A Complete Guide for Two Weeks on Madeira Island, A Trip Itinerary
How to Spend the Best Two Weeks of Your Life on Madeira Island in Portugal
Madeira had been on my bucket list for a while, and when we had the opportunity arise to extend our European adventure, Madeira was at the top of my list. We ended up booking three weeks on the island, and it was so amazing! If you have the time, three weeks felt perfect. But this blog will mainly focus on a two week itinerary and must stop spots for any length of trip.
Madeira is called the Hawaii of Europe, and it truly lives up to that name. With lush steep cliffs, epic waterfalls, numerous hikes, and the perfect temperature of ocean water for swimming, Madeira is a tropical paradise. This is a must stop island for the adventurous, and the outdoor activities on Madeira are endless.
Where is Madeira, Portugal?
Madeira is a Portuguese island located off the northwest coast of Africa. It is the largest island in its namesake archipelago, with smaller islands including Porto Santo which you can take a ferry to. Because of its location, Madeira boasts warm, subtropical temperatures even in the winter, and has many different microclimates throughout the island at different elevations.
Table of Contents
Is Two Weeks Enough Time on Madeira?
No, two weeks on Madeira will never feel like enough, but you can see so much in that amount of time. Below you will find a full itinerary for two weeks on the island, but you can shorten it to one week, or take a more leisurely pace and extend your trip to three weeks or a month. We spent three weeks and it was so nice to get to travel slow and relax. I enjoyed getting to spend time at the hotels we stayed at and not feel like we had to rush around from place to place. But it is totally doable to visit most of the best spots in a week or two.
Full Two Week Itinerary for Madeira
Day 1 - Drive the ER 101 to Porto Moniz
The ER 101 from Funchal to Porto Moniz is commonly called the most beautiful drive on Madeira. It passes under the Cascata dos Anjos or Waterfall of the Angels, a dramatic waterfall landing on the narrow road below. Yes, you will actually drive right under a waterfall if you take this route! The ER 101 winds through the cliffs above the ocean and takes you in and out of endless tunnels. It is a beautiful drive, but very curvy, so for those who get car sick, make sure to take something in advance.
Porto Moniz is a tiny but very cute town on the north west coast of Madeira. Many tourists only visit for a day, but we spent multiple nights here and loved being on this side of the island. We stayed at the Studios by Aqua Natura Hotels, a new hotel that just opened and every room includes a mini kitchen. Breakfast was included with our stay, and it was amazing. Aqua Natura has two other hotels in town as well, all of which were really nice and give guests free passes to the natural salt pools in town.
Day 2 - Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools
Spend the day in Porto Moniz at the natural swimming pools. There are two sets of pools in town, the paid Piscinas Naturais de Porto Moniz which were my favorite, and the free Piscinas Naturais do Aquário. Like I said on day one, if you stay at one of the Aqua Natura hotels in town, you will get free passes each day for the Piscinas Naturais de Porto Moniz. We went twice, and the best experience was going in the morning when they first open. The pools are very popular, so if you get there early, you can get a spot for the day and enjoy the pools when they are calm and reflective.
Note that the pools can close without notice if there are high waves or storms in the forecast. They were closed for two stormy days while we were in town. So be advised if you are visiting on a windy or stormy day that you may not get in.
Interested in booking a guided day trip? There are tons of options on Get Your Guide for trips.
Day 3 - Sunrise at Ribeira da Janela, Seixal Beach, and Miradouro do Véu da Noiva
One of the best sunrises we saw on Madeira was at Ribeira da Janela, the rocky beach in Janela (the next town east of Porto Moniz). We caught two sunrises here, one which had clouds and was super colorful, and the other with clear skies and a lot of glow. If you have the time, I do recommend stopping a couple of times since this spot is only five minutes from Porto Moniz if you are staying there. Walking out on the beach is beautiful at any time of day, so even if you can’t make sunrise, it’s a must stop spot.
After catching the sunrise, head to Praia do Porto do Seixal (Seixal Beach) for an afternoon of swimming and lounging on the black sandy beach. This is one of the only sandy beaches on Madeira and it is by far the most beautiful. After a day at the beach, stop by Miradouro do Véu da Noiva while you are in the area. The waterfall viewpoint is right off the main highway and a quick stop on your way back to the Funchal side of the island if you’re heading back, or a quick detour if you’re staying in Porto Moniz longer.
Interested in booking a guided day trip? There are tons of options on Get Your Guide for trips.
Day 4 - Fanal Forest
Fanal is a nature preserve in the mountains above Janela. The Fanal Forest is known as the Enchanted Forest of Madeira because of the way the fog moves between the ethereal looking laurel trees on cloudy and rainy days. The Fanal Forest is the largest surviving area of laurel forest and is unique to Madeira.
The Fanal Forest is located off of ER 209 and can be reached from either the north or south side of the island. The ethereal laurel trees sit high up in their own microclimate that is much colder and windier than down by the beaches. Go on a rainy day to get to see the fog rolling in and out of the trees. Most people only walk a short way out from the parking lot, but if you keep walking across the field, there are a lot more trees to see, and you can even hike up to the top of a hill. Weather can change fast here, so bring layers and a rain jacket.
Interested in booking a guided day trip? There are tons of options on Get Your Guide for trips.
Day 5 - Sunrise Hike Up Pico Ruivo
A beautiful sunrise spot and very popular hike, PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo is a must when on Madeira. The hike itself is about 4 miles round trip with just over 1,200 feet of elevation gain. At least half of the trail is paved, making it very easy to hike and navigate. We got to the parking lot a half hour before sunrise so that we had time to hike up to the first view point area to watch the sunrise. This also allowed us to easily get a parking spot, which can be hard any time after 9am.
The hike is stunning as soon as you get on the trail, and the views just keep getting better as you go. The first view point is a great spot to watch the sunrise, and you can also look out and across to the Pico do Arieiro trail which was closed due to rock fall when we were there. If it or any other hikes are closed, please respect the local regulations and do not hike on closed trails. When we hiked Pico Ruivo, we saw many hikers going past the red tape with “do not enter” signs to hike on this closed trail. We later found out that it was closed for rock fall and that some hikers had been hit with falling rocks.
As you continue to ascend, you will reach a hut that is sometimes open. There is also a restroom there in case you need it. Do note, there were not public restrooms at the trailhead, so come prepared to pack it out if needed. Follow the trail up to the top of Pico Ruivo where there is a paved viewpoint. After you hike back down, make sure to stop and have a late breakfast at the Achada do Teixeira - Mountain Spot Café. They had good coffee and amazing pastries, and you can sit outside and look out at the mountains. There are paid bathrooms at the Café, but they don’t until 9:30am.
Day 6 - Hike Levada do Caldeirão Verde
PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde is a beautiful levada hike that includes a dirt trail section, and walking next to the levada with a steep drop off on one side. This hike is just over 7 miles round trip but as with most levadas on Madeira, it is relatively flat and does not gain too much elevation. It winds around the hillside and takes you through multiple tunnels, so bring a headlamp with you. The tunnels are long enough that you will need a light. At the end of this trail, you reach a beautiful waterfall.
Since we were already in the area, we tacked on hiking Levada do Caldeirão Verde to the same day as our Pico Ruivo hike, but that may not work for everyone. Levada do Caldeirão Verde was the most popular levada we hiked, so do expect to be around a lot of other people and large guided groups. There is a paid parking lot near the start of the hike, but we found a dirt lot that added on a little over a mile (one way) to the hike that was free. If you’re up for walking more, there is no need to pay to park.
Interested in booking a guided day trip? There are tons of options on Get Your Guide for trips.
Day 7 - Take a Rest Day and Explore the City of Funchal
We spent the majority of our time staying in hotels in Funchal, and the city itself is fun to explore. We walked from our hotel west of downtown into the center of Funchal and though it was a longer walk, it was fun to see the city on foot. While you’re in town, make sure to try Poncha, a traditional alcoholic drink from Madeira, made with aguardente de cana, honey, sugar, and either orange juice or lemon juice. It’s served just about everywhere on the island and is good, but very alcoholic.
While in Funchal you should visit Mercado dos Lavradores, a farmers market in a historic building, you should also visit the Botanical Garden of Madeira, and take the Teleférico Funchal-Monte cable car up to Monte for beautiful views of the ocean and mountains.
Day 8 - Run an Aquatic Canyon in Seixal
Madeira is well known in the canyoning community for world class aquatic canyons, so as canyoneers, we had to run a canyon while we were there. We had brought dry canyoning and rock climbing gear with us to Europe, but since we were not planning on going to Madeira until we were already a month and a half into our European adventure, we did not have our wetsuits or aquatic canyon harnesses with us. Because of this, we decided to hire a guide to take us down a canyon, and one of our friends and canyoning mentors recommended Epic Madeira as the guide service to use.
We ran Ribeira Funda Inferior an intermediate level canyon that included 9 rappels, the longest which was 225 feet, and all of which were in the flow and so much fun. The canyon was stunning throughout, and ended with a final rappel with ocean views, taking us down to the beach below.
We were the only two clients on our canyon with two guides, and they trip cost us about $250 USD for both of us. The fee included all of the gear we needed as well as experienced guides. We normally don’t hire guides for outdoor activities so this was a new experience for us. Both guides were awesome, and they could see on the first rappel that we knew what we were doing, so treated us differently than most clients and even allowed us to teach them some techniques we use in the Pacific Northwest. If you are not an experienced canyoneer, you can hire a guide and they will take you on an easy but stunning canyon that will fit your experience level.
Book your canyoning adventure!
Day 9 - Beach day at Praia de Machico
After days of hiking and canyoning, relax on one of the few sandy beaches of Madeira, in the town of Machino and swim in the calm waters. This is an artificial sand beach, and the sand is imported from North Africa. Parking can be tough next to the beach, but we were able to find a spot a short walk away in one of the neighborhoods. Praia de Machico was the perfect spot to lay out and read a book, or go for a dip.
Day 10 - Sunrise at Caniçal Viewpoint, Hike PR8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
One of my favorite areas on Madeira was Ponta de São Lourenço. This is the peninsula that you see while flying into the island, and it includes view points and hiking trails. We started before sunrise and drove out to the Caniçal viewpoint to watch the sunrise. If you are staying in Funchal, it’s only about a 30 minute drive, so you don’t have to wake up too early. The Caniçal viewpoint is a drive up spot, so no hiking is required, but you can walk up to Miradouro da Ponta do Rosto a short walk above.
From there, we drove to PR8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço, just a few minutes away to hike. Get here early as the parking lot is small and it fills up fast. There weren’t too many people hiking in when we got there, but on our hike back, there were bus loads of tourists hiking in. The hike is beautiful and takes you on a mix of cobblestone and dirt trail across the peninsula. There is a cafe near the end that has coffee and food. We arrived before it opened but we stopped there to eat our breakfast we had packed with us. The hike is just under 5 miles round trip and gains 1,300 feet, the majority of which happens at the end with your final climb up to a view point.
Interested in booking a guided day trip? There are tons of options on Get Your Guide for trips.
Day 11 - Hike Levada Nova
Levada Nova was one of the more photogenic levadas because you get to walk behind a double waterfall. Located near Ponta do Sol, Madeira, this levada is an easy hike on a relatively flat cement trail. The hike itself wasn’t the most beautiful levada on the island, but the waterfall made is so worth it. Levada Nova starts on the side of the road and follows the levada for the duration of the hike until it ends at a creek. The hike is about 5 miles round trip, and can be made into a loop hike of both Levada Nova and Levada do Moinho. Since it’s a short hike, you don’t need to get a super early start. There were other people on the trail, but it did not feel too crowded.
Day 12 & 13 - Enjoy your Hotel Before Heading Home
After two weeks of hiking and adventuring on Madeira, give yourself some time to enjoy your hotel. We saved the best hotel for last, so that we could spend a full day relaxing by the pool and enjoying all the food and drinks (we stayed at an all inclusive resort). If staying at your hotel is not your thing, there are plenty more levadas to explore. While we were on Madeira, we stayed at several Pestana hotels, and we decided to end our stay at the Pestana Royal, a five star all inclusive resort with three pools and a ton of amenities. I had never stayed at an all inclusive hotel before, so the two we stayed at on Madeira were a treat and I did want to make sure we spent some time at the hotels to make the most of the perks.
Must Stop Spots on Madeira
Have Less Time? You Can Still See Most of the Island in One Week
No matter how much time you plan to spend on the island, these are spots you will not want to miss!
Must-See Spots (Even If You Have Less Time)
If your schedule is tight and you prefer to book a guided trip, make sure you don’t skip these:
Pico Ruivo (sunrise hike)
Best Hikes on Madeira
PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo - A stunning trail that is perfect for sunrise. It is popular, so start early to get a parking spot and to avoid crowds.
Pico do Arieiro - This trail was closed while we were on Madeira due to rock fall, so we didn’t get to hike it, but it looks amazing. If it or any other hikes are closed, please respect the local regulations and do not hike on closed trails.
Any of the many Levadas - Levadas are waterways that were built to bring water down from the mountains. Most, if not all are now hiking trails, some even include waterfalls and tunnels. We hiked as many levadas as we could while we were on Madeira and each was unique. My favorites were Levada Seixal, Levada do Caldeirão Verde, and Levada dos Cedros.
PR8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço - This is a beautiful hike that goes across the entire peninsula. You can hike to multiple view points, or continue all the way to where the trail ends at Miradouro Ponta do Furado.
Best Photography Spots on Madeira
Miradouro da Ribeira da Janela - We went here two mornings in a row while staying in Porto Moniz and each sunrise was different. If there are clouds in the forecast, they will light up and you will get a colorful sunrise. Even if not, the glow with the sea stacks is so beautiful. Search Get Your Guide tours
Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools - Spend a day at the natural salt pools which make for amazing photos. Get there right when they open to have the pools all to yourselves and see them when they are calm and reflective. These are natural salt pools filled with sea water, so they are the same temperature as the ocean. If you stay at one of the Aqua Natura hotels in the area, you get free daily passes to the pools, otherwise there is a cost to use them. Search Get Your Guide tours
Praia do Porto do Seixal - A black sand beach in Seixal with beautiful views of the ocean and cliffs above. This is one of the few sandy beaches on the island, so worth a stop. Search Get Your Guide tours
Miradouro do Véu da Noiva - A viewpoint with a large waterfall that is just off the highway. This is worth a stop when you are near Seixal and Porto Moniz. No hiking required, but parking can be tough. Search Get Your Guide tours
Fanal Forest - This is truly a photographers dream, the laurel trees look magical when shrouded in fog. Go on a rainy day for the best fog floating through the trees. Search Get Your Guide tours
Miradouro da Bica da Cana - An amazing view point, only a short walk from the parking area. This is a great sunrise spot and can even have cloud inversions. Search Get Your Guide tours
Miradouro do Caniçal - A drive up spot on Ponta de São Lourenço that can either have a beautiful sunrise with sun rays, or moody and cloudy vibes. If you have the time, this is a great spot to come to a couple of times to get different conditions and photos. Search Get Your Guide tours
Tours and More Things to Do on Madeira Island
Where to Stay on Madeira
We stayed at four different hotels while we were on Madeira, mainly so we could try different types of hotels, but also so we could see different parts of the island. If you have the time, I highly recommend staying in both Funchal and Porto Moniz. There are other towns as well that are worthy of a stay, but both of these made for easy adventures on both sides of the island. Something to consider also is that the island is small, and you can drive from one end to the other in an hour and a half or less. So if you want to stay in one spot the whole time, you totally can.
Madeira has just about every type of lodging you could imagine, from luxury five star resorts to hostels and even camping, so there is something for every budget. We were treating our three weeks on Madeira as a pre-honeymoon, so we did splurge more than we normally would on lodging. Below are the hotels we stayed at, all of which I recommend. We stayed in Madeira in February, which is considered off season even though the temperature was perfect for both hiking and swimming, so all of our accommodations were more affordable than if you went in the spring or summer.
Something to note is that all of the hotels we stayed at came with double beds, if you are traveling as a couple, you need to ask the hotel to make up the beds together. All of them did when asked, though not all were already made up in what is called a matrimony bed on arrival, even though I said it was our honeymoon on all of our bookings. This is normal in Europe, but if you are coming from America or Canada, it may come as a shock to see two double beds.
All Inclusive
Pestana Royal All Inclusive, 5 star hotel in Funchal: This was by far our favorite and the nicest of the hotels we stayed in. It is all inclusive so includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, and drinks. There is a buffet available for all meals, but the hotel also has three onsite restaurants which are included for dinner, two outdoor pools, an indoor pool and sauna, a hot tub (not hot for American standards), mini golf, tennis courts, a beautiful garden, and a spa. While we were there in February, this cost us about $250 USD per night, which was totally worth it for all of the amenities.
Pestana Ocean Bay All Inclusive, 4 star hotel in Funchal: This was the first hotel we stayed at and our first all inclusive experience. Though not as nice as the Royal, all rooms have an ocean view and it all meals plus drinks are included. They even packed us a picnic lunch when we were out climbing during the day. The Ocean Bay is on the beach and has two pools and a hot tub, Turkish bath, and hot and dry saunas. We spent about $170 USD per night.
Full Board
Pestana Village Garden Hotel, 4 star hotel in Funchal: We stayed here for multiple nights and it is a beautiful property with breakfast and dinner included. The hotel is connected to the Pestana Miramar, so you get access to their pool and restaurants as well. This location was walkable to downtown Funchal which was a perk as well. We spent about $150 USD per night.
Half Board
Studios by Aqua Natura Hotels, 4 star hotel in Porto Moniz: This is a brand new hotel and it gives you daily access to the natural salt pools in town. We stayed here for a week and loved the hotel and the area. Breakfast was included and it was amazing. We also really liked that the room was a studio and included a mini kitchen so we could cook our own dinners. There are two other Aqua Natura hotels in town, and you get access to the pools, salt pools, and fitness centers at all of the hotels. We spent about $130 USD per night.
Getting Around
We chose to rent a car since we were in Madeira for three weeks and wanted to be able to drive ourselves around. And we were able to get a rental car for about $9 USD per day which was amazing. You do need an international drivers license to rent a car on Madeira, and make sure you know how to drive a manual on steep hill slopes. There are busses, taxis, and tour groups available if you don’t want to rent a car, we even saw taxis waiting at trailheads for hikers. But since renting a car was so affordable, it was a no brainer for us to be able to drive where we wanted, when we wanted.
What to Pack for Madeira
Madeira is a tropical island, but it also has many microclimates at different elevations, so make sure you come prepared with layers. I recommend packing a mix of hiking gear, swim suits, and in town clothing/resort wear. I had shorts, leggings, tanks, sun shirts, a fleece, rain jacket, and synthetic puffy for hiking. And then jean shorts, tanks and tees, and a skirt/dress for in town. I also brought trail runners for hiking and sandals for beach days. I also recommend a backpack or trail runner for hiking. No need to pack a towel since your hotel will have pool/beach towels for you to use. There can be mosquitos, so depending on the time of year, you may want bug spray, and of course sun screen.
Full Packing Lists:
What to Pack for International Travel
This is a comprehensive list of everything I recommend bringing on any international trips, including traveling to Madeira. All of these items I actually use and have tested out over multiple years.
The following over the counter meds may be hard to find so I recommend bringing some with you: dramamine for motion sickness, decongestants, Benadryl, ibuprofen, Pepto Bismol, tums/anti-acids
Any prescriptions you take, and bring at least a week or two extra, just in case
Sleep aids like melatonin, I’ve found low dose in other countries but nothing as strong as in the US
Quick dry clothing - easy for hand washing and air drying, I love the Echo collection by Outdoor Research
Outlet converters + phone and camera charging cords
Water bottle - Nalgene so you can wash and refill it
A book or kindle for the flight
Headphones, and if they are bluetooth, an adapter like airfly for the plane so you can watch movies
A lock in case you rent a locker while you are backpacking or hiking if you don’t have a hotel
A pack of playing cards, we made friends on the O Trek in Patagonia by teaching others card games at dinner
Comfortable shoes for walking and hiking, I like trail runners
Sandals for around town but that also work for hiking and shower shoes, I really like Luna Sandals, and you can get 15% off your order with my link.
Travel sized shampoo, lotion, etc. It was hard to find travel sized items in Spain and parts of SE Asia.
A travel pillow or neck pillow for the long flight, I really like bringing my Hyperlite Stuff Sack Pillow since it doubles as a packing cube
Ear plugs for sleep, and for minimizing noise on travel days if you are trying to read, Use code SKYE10 for 10% off Loop Ear Plugs
When to Visit Madeira Island
Honestly, what I love about Madeira is that you can go any time of year.
Winter (off-peak): temps in the 60s–70s, fewer crowds, more affordable
Spring / summer: more sun, busier trails and higher hotel rates.
Tip: Some trails or pools may close during stormy or high-sea days. Always check local conditions before heading out.
Things to Think About Before You Go
If you are new to international travel, I have a blog that will help you plan your trip.
A few things to consider before you go include:
Purchase your travel insurance, needs to start on the day of your first flight. We usually start ours the day before, just to be safe.
Get your international drivers license in advance. Garrett (my husband) got his in person at our local AAA location about a month before our trip.
Purchase an eSim for your phone if you don’t have an international plan. I like airalo, they are easy to use and you can add it to your phone while you’re still in the US so it’s ready to activate when you land at your destination. Even if you have an international plan, check into an eSim, they can be cheaper for more data.
Purchase an outlet converter if you don’t already have one for the EU.
Download Google Translate, not just the app, but download the language you need within the app so you can use it even if you don’t have service.
If you don’t speak Portuguese you will be totally fine, almost everyone spoke english with us. But I do always recommend learning a few words in advance like “hello”, “thank you”, “I have a reservation”, etc.
Gear Discount Codes and Links
I’ve partnered with a few of my favorite outdoor brands to hook you up with exclusive discounts on trail-tested gear. These are companies I actually use and love, and when you shop through the links below, you’ll get a deal and help support my blog. Win-win!
15% off LUNA Sandals - Click the link and the discount will be added to your cart automatically.
15% off Stio with code SKYE15 - Click the link and enter the code in your cart.
10% off Will and Bear hats with code SKYESTOURY - Click the link and the discount will be added to your cart automatically.
20% off Wild Deodorant with code SKYESTOURY - Must enter the promo code at checkout to receive discount. They make a deodorant mini that is perfect for backpacking, it’s the size of a lip balm.
10% off Loop Earplugs with code SKYE10 - Enter the promo code at checkout. I use their Dream earplugs for sleeping both backpacking and car camping.
FAQ – Madeira Travel Tips & Itinerary Questions
Is two weeks enough to explore Madeira?
Yes! Two weeks gives you plenty of time to see the island’s highlights. From Pico Ruivo hikes to the Porto Moniz natural pools you’ll have plenty of time to not feel rushed. If you’re short on time, you can still see the main spots in 7–10 days by focusing on the east or west side of the island.
Do I need a car in Madeira?
While public transport exists, renting a car is the easiest way to explore Madeira, especially for reaching levadas, viewpoints, and secluded beaches. Be prepared to drive a manual or request an automatic transmission when booking your vehicle.
When is the best time to visit Madeira?
Madeira is a year-round destination:
Spring/Summer (April–September): best for hiking and beach days
Fall/Winter (October–March): cooler temperatures, fewer tourists, lower prices
Check local conditions before booking hikes, especially for levadas and pools, as some may close during rough seas.
What are the must-do hikes in Madeira?
Top hikes include:
Pico Ruivo Sunrise Hike – stunning vistas and sunrise photography
PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço – coastal cliffs and wildlife spotting
Levada do Caldeirão Verde – waterfalls, tunnels, and lush forests
Levada Nova – easier option with waterfall views
Tip: wear proper hiking shoes and bring a headlamp for tunnels.
Where should I stay in Madeira?
Recommended areas:
Funchal: central hub, close to restaurants and cable cars
Porto Moniz: for access to natural pools and northern hikes
Machico / Caniçal: quieter, great for coastal trails
We personally stayed at Pestana Royal, Studios by Aqua Natura, and Pestana Village Garden.
What should I pack for Madeira?
Layered clothing is essential due to microclimates:
Hiking clothes & good shoes
Rain jacket & fleece
Swimwear & resort wear
Travel adapters, sunscreen, and bug spray
You can also check my Madeira packing list for gear recommendations with discounts.
Is Madeira good for photography?
Absolutely! Madeira’s cliffs, waterfalls, and levadas make it a photographer’s paradise. Sunrise and sunset locations like Ribeira da Janela, Ponta de São Lourenço, and Pico Ruivo are particularly stunning.
Shop my camera gear I use on all my travels
Can you swim in Madeira?
Yes! Porto Moniz natural pools are perfect for a safe ocean swim. Other beaches like Seixal and Machico are sandy and calm. Be cautious of waves on rocky coasts as some areas are better suited for sunbathing or photography.
Is Madeira kid-friendly?
Madeira can be kid-friendly, especially for nature walks, beach days, and short levadas. Avoid longer or more technical hikes unless your children are experienced hikers. Some adventure activities, like canyoning, have age or weight restrictions.
How much does a two-week Madeira trip cost?
Costs vary depending on accommodation and activities:
Budget: $1,500–$2,000 USD per person
Mid-range: $2,500–$3,500 USD per person
Luxury: $4,000+ USD per person
Car rental, hiking tours, and hotel stays make up the bulk of the budget.
Where can I book guided hikes or tours in Madeira?
For safety and local insight, guided hikes are highly recommended for trails like PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço or Levada do Caldeirão Verde. We used Epic Madeira for our canyoning adventure as they both provide gear, guides, and small-group experiences. Book a guided tour here.
What’s the best gear for hiking levadas in Madeira?
You’ll want trail runners or boots, a lightweight rain jacket, and a daypack with water and snacks. Check out my recommended gear with the essentials.
Where can I rent a car for Madeira?
A car rental is highly recommended to explore the island fully. There are a verity of vendors at the airport to book through. You can reserve ahead to ensure availability. If you’re not proficient at driving a manual transmission on steep hills, be sure to request an automatic transmission when booking. Book your rental here.
Are there must-have apps or gear for Madeira trips?
Yes! Some essentials:
Google Maps offline mode or Maps.me for trails
Portable charger for long hikes
Action camera (DJI Osmo, GoPro) for waterfalls and coastal cliffs
Final Thoughts on Visiting Madeira
Madeira was by far my favorite place we visited in Europe, and if you are considering a trip, I hope this blog post helps you decide to book your trip! The island is truly and outdoor adventure lovers dream. I’m already wanting to plan a trip back.
Ultimate Southern Thailand Itinerary: How to Plan the Perfect 2 Week Trip
How to Prepare for Your First International Trip (Beginner Travel Guide)
This image is copyrighted and owned by Skye Stoury Photography and skyestoury.com, if you would like to licence any images on this site, please email us at hello@skyestoury.com