coast — Cliffs, Waterfalls & Volcanic Pools

Morning Route

Câmara de Lobos — 9:00 AM

Cabo Girão — 10:00 AM

Drive North: Véu da Noiva — 11:30 AM

Afternoon: Seixal & Porto Moniz

Seixal Beach — 1:30 PM

Poças das Lesmas — 2:15 PM

Porto Moniz Volcanic Pools — 3:00 PM

🚙 Don't Want to Drive?

East Madeira — Sunrise Above the Clouds & Volcanic Horizons

Very Early Morning: Pico do Arieiro

Pico do Arieiro (1,818m) — Leave Funchal by 5:30 AM

Morning: Ribeiro Frio & Balcões

Ribeiro Frio & Levada dos Balcões — 8:30 AM

Midday: Santana

Santana — Triangular Houses

Afternoon: East Coast & Ponta de São Lourenço

Miradouro do Guindaste — 2:30 PM

Ponta de São Lourenço — 3:30 PM *(optional if energy allows)*

🌄 Don't Want to Drive in the Dark?

Southwest Coast — Sandy Beaches, Sunsets & the Edge of the Island

Morning

Calheta Beach — 9:30 AM

Jardim do Mar & Paúl do Mar — 11:00 AM

Afternoon

Ponta do Pargo — 2:30 PM

Achadas da Cruz — 4:00 PM

🌅 Southwest Jeep Tour

Ancient Forests & Levadas — The Madeira That Doesn't Look Real

Start the Day: Fanal Forest — 8:00 AM

Choose Your Levada — Pick One

🥾 Levada Walks & Hiking Transfers

On the Water — Whales, Dolphins & the Atlantic

🌊 Browse All Ocean & Adventure Experiences

Last Day — One More Levada or the Valley of the Nuns

Option A — One More Levada

🥾 Levada Walks for Day 7

Option B — Nuns' Valley & Relax

Eira do Serrado Viewpoint — 9:30 AM

Descend to the Village

Afternoon — No Agenda

🏔️ Nuns' Valley Jeep Tour

Evening: Last Night in Funchal

📋 Planning Your Week

When to Visit

Getting Around

Budget Guide (Per Couple, 7 Days)

🗺️ Free Interactive Map — All 7 Days in One Place

⭐ Ready to Book? Browse All Experiences

Live now from Madeira

Ponta de São Lourenço — 3:30 PM (optional if energy allows)

7 Dias na Madeira: O Itinerário Local Completo

Frequently asked questions

O que fazer nesta viagem

Talvez também gostes

A planear a viagem? Fala com a equipa no Funchal.