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A wooden boardwalk winds down golden slopes where hikers follow the path.

Madeira

2023

Stages15

Route

Photographs (847)

Lufthansa aircraft wait at their gates as ground crew work the apron at dusk.A quiet village street lined with white houses, parked cars and flowering hedges.A blue-and-white tile mural depicts a crowned saint with a Portuguese inscription.A narrow village lane runs between white houses and a tall palm before green hills.A winding road passes a weathered red wall, houses and terraced green hills.A person walks a country lane beside stone walls, a banana grove and green hills.A sunny green pasture is edged by banana plants and red-roofed houses.A cluster of green bananas dangles beneath large sunlit leaves.A leafy banana grove full of green fruit clusters on a bright day.A cobbled village lane with houses, bins, and a steep lush mountain behind.Waves roll onto a dark shore beneath steep green cliffs.Hazy cliffs and a rocky islet rise from a calm ocean.A peaceful lane runs past houses, banana plants, and a fenced meadow.A single red pomegranate hangs amid dense green leaves against blue sky.Lush green banana plants and farm terraces slope down toward a blue coastline.Rows of young crops in a terraced field face red-roofed houses beneath a forested mountain.A curving asphalt road lined with stone posts winds past cultivated plots beneath a green mountain.White houses with red roofs rest on stone terraces cut into a forested slope.Green passion fruit vines climb wooden posts and wires in a neatly planted orchard.A single green passion fruit dangles from a vine with the ocean shimmering behind.A weathered stone outbuilding with a tiled roof stands beside a dry field and banana plants.A narrow stone staircase climbs steeply between lush ferns and tropical plants.A warm sun sets behind dark coastal mountains as wild flowers frame the hillside.A weathered wooden door is covered with photos and calendars beside hanging laundry.

Journal Notes (15)
Day 1

The Madeira Archipelago is an autonomous region of Portugal located in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and belongs biogeographically to the Macaronesian island group (Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, Cape Verde). The archipelago comprises the main island of Madeira, Porto Santo, …

Day 2

Miradouro Ponta do Furado – General Overview Miradouro Ponta do Furado is located on the northeastern coast of Madeira, within the municipality of Santana. The viewpoint occupies a prominent headland projecting into the Atlantic Ocean and offers unobstructed views of Madeira’s ru …

Day 3

Levada dos Cedros Region – General Overview The Levada dos Cedros region is located in the northwestern highlands of Madeira, primarily within the municipality of Porto Moniz, near the Fanal plateau. The area forms part of Madeira’s extensive levada network and lies within a larg …

Day 4

oaventura is located on the northern coast of Madeira, within the municipality of São Vicente, and extends from the Atlantic shoreline into a steep, deeply incised valley system reaching the island’s interior highlands. The settlement pattern is predominantly linear, following th …

Day 5

Boaventura is located on the northern coast of Madeira, within the municipality of São Vicente, and extends from the Atlantic shoreline into a steep, deeply incised valley system reaching the island’s interior highlands. The settlement pattern is predominantly linear, following t …

Day 6

Madeira is the principal island of the Madeira Archipelago, an autonomous region of Portugal located in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Geographically and biogeographically, Madeira belongs to the Macaronesian island group, alongside the Azores, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde. T …

Day 7

The levadas of Madeira represent one of the most extensive and historically significant water-management systems in the Atlantic island world. These linear irrigation channels traverse steep volcanic terrain, transporting water from the humid, high-precipitation regions of the is …

Day 8

The cuisine of Madeira reflects the island’s geography, climate, and history, combining Atlantic maritime influences with Portuguese culinary traditions and local adaptations shaped by isolation and resource availability. Madeiran food is characterized by simple preparations, hig …

Day 9

Madeira is one of Europe’s most distinctive hiking destinations, an Atlantic island known for steep volcanic mountains, deep green valleys, and dramatic coastal cliffs. Hiking on Madeira is defined by variety: you can walk through humid laurel forests, cross high ridgelines above …

Day 10

Madeira is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean, known for its highly varied and dramatic landscape. Despite its relatively small size, the island features steep mountains, deep valleys, dense forests, rugged coastlines, and fertile agricultural terraces. The landscape r …

Day 11

Ponta do Sol is a small coastal town and municipality located on the south coast of Madeira, west of Funchal. It is widely regarded as one of the sunniest places on the island, benefiting from its south-facing position, sheltered valleys, and relatively stable weather conditions. …

Day 12

PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo is one of Madeira’s most important mountain hiking trails, providing access to Pico Ruivo, the highest peak on the island at 1,862 meters above sea level. The trail connects high-altitude mountain areas with the summit and offers a direct immersion int …

Day 13

Catamaran cruises and whale watching are among the most popular ocean-based activities on Madeira, offering a close connection to the island’s marine environment. Departures typically take place from Funchal and nearby ports, where modern catamarans operate along the south coast …

Day 14

Rum production on Madeira is closely connected to the island’s agricultural history, climate, and long-standing traditions of sugar cane cultivation. Unlike industrial rum production in many parts of the world, Madeiran rum is typically produced in small quantities, using traditi …

Day 15

Madeira Airport, officially known as Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport, is the main gateway to the island of Madeira. It is located near the town of Santa Cruz on the south-east coast of the island, approximately 20 kilometers from Funchal. The airport serves as the …