Madeira: Hiking in an Extraordinary Garden

Average to good hiker. From 3 to 7 hours of walking and/or 500 to 1000m/1640 to 3280ft of elevation gain and 500 to 1400m/1640 to 4595ft of elevation loss during the day. Some sections of hikes are on "levadas" (irrigation canals), not recommended for those who are afraid of heights. These hikes have all been checked by our local team and none of them are objectively vertiginous, but this is different from one person to another, please be careful! Do not venture onto certain routes that we have not mentioned but that you may be tempted to follow. On some days, alternatives are possible, allowing you to choose your level of hiking.

No extra luggage to carry during hikes, except the essential items for the day (lunch, water & personal belongings) in a small backpack. Your luggage is transferred by vehicle to your next accommodation.

The transfers at the start and finish of certain hikes enable you to tackle the hikes very quickly, as the hotels are not always located at the start or finish of the day's hike.

Airport transfers: 1 transfer per group is included in the price. If you arrive on different flights and require additional airport transfers (additional price is available on request).

Possible from 2 people.

8 days / 7 nights / 6 days of hiking

Departure date at your convenience all year round (depending on the availability of accommodation).

Celebrations and events in Madeira:

There are many celebrations in Madeira. Here are the main ones. Attention, we advise you to book in advance for these periods!

- Carnival: from 11th to22nd of February 2026 - Ultra Trail: from 25th to 26th of April 2026 - The Madeira Flower Festival: from 30th of April to 24th of May 2026 - Atlantic festival (fireworks contest): from 5th to 28th of June 2026 - Madeira wine festival: from 24th of August to 14th of September 2026 - And of course Christmas and New Year's celebrations

Accommodation / Catering

Accommodation

In a double occupancy room in 2* to 4* hotels (local standard), good comfort and warm welcome. Single rooms are available upon request for an additional fee and are subject to availability.

Room, restaurant and façade of the Amparo hotel

Façade, pools, restaurant and rooms of the Costa Linda hotel

Room, restaurant and pool at Hotel O Colmo

Meals

Half-board except in Porto da Cruz (2 nights) and Funchal (2 nights) where only breakfasts are included. Lunches are not included, but picnic supplies are easy to find in all villages.

There is the possibility to add extra nights in Funchal before or after the tour. Please contact us for availability.

Self-guided tour, without a human guide. A digital travel packet (documents available in English, French & German) will be sent by email that includes access to our smartphone travel application for navigating hikes and accessing local maps (available in English only), the list of booked accommodations, any included travel vouchers and all the detailed information needed for a successful trip. If desired, we can provide a printed version of the travel packet for an additional fee. It will be waiting and available at the 1st accommodation of the itinerary with maps, topo guide and travel folder. This must be requested at the time of booking. There is no welcome meeting at the arrival hotel or general orientation meeting for this tour.

Start

Day 1 at the airport of Funchal on the Island of Madeira, Portugal.

End

Day 8 at the airport of Funchal on the Island of Madeira, Portugal.

Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC): Madeira Airport
The airport is located 22km/14mi from Funchal (about 30 minutes).

Swimming

Several of our trips are suitable for swimming, either during a stage or at the end of the day. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it in the right season. We want to highlight that you are the ultimate decision-maker regarding whether to swim or not. As such, these swims are entirely your responsibility and undertaken at your own risk.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle has been recognized as a Travelife Partner, an international label that certifies our responsible practices regarding the environment, ethics, and sustainable management, both within our company, with our partners, and in the organization of our trips.

This label, the second level of a rigorous international certification, attests to our concrete actions in favor of responsible tourism. We are actively working toward the next level, Travelife Certified, in line with our sustainable development policy.

It is the client's responsibility to arrive prepared with the items listed below to help insure a safe and enjoyable trip.

CLOTHING CHECKLIST:

The following items are required for this trip unless otherwise noted. When packing, think layered clothing systems that work together and can be easily added or removed.

• Hiking Boots/Shoes – waterproof, sturdy molded sole, deep tread and ideally well broken in (Note: buy boots/shoes 1/2 size to 1 size larger than street shoes to allow for feet swelling and thicker socks)
• Hiking Socks – one pair for every day or two days of the trip. Hiking/Sport specific padded socks, no cotton please!
• Sun Hat – wide brimmed hat or baseball cap/bandana combo
• Warm Hat & Gloves – lightweight beanie and light-to-mid weight fleece or wool gloves
• Hiking Shirts – non-cotton, breathable short sleeve and/or long sleeve shirts (Note: long sleeve shirts provide better sun protection)
• Warm Top – mid-weight sweater or pullover of wicking material such as merino wool, fleece or polypropylene
• Insulating Jacket – down-fill or synthetic-fill insulated "puffy" jacket or warm, heavy weight fleece jacket
• Hiking Pants & Shorts – nylon pants AND shorts, zip-offs or leggings
• Base Layer/Long Underwear – 1 pair of wicking tops and bottoms that are lightweight to midweight, synthetic wicking materials such as polyester, polypropylene, merino wool, etc.
• Rain Gear – waterproof jacket and pants or high-quality poncho, breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex® or coated nylon. For the pants look for side zippers that will easily allow pulling them over footwear.
• Casual Clothing & Footwear – comfortable clothes and shoes to wear in the evening after activities.

Important Note: Please, no cotton hiking/cycling clothes. Synthetic clothing is very efficient in drying quickly. Merino wool material clothing is also efficient in drying quickly, is comfortable to wear and has the advantage of not developing a bad odor after use.

GEAR CHECKLIST:

• Backpack – a 30-45 Liter sized comfortable pack with a waterproof cover for use day-to-day while hiking.
• Personal Luggage – small duffel bag, rolling suitcase or backpack – for extra hiking clothes and casual clothes.
• Hydration System – 2+ liters capacity, either water bottles or bladder/hose system and an additional water bottle
• Trekking Poles – telescopic/adjustable poles to help reduce the impact on joints and support hikers in steep and/or rocky terrain. (Note: strongly recommended)
• Headlamp – preferably with an L.E.D. bulb that works with AA or AAA batteries (Note: always test headlamp before trips and travel/pack without batteries in device)
• Picnic/Lunch Kit – knife, plate or bowl, box with closeable lid, utensils, etc.
• Phone & Charger – local sim card or international plan may be needed. Consider bringing a small power bank to use to recharge devices during trip activities.
• Waterproof Travel Case or Pouch – used to keep important documents (i.e. passport, health/travel insurance, etc.) & phone safe from weather/water
• Sunglasses, Sunscreen, & Lip Balm
• First Aid Kit – see first aid kit suggestions below*
• Personal Toilet Paper Kit – most public restrooms outside of lodging will have toilet paper available, but it is good to be prepared with a personal toilet paper kit to potentially use during portions of this tour.
• Toiletries
• Contact Lenses & Glasses – if wearing contact lenses, please also bring back-up pair of glasses and contacts.
• Prescription Medication – with emergency back-up supply.
• Money – It is good to have some local currency, often smaller local businesses do not accept credit cards and/or prefer cash. Some public restrooms require small amounts of cash to use. If desired, tipping private drivers is acceptable and the average amount is just a few Euros per ride, but it is not expected and fully optional.

OPTIONAL ITEMS:

• Face Masks; Over-the-counter Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Tests (Note: recommended but optional)
• Travel Power Adapter – Electric power voltage in Portugal is 230 V / 50 Hz and the plugs are F & L type
• Support Braces – consider bringing any joint braces that may be currently needed or from past injuries (i.e. knee, ankle, elbow, etc.)
• Sleep Mask & Ear Plugs
• Bug Repellent
• Quick Drying Towel or Bandana(s)
• Swimsuit

*FIRST AID KIT SUGGESTIONS:

After years of experience planning adventure travel around the world, we've learned that anything can happen, and every traveler should carry a basic personal first aid kit. We want to ensure our guests are well-prepared and make smart informed travel decisions. In many of the places we operate trips, it may be challenging to find certain medications and/or first aid supplies, and sometimes common items you desire may not be available in the destination you are travelling. That's why it's good to be prepared and carry a small supply of first aid supplies, any prescription medication, and/or over-the-counter medications you may require during your travels.

We recommend discussing your travel plans, vaccination requirements, and any medication usage with your primary healthcare provider before embarking on our trips. This helps ensure you have a safe and enjoyable travel experience.

Here is a basic list of what we think makes a good personal travel first aid kit:

• Medications – Brands of your choice, all medications should be either prescribed directly by your doctor or discussed with a doctor prior to use.
• Electrolyte Replacement/Drink Mix – brand of choice
• Creams – Antibiotic ointment, Anti-Itch: Hydrocortisone, Arnica
• Eye Problems: Dry/Itchy – Eye drops
• Feminine Hygiene – Tampons
• Wound Care – a various pack of bandages, antiseptic swabs
• Blister Care – blister kit made up of items of your choice
• Sun Protection – sunscreen, SPF lip balm
• Various Items – Athletic tape/"KT Tape", Nail clippers, Tweezers, Small bottle of hand sanitizer, Sewing kit (clothing/button repairs), Disposable surgical gloves (1-2 pairs)

PACKING FOR TRAVEL:
It is recommended that you prepare your items in the following manner for your travels to this trip.

"Carry-on Bag(s)" - This is the bag you will bring with you on the plane. We recommend all your pertinent information be in this bag (passport, travel documents, etc.) as well as your most important gear items (hiking footwear, jacket, prescription medication, etc.) in case any checked luggage items becomes lost or delayed.

"Checked Bag(s)" - This bag will be checked and contain the rest of your personal items (clothing and gear, etc.).

Important Note: Again, it is recommended to either wear or pack in your "Carry-on Bag" the main gear items you need for this trip vs. putting them in your checked "Travel Bag" (in case luggage is delayed). Hiking footwear is probably the hardest item to replace last minute if items become lost or delayed past the intended start date of the trip. Lost or delayed luggage has become more and more common in major airports for international travel since the global pandemic.

LUGGAGE MANAGEMENT DURING TRIP:
During this trip, the packing system needs to be in 2 bags.

Extra Luggage - "Checked Bag(s)" & "Carry-on Bag(s)": This bag will contain all the items you want to bring along on the trip. Extra luggage is allowed on the trip and easily stored at hotels.

Day Backpack (not provided): All guests will need a backpack, which they will be responsible for carrying during hikes. Items in this bag should include anything you may need throughout the day during the trip. (i.e. rain gear, warm layers, water, sunscreen/lip balm, snacks/food, camera/phone, etc.).

Portugal
Capital: Lisbon
Population of Madeira: About 250,000 people

Documents

Travellers from the European Union, including children, need a valid identity card or passport. Check with the authorities in your home country for the conditions of entering this destination.

Health/Insurance

Do not forget your card and/or policy details for your health insurance and/or travel insurance.

European Emergency Number: 112

Tourist Office
Direcçao Regional do turismo:
Av. Arriaga 18 - 9000 FUNCHAL MADEIRA
Website: https://visitmadeira.com/en

Portugal country code: +351

Portugal is a Member-State of the European Union and uses its uniform currency – the Euro €. Portugal, as is the case with the other Member-States of the E.U. uses eight coins as follows: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 Euros. The banknotes are issued in the following denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros. Currency exchange rates are clearly displayed in every bank that accepts currency exchange, while credit card holders may acquire money from the ATMs of the collaborating banks. Madeiran banks are open for the public from 8:30 to 15:00 Monday to Friday. They are closed on Public Holidays. Euros can also be exchanged for notes of other foreign currencies at exchange offices that are situated at the airport and certain main ports, in the larger cities, as well as at many tourist destinations. A passport is required when exchanging currencies. Madeira more than other EU destinations, still prefer cash in most settings, but credit card use is becoming more and more available.

The official language of Madeira is Portuguese. Although many people speak English, especially in the tourism industry, it can be helpful to learn a few Portuguese phrases to facilitate communication.

Madeira enjoys a subtropical oceanic climate, with mild winters and hot summers. Temperatures are generally pleasant throughout the year, but they can vary greatly depending on the altitude. Expect colder temperatures at higher elevations.

Western European Time (CET/UTC+0) and Western European Summer Time (CEST/UTC+1) during daylight saving time.

Health and Safety:

• No special vaccinations are required to travel to Madeira.
• Make sure you have travel insurance to cover possible health issues and other emergencies.
• Tap water is generally safe to drink, but bottled water is widely available and recommended.

Tipping: not mandatory, but it is common to leave a tip of around 10% in restaurants and leave a small tip for taxi drivers.