July 2024

Our trip to Madeira was an action-packed week exploring the stunning scenery of the island. There is so much to see and do in Madeira, and we surely got our steps in between all of the hiking and the hills of Funchal.

Accommodations:

• Quinta da Casa Branca – a higher-end hotel walking distance to everything in Funchal. The gardens are stunning and we enjoyed lounging by the pool after a day of activities.

Tours and Activities:

We rented a two seater smart car for the week to be able to explore the island on our own time. The roads are quite narrow, winding, and steep but there are plenty of tour options for anyone that doesn’t feel comfortable driving. Some of our favorite activities and restaurants:

• Levada hiking – there are infinite hikes on the island that follow the man-made waterways through tunnels, waterfalls, and views of the valleys below. We particularly enjoyed PR16 Levada Fajã do Rodrigues, which was about a two hour out and back hike.
• Surf lessons with Calhau Surf School. We had only been surfing once before and they were great with teaching beginners and we were both able to catch a few waves.
• Driving through the middle of the island to go to Fanal Forest and then on to the northwest coast. The drive gains major elevation but takes you through so many different terrains, from eucalyptus forests, to prairies, to small villages and vineyards.
• Seixal black sand beach and the Porto Moniz swimming pools. These are about fifteen minutes apart and you can easily spend an entire day between the two. They were both a little crowded but such a unique experience and the dramatic drop off of the cliffs above both towns is a must-see.
• Valley of the Nuns overlook and Pico do Arieiro. This is the highest point on the island and provides views well above the clouds. The full Pico do Arieiro hike is about five hours, so we opted to only hike out and back about 30 minutes and even that was pretty strenuous. The drive is a bit dicey but the views are definitely worth it.
• Restaurants: Casal da Penha in Funchal and Lavrador in Sao Vicente were some of our favorites. Quinta do Barbusano winery in Sao Vicente had pretty decent wine and even better views.