My selection of best hikes in Madeira are described in this article. All hikes include a GPX-file which will help you to navigate these stunning and sometimes hidden hiking trails.
Beautiful levada walks and vereda mountains paths are available all over the Portuguese island of Madeira. From rocky cliffside trails to dense forest paths covered in greenery. Madeira has lots of stunning waterfalls as well. That’s something I was very excited about before booking my first and definitely not last trip to Madeira!
Madeira is a volcanic island and especially on the South-side this is quite visible. The best example are the landscapes while hiking the PR8 – Vereda da Ponta de Sao Lourenço (described below). It results in dramatic cliff sides that drop sometimes a few hundred meters into the ocean. Also the South and South-East sides of the island are dryer than the North-side. This means that often it’s raining on the North side and perfectly sunny and hot weather on the South side. At the same time high up in the mountains it could be snowing. That’s very rare though.
Because of the many microclimates in Madeira I recommend that, when going for a hike, you always bring a rain jacket and shoes with decent grip. My shoes are actually trail running shoes but perfect for hikes as well: Mizuno Men’s Wave Daichi 6 GTX Trail Running Shoe. Another advantage is that they are waterproof which is a must when hiking on the North-side of Madeira!
On the North side of the island it’s very humid and it rains more. Because of this nature really thrives and this results in typical lush green jungle-like forests that I absolutely love. Some of the best waterfall hikes in Madeira are on the North side of the island.
Madeira is often called the flower island because during Springtime the island of Madeira gets lots of visitors because of the many exotic flowers that bloom all over the island.
There is also an official Madeira app that contains some of these hikes: WalkMe – Walking Madeira Island Levadas
In this hiking guide I will describe some of the best hikes that are available on Madeira island. The hikes are ranked from easy to hard, the first one being the easiest. Please keep in mind that difficulty is highly subjective. Always consult the hiking map provided in this article and know that elevation gain is an important factor in deciding if you can do this hike or not. A 5 kilometer hike could take 1 hour with 50 meter elevation gain but also 3 hours if you need to climb 1000 meters.
Solo hiking is possible in Madeira. I walked alone on all these trails and didn’t feel any discomfort. It’s very important that you go well prepared to avoid unexpected things to happen. Always inform a friend or someone at your hotel about which hike you’re going to undertake and when. With my Garmin sports watch my friends can see my location live whenever there’s cellphone reception. But… there is not always cellphone reception in the jungles or mountains of Madeira!
Because of the microclimates in Madeira it can be sometimes hard to know what the weather is like somewhere high in the mountains for example. To plan your hiking trip perfectly it is advised to use the webcams that are spread out all over Madeira island and Porto Santo. Even my surfing instructor uses them to see which beaches have the best waves every day.
The stylish WANRD PRVKE 21l, has been my daily adventure backpack for over 3 years now.
Check out the WANDRD website for their other bags as well.
For multi-day trips I use the WANDRD Fernweh 50l backpack!
*These are affiliate links. At no extra cost for you I earn a small commission on a sale. It helps to support this blog, thanks!
All hikes from the list below include a GPX-file which can be downloaded for free, it is basically a hiking map. This is a file that contains location and elevation information. With a GPX-viewer you can view this as a map on your smartphone. There are lots of free GPX-viewer applications available for both Android and iOS. One example is Osmand – Maps & Navigation. Also I track my hikes on Strava (sports tracking smartphone application) and Wikiloc (community based hiking smartphone application).
For a typical hike in Madeira I would recommend to bring a decent backpack (with rainfly), a rain jacket, waterproof hiking shoes, food / snacks and a waterbottle that also serves as a waterfilter so you can refill at the levadas or water streams and never run out of water. Of course not to forget bring your smartphone to navigate and a camera to take pictures!
Furthermore it is adviced to rent a car if you want to do all these hikes at your own pace. Public transportation is available on most of the island but it will limit your freedom. When you get a car, don’t take the one with the weakest engine like I did or you might struggle to get up some mountains!
If you have any questions related to Madeira, the Facebook group of This is Madeira Island has a great community of people that will gladly help to plan your trip. I used the group several times before going and while being in Madeira. I even met some new friends through this group.
Enough with the introduction, let’s get started on what you actually came for. Find below the list of some of the best hikes in Madeira with hiking maps, photos and trail details!
1. PR18 Levada do Rei
- Distance: 10,5 kilometers
- Type of hike: Out and Back
- Elevation gain: 331 meters
- Moving time: 2 hours and 12 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Starting point: Estrada Achada do Vigário n°1, São Jorge, 9230-142 Santana, Portugal
- Amenities: There’s a bar/restaurant at the starting point called Quinta Levada do Rei
- Distance from Funchal with car: 54 minutes
I included this hike in this list because it’s actually a great introduction to levada walks in Madeira. It follows the a levada for about 5 kilometers until you reach a dead end with a small waterfall. Then you just return on your steps the same way.
While hiking there are a few viewpoints over the valley and there are some waterfalls that fall on the walking trails. You can avoid them if it didn’t rain too much the previous days. Better bring a rain jacket and a backpack for things that shouldn’t get wet.
When we did this levada walk we also explored more of Madeira’s beautiful North-coast. Check out my vlog on Youtube about our adventures that day: Exploring the EPIC North Coast of Madeira – Levada do Rei – Sao Jorge – Ponta Delgado – Seixal Beach
Download the GPX file right here: PR18-LEVADA-DO-REI.gpx
2. PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde
- Distance: 12 kilometers
- Type of hike: Loop/Out and Back
- Elevation gain: 100 meters
- Moving time: 4 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Starting point: Parque Florestal das Queimadas, Levada do Caldeirão Verde 9230, Portugal
- Amenities: There’s a bar/restaurant at the starting point called Cafetaria Queimadas
- Distance from Funchal with car: 45 minutes
The PR9 Levada do Caldeirao Verde was one of my favorites so I had to add it to the best hikes of Madeira selection. It’s a fairly easy hike that almost has no incline which makes it very accesible to people without any hiking experience.
I didn’t include a Strava screenshot as it’s very easy to follow this route. Just park your car and pay 3 euro for the whole day. To get started on the hike, keep right from the artificial waterfalls and then follow the wooden sign that says Caldeirao Verde.
This hike is quite popular so it’s pretty easy to navigate, just follow the others! After about 6 kilometers you reach the final and highest waterfall. Then you just return the same way.
Alternatively you could also visit Caldeirao do Inferno which is about 2,2 kilometers further and thus adds about 4,4 kilometer to the total,
Because of the dense forest that you’re contiously walking in and the many waterfalls it really feels like a jungle experience. I visited after a rainy day and I counted at least 5 waterfalls + a few smaller ones. Similar to the Levada do Rei there are some waterfalls over the trail so make sure to bring appropriate gear to keep yourself dry. It was quite an adventure actually. If you want to see how it looks after a few days of rain check out my Youtube video: Wild Jungle vibes at Caldeirao Verde in Madeira.
As this is a levada walk you don’t need to worry about running out of water if you have a water bottle with water filter like the Grayl Geopress.
Download the GPX file right here: PR9-LEVADA-DO-CALDEIRÃO-VERDE.gpx
3. PR8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
- Distance: 9,1 kilometers
- Type of hike: Out and Back
- Elevation gain: 467 meters
- Moving time: 2 hours and 21 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy/Intermediate
- Starting point: Ponta de São Lourenço Parking
- Amenities: There are some foodtrucks at the start and and about 4 kilometer into the hike there’s a bar/restaurant called Casa do Sardinha.
- Distance from Funchal with car: 30 minutes
Ponta de São Lourenço is something very unique. It’s located on the East side of Madeira and consists of red, brownish rocky landscapes. Often you can still see the layers of solidified lava.
This hike is especially known to do at sunrise, however when I went it was a bit cloudy so the sun wasn’t very visible. I guess I’ll have to go back another time!
To get a better idea of how these landscapes look I would recommend to check out my Youtube video about this hike: Epic sunrise hike to Ponta de Sao Lourenco on Madeira island
During this hike there are some steep parts but they never last long and because of the many viewpoints you can take a break once in a while to take some photos! The stretch to the final viewpoint, after passing Casa do Sardinha is probably the steepest but I would still recommend to visit. You won’t regret!
Download the GPX file right here: PR8-VEREDA-DA-PONTA-DE-SÃO-LOURENÇO.gpx
4. PR12 CAMINHO REAL DA ENCUMEADA to pico grande
- Distance: 10,2 kilometer
- Type of hike: Out and Back
- Elevation gain: 884 meters
- Moving time: 2 hours and 33 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate/Hard
- Starting point: Estreito De Câmara, Portugal
- Amenities: To my knowledge there were no bars or restaurants around
- Distance from Funchal with car: 27 minutes
The hike from Boca da Corrida to Pico Grande goes partially via the Caminho Real da Encumeada (PR12). This is one of the lesser known trails on the island. I did this in the afternoon and saw only 3 other hikers over the whole route.
Immediately when starting you’re already treated with a spectacular view: the viewpoint Boca do Corrida that looks over the Curral das Freiras Valley. Most of the route follows a cliffside trail with stunning landscapes almost all the time! To get a better idea of the spectacular views you could see, check out my Youtube video: Hiking to the beautiful Pico Grande from Boca da Corrida in Madeira
This hike covers quite some elevation in a fairly short distance which means your cardio levels will be tested. Especially the last climb towards the plateau of Pico Grande. Once reaching the plateau you need to boulder a bit to reach the actual peak of Pico Grande at 1654 meters above sealevel. I didn’t do these last 5 meters as it was rainy and cold so the rocks where quite slippery. You have to know your limits, especially when you’re all alone out here.
During this hike I saw all kinds of weather, from hot and sunny to cold and rainy. Prepare yourself for cold temperatures up there. I’m sure that’s not always the case, check the webcams to get a better idea of the weather up in the mountains of Madeira.
Because of slippery rocks during the last part I would advise to get decent shoes. I use the Mizuno Wave Daichi 6 GTX Trailrunning shoes. They have great grip, are waterproof and flexible.
Download the GPX file right here: PR12-ENCUMEADA-TO-PICO-GRANDE.gpx
5. PR1 Vereda do Arieiro (pico do arieiro to pico ruivo)
- Distance: 14,1 kilometer
- Type of hike: Out and Back
- Elevation gain: 1215 meters
- Moving time: 3 hours and 48 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate/Hard
- Starting point: Parque de Estacionamento Pico do Areeiro
- Amenities: There’s a bar/restaurant at the starting point called Boutique areeiro and a mountain hut at Pico Ruivo called Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo
- Distance from Funchal with car: 30 minutes
The most popular and without a doubt one of the best hikes in Madeira is the PR1 route called Vereda do Arieiro. This route starts at Pico do Arieiro (1818 m) which is the second highest mountain of Madeira and goes all the way up to the highest peak Pico do Ruivo (1862 m).
Immediately when starting you will witness one of the best views and to some people scariest. You’re basically walking on a huge cliff with a really deep drop down into the valley on both sides. If you want to get a better idea how the landscapes look, check out this video I made from the journey: How hard is PR1 hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo on Madeira?
Is it scary? Even though I’m not a huge daredevil I didn’t feel any discomfort while doing this hike. Most paths are pretty wide except for one short section where it’s tricky to pass when there are people coming from the other direction. Just take your time and you should be fine!
I started hiking just before sunrise and I was hoping for a spectacular sunrise seen from above the clouds but as it was very foggy I didn’t get to see it except for a few minutes which was very magical! When I reached Pico Ruivo the visibility was also zero which took a bit away of the experience. On the way back the sky cleared up which was very nice though.
Download the GPX file right here: PR1-VEREDA-DO-ARIEIRO.gpx
6. Hike to Poço das Pulgas waterfall
- Distance: 7,2 kilometer
- Type of hike: Loop
- Elevation gain: 604 meters
- Moving time: 2 hours and 32 minutes
- Difficulty: Hard
- Starting point: Parque das Merendas
- Amenities: There’s a picnic spot at the start with toilets but no bars/restaurants
- Distance from Funchal with car: 45 minutes
The off-the-beathen path hike to the hidden Poço das Pulgas waterfall was by far the hardest but also my favorite. It surely is one of the best hikes in Madeira! When you see the distance it might sound like a piece of cake but you couldn’t be more wrong! Tobi Hughes from MadeiraIslandNews.com also thinks it’s one of the more difficult hikes on Madeira Island.
I would only recommend this hike to people that have experience on rough and technical trails. Also there are a lot of places where there’s no cellphone reception which means navigating with your smartphone can become harder as well.
Even though I did I would very much advise against doing this alone.
The bloggers Digital Travel Couple also did this hike in the opposite direction that I did and I would advise you to do the same. Read their detailed blogpost here.
In my Youtube video I explain all the details: Madeira jungle hike to Poço das Pulgas waterfall – Very Technical
A great tip I got from local hikers: when you’re unsure about where the trail is, check the machete cuts on the trees. Once in a while you’ll see 3 cuts and that means you’re on the right track.
Download the GPX file right here: HIKE-POCO-DAS-PULGAS-WATERFALL.gpx
F.A.Q. about hiking in madeira
- What is a levada in Madeira?
On Madeira, levadas are aquaducts and sources for hydroelectrical power. They provide water for the whole island. Especially from the rainy North to the dryer South side of the island. - Can you drink from the levadas?
No, the water that you see flowing in the levadas is not treated yet. If you’re planning long levada walks it’s better to use a portable water filter. The Grayl Geopress is a good example of a trustworthy water filter. Just refill from the levadas or other water streams you find on the island and filter it right away. You never run out of water anymore! - What are levada walks?
Levada walks are trails next to the aquaducts that serve the Portuguese island Madeira of water and hydroelectrical power. - Is it safe to hike alone in Madeira?
Hiking alone in Madeira is possible when you’re well prepared. Landslides and heavy rainfall could potentially be dangerous. - What is the best time to hike in Madeira?
As Madeira has a very mild climate so hiking is possible throughout the year. - What is a vereda in Madeira?
Vereda translates to ‘mountain path’ in Portuguese. Since Madeira is a Portuguese island lots of trails in the mountains are called Vereda do Arieiro (example).