Walking in Madeira

Our tour begins today in Santana, perched atop cliffs on Madeira's north coast. The beautiful village is home to the famous 'Bordado da Madeira' embroidery and traditional thatched, A-frame houses known as 'palheiros'. For those arriving in time, your Tour Leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 7.30pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Madeira Airport (FNC), which is around a 30-minute drive from the hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Tonight, you might like to try one of the fresh seafood dishes that Madeira is known for, such as tuna with fried maize or black scabbard with fried banana, and for dessert why not sample the local passionfruit pudding (pudim de maracuja)? Madeira is famed for its exotic fruit cultivation, with passion fruit a staple, featuring in everything from cocktails to jams.

This morning, we'll drive through peaceful farmland to the starting point of today's walk, where we'll follow a levada - Madeira's unique network of irrigation canals – winding through rural landscapes and exotic forests. The volcanic ground here is so fertile that it can produce up to three crops each year! We'll continue to Boca do Risco, one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the east side of the island. From here, we'll walk along the cliff tops, where we’ll soak up panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and spot local wildlife, including the Madeira Firecrest, a striking species of bird only found on the island of Madeira. The trail brings us down to Porto da Cruz, where our walk for the day comes to an end. Walk completed, we'll drive back to Santana, stopping at a sugar cane factory and rum distillery for an optional tasting of the dark nectar. Today's 12-kilometre/7.45-mile trek is expected to take around 5 hours with 330 metres/1082 feet of ascent and descent. The cliff-side path is narrow in places, with small, exposed sections that don't have a railing - care should be taken along these sections and those with vertigo might want to skip them.

This morning, we'll drive up to Boaventura, a hamlet of houses perched on the hillside at the top of the valley. Our trail kicks off with almost 200 metres/656 feet of incline, but the rest of the way is relatively flat, taking us from the top of the valley and winding down towards the coast. We'll walk to a hidden waterfall before entering the lush UNESCO-protected Laurisilva (Laurel Forest) – a 20-million-year-old subtropical cloud forest that covers roughly 20% of the island. Continuing on, we follow the Levada dos Tornos - one of the most important levadas in Madeira, which brings water from the island's north to its drier southern areas. As we get closer to the coast, you can catch sweeping views of the valley, before the walk finishes at Faja do Penedo. From Faja do Penedo our vehicle will take us along the scenic north coast to Porto Moniz. The 16-kilometre/10-mile stretch of road from Sao Vicente to Porto Moniz took 16 years to complete (it was built entirely by hand!). Porto Moniz is known for its unusual rock pools which were created by volcanic activity. In summer, the sun warms the trapped sea water making them perfect to dip into for a swim or a soak. When the weather is rougher, the waves crash dramatically over the seawall blotting out the rock pools altogether. Today's 13-kilometre/8-mile trek is expected to take around 5 hours with 280 metres/918 feet of ascent and descent. Again, several exposed sections don't have a railing - care should be taken along these sections and those with vertigo might want to skip them.

Today's walk starts at Rabaçal, from where we'll follow the Levada do Alecrim (rosemary), one of the most beautiful levadas in Madeira. Along the trail, we'll spot several species of flora that are endemic to Madeira and take in the views down into the Rabaçal and Ribeira da Janela valleys. We'll reach the majestic Lagoa do Vento, a river basin formed by the water falling from the top of the cliff, coming from the Ribeira do Lajeado. After a rest (and perhaps a swim), we'll have an hour walking through the Laurisilva to reach the House of Rabaçal, where we'll stop for lunch. Fed and watered, we'll follow the Levada do Risco to the waterfall that feeds it. It's a magnificent viewpoint and the perfect rest spot to stop before we continue to the 800-metre/2624-foot Tunel dos Cavaleiros, through which the beautiful valley of Calheta and the sea can be spotted. Today's 12-kilometre/7.5-mile trek is expected to take around 5 hours with 475 metres/1,558 feet of descent.

Today, we'll drive to the south coast, making a stop at Ponta do Vigia, the westernmost tip of the island. The lighthouse here stands on the cliffs 300 metres/984 feet above the waves. Built in 1922, it houses a small museum containing an exhibit about the lighthouses of Madeira. Our walk today begins from Lombada, just inland from Ponta de Sol. We'll follow the Levada Nova around the hillside, with views over the coastline and villages of Ribeira Brava. The landscape gives us a glimpse into local livelihoods and traditions as we pass banana plantations, cultivated fields and colourful flora. Our walk ends in Ribeira Brava, where we'll stop for a refreshment before heading to the capital, Funchal, with a stop at Miradouro do Tanque en route. Funchal takes its name from 'funcho', meaning fennel and according to local legend, when Portuguese explorer Zarco first landed here in 1419, he named this spot after the abundance of the herb he found. Visiting sailors used to call the city 'Little Lisbon' thanks to the grandeur of its cathedral and the buildings that line its harbour. Our base for our final three nights is Hotel Ocean Gardens, a 4-star hotel located at the top of the cliff offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and Funchal Bay. The hotel features a rooftop terrace and swimming pool. Only 10 minutes away from Funchal city centre, with a bus stop on its doorstep and daily shuttles. Today's 10-kilometre/6.2-mile trek is expected to take around four hours with 50 metres/164 feet of ascent and descent. There are several small sections of the hillside levada without railing protection.

This morning there will be the option to get to know Funchal with a guided, hour-long orientation walk with our tour leader. Alternatively, you can explore the old town at your own pace. Take the opportunity to discover the narrow, cobbled lanes as you pass by renovated fishermen's cottages, vibrant restaurants and art and craft shops. Don't forget to take the time to admire the artworks painted on the doors of the oldest street, Rua de Santa Maria. You might like to visit the Mercado dos Lavradores (the farmers market) or a Madeiran embroidery workshop. There'll also be the opportunity to visit Blandy's Wine Lodge and taste a variety of Madeiran wine, which has been produced on the island since the 17th century. In the afternoon, there are a choice of activities on offer. You might choose to take a half-day cruise to try to spot whales and dolphins. Alternatively, you can enjoy more time exploring Funchal, strolling through the botanic gardens and finishing the afternoon with tea at the opulent Reids Palace Hotel. If you'd rather be out in nature, you could take the cable car up to the tropical gardens at Monte.

The path between Pico do Areerio and Pico Ruivo is nicknamed 'the stairway to heaven' and it's easy to see why. The walk delivers views right across the island from over 1,000 metres above sea level. It's a challenging but rewarding walk, across different terrain, and the perfect way to end our Madeira walking tour. It's worth noting that weather can be changeable and our tour leader will decide on our exact route closer to the time, and depending on the day's conditions.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Funchal. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Funchal at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Madeira Airport (FNC), which is a 25-minute drive from the hotel.