Caldeirao Verde - Inferno

This is probably the most beautiful levada hike on the island, with tunnels, waterfalls and beautiful views. The hike follows a contour, most of the way we will walk along the lava carved into the rock face, through deep gorges that water has formed here for thousands of years. At the end of this beautiful trail, a waterfall plunges into a small pool; hardy walkers can take a dip. At this point, the group usually splits into those who want to continue on to Inferno, and I return with the rest by the same route to Qeimadas, back to the start of the trek, where we wait for the Infernarians over coffee or beer🍺

It's still about 2.8km to Inferno from Calderaio Verde (same back), but there's also about 85 vertical metres of stone steps to climb, which is quite a purgatory, albeit with a view of the waterfall. Along the way you will again pass through several tunnels and at the end of one of them you will hear the sound of the waterfall, once you exit the tunnel you will find yourself in a beautiful place where the Ribeira Grande river has created a narrow gorge. There are metal footbridges across it and two waterfalls flow into the lava. After the second bridge you will pass through a small opening into an 80 meter long tunnel and then through three more and finally you will arrive at Inferno, returning the same way 💪💯

If we have time, we will stop in Santana at the typical Madeiran houses, if not, we have time for that in the coming days 🤗

Information

Basic route: 7km there, 7km back = approx 14km

Inferno route: approx. 20 km

Madeiran top 3 🗻

This is probably the most amazing high-altitude hike in Madeira, connecting the three highest peaks of the island: Pico Arieiro, Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo. It can be done by the average hiker, but it's still a bit more challenging than the levadas, so it's better to use at least a partial transfer. We will climb Pico Arieiro (1818 m above sea level). From here it is about 7 km to the highest peak of the island Pico Ruivo, our van will wait for us on the other side of the massif in Achada Teixeira, where we will just "run" 2.6 km to the parking lot. Likewise, if some of you don't feel like crossing, you'll take a few photos at Arieiro, wave to the group, and ride with the driver over the mountains to Achada Teixeira, where you'll summit the peak the easy way (2.6 km there and the same back). On the way back, we stop in Santana to see the typical Madeiran houses, if we missed it yesterday. 

Information

Basic route: approx. 10 km

Only Pico Ruivo: approx. 5 km

I won't be able to go on this trip to get the van to the finish point. The route is simple and of course we will discuss it in detail together before the trip.

Fanal - West Circle

One of our favourite events on the island. During the day we stop at a really countless number of beautiful spots with great views to take pictures 📷 

Through the Mountain Encumeada saddle we drive to Fanal on the plateau of Paul da Serra, there we walk for about 1,5 hours in a several hundred years old laurel forest, it's a place really like from another planet and the only one on the island where a bit of fog is desirable because of the atmosphere. Afterwards, we have a view of the northern cliffs above Ribeira de Janela, going down to a rock formation sticking out of the ocean. This is followed by a stop at Porto Moniz, where we again have about 1.5 hours for a possible bath in the lava pools and lunch. Then we drive to the westernmost point of Madeira - the cliffs at the lighthouse in Ponta do Pargo and on the way back we turn onto the old road between Madalena do Mar and Ponta do Sol, where there is the famous waterfall of the angels. If we have a good time, we can stop to see Gabo Girao, the second highest cliff in the EU with a glass view.

Information

This is a circuit, so more of a relaxing day with shorter crossings.

Sao Lourenco

The Sao Lourenco peninsula is also the easternmost tip of the island. It is not a typical Madeira, but it is one of the most photographed places on the island. The wild rocky coastline is the reason why this route is popular, it's a change from the roads around the levadas with their lush greenery. Today we'll enjoy jagged cliffs, the churning ocean below us, impressive views of sheer rock faces and the ocean sticking out with distinct layers of rock🌟

Lagoa de Vento - Alecrim the lion

One of the most touristy areas in Madeira - Rabacal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or rather the most massively visited is the 25 Fontes trek, which we'll do a bit more skillfully. At the end of our route today, it's only about 2.5 km to 25 Fontes 😎

Anyway, we'll turn off after a hundred metres of walking from the car park in Rabacal onto the Alecrim left into the beautiful countryside and let the crowds follow the asphalt path to Fontes,  while we enjoy ourselves from the first minutes 💯 We'll have a circuit with two detours to waterfalls, ponds and we'll also descend to the Lagoa de Vento lagoon, where there is a bigger lake with a waterfall and we'll get directly to the lagoon above the Risco waterfall (supposedly the highest on the island). Down about 100m below the waterfall, you can sometimes see a lot of tourists and we enjoy the relative quiet at the top. We will then conclude the tour by descending to the Forestry Administration in Rabacal, where those who want to can go to 25 Fontes and the rest can wait in the restaurant at the Forestry Administration with its spectacular views. 

Information

Basic route:  approx 8.5km circuit

Larano and the cane rum distillery in Porto da Cruz

This is one of the few coastal hikes on the island, the route was once the shortest link between Machico and Porto da Cruz, and the so-called "Borracheiros" used to carry young wine in goatskin bellows across the dangerous Boca do Risco pass. We will start the trek at the old Canical tunnel and initially follow the suburban levée into Canical, passing numerous gardens where you can spot everything from papayas to bananas to cabbages, and enjoying views of the valley of the town of Machico.

Still, we will be in the town of Machico.

About an hour later, we will separate from the levada and start climbing the loose terrain to the Cliff of Boca do Risco(about 45 min), where beautiful views of the ocean will open up before us, here we will have a snack, enjoy the view and start the awesome coastal trail with amazing views - the best part of the route.

After an hour or so of walking along the northern cliffs, we round a rock beyond which the Sao Lourenco peninsula disappears from view and a breathtaking view of Eagle Rock and Porto da Cruz, our destination, opens up before us, but we still have a good few kilometres to go. 

In Porto da Cruz we will visit a cane rum distillery and those who want to "must" try the typical Madeira Poncha right at the source, or brown rums - once Madeira was even one of the best producers in the world  Those who want to have lunch at the oceanfront restaurant renowned for its seafood, Piscinas, those who want a bite to eat will have a snack by the ocean, when time and conditions are right, we'll take a dip 🏊

Information

Basic route:  approx 12km

I won't be able to go with you on this trip to get the van to the finish point, but I will be coming across from the other end from Porto da Cruz. The route is simple and of course we will discuss it together in detail before the trip.