Just a short flight away, surrounded by the Atlantic waters, lies the island of Madeira. Known as the “island of eternal spring” due to its climate, its hiking trails invite travellers to connect with nature and explore stunning landscapes and picturesque corners. Beyond nature, you’ll discover local crafts, a cuisine rich in unique flavours, traditional thatched-roof houses, and a constant immersion in its vibrant culture.
Madeira with Levada do Norte Trail
Portugal (Madeira), 8 Days · Stay with excursion
A green paradise in the midst of the “great blue”
Nature
Adventure
Departure date:Departures from May 2026 till October 2026
Departures from:London, Manchester
Travel details
City of origin - Funchal
Day 1: Departure with destination Funchal. Arrival at airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay.
Funchal - Monte and Botanical Garden - Funchal
Day 2: Breakfast and departure on the half-day excursion. Departure to Monte, famous for its botanical gardens and for the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte. For the more adventurous among you, there's always the option of hurtling back down to Funchal in the typical Carros de Cesta wicker toboggans (not included in the price). Next, we will visit the Botanical Garden. This garden is made up of different botanical species and more than 2,500 plants come from all continents that coexist in perfect harmony. The garden is home to around 300 exotic birds and another 200 species indigenous to the region (entrance to the garden included). Return to the hotel and time at your leisure. Overnight stay. The order of the tours in this itinerary is purely for information purposes and will vary depending on the day of arrival and availability.
Breakfast
Funchal - Porto Moniz - Funchal
Day 3: Breakfast. Departure from the hotel for a full-day excursion over to the west side of the island, where you'll be amazed at the sheer natural beauty and breathtaking views. The first stop is Câmara de Lobos, a fishing village immortalised in the paintings of Sir Winston Churchill in 1950. After winding through a series of vineyards used to produce the famous Madeira wine, you'll get to the 580-metre Cabo Girão cliff, the highest in Europe and the second highest in the whole world. The glass-bottomed skywalk commands an outstanding view over the south coast. Continuing along the west coast, the next stop will be in Ribeira Brava. The tour then heads towards Madalena do Mar, famous for its banana plantations, before reaching the Paul da Serra, the only plateau in Madeira and at a height of 1,400 metres, and then the north's most popular destination, Porto Moniz, famous for its natural pools. Stop for lunch (not included) and, for the more intrepid among you, a dip in the pools. The return journey along the road between Seixal and São Vicente is dotted with solitary waterfalls. The final stop will be at the Encumeada vantage point, (1,007 metres above sea level) to admire the stunning view of the island's north and south coasts. Return journey to hotel for overnight stay.
Breakfast
Funchal - Santana - Funchal
Day 4: Breakfast. Departure from the hotel towards the east side of the island for a full-day excursion. The first stop will be in the village of Camacha, famous for its wickerwork. The tour will head up Pico do Arieiro, the third highest mountain in Madeira (1,818 metres above sea level) and the only one accessible by car. From here, the view of the Curral das Freiras (Valley of the Nuns) is simply spectacular.After a brief rest, the next stop will be the World Heritage Site of Ribeiro Frio, perched in the heart of a laurel forest and where flora and fauna stand side by side in perfect harmony. We will also be able to observe an interesting trout farm composed (in the most natural way possible) of stone enclosures, fresh levada water, framed in a beautiful backdrop of pure nature. Snaking along the north coast, the tour will take you through Faial over to the town of Santana, famous for its traditional thatched-roof houses. After a break for lunch (not included), the next stop will be Porto da Cruz and its beautiful harbour nestled on the eastern flank of the Penha d'Águia mountain, which dominates the coastal landscape. Onward to the historic town of Machico, the landing point for the discoverers of Madeira in 1419. Return journey to Funchal for overnight stay.
Breakfast
Funchal - Nau Santa María - Funchal
Day 5: Breakfast. Departure from the hotel for a half-day excursion and cruise. Today's trip will whisk you back to the 15th century. You'll set out on a cruise on the Santa María, an exact replica of the Christopher Columbus flagship. It was built in the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos in 1998. You'll also get to admire the stunning scenery and glistening gin-like waters on the south coast of the island.What's more you'll have the chance to spot dolphins, whales, turtles and birds or to go snorkelling off the 580-metre Cabo Girão cliff, the highest in Europe and the second highest in the whole world. The return journey will take you to Câmara de Lobos, a major fishing hub on the island. The cruise includes a glass of Madeira wine and some honey cake, while diving gear will also be provided. The ship also has a bar service on board. Return journey to the hotel, time at your leisure and overnight stay.
Breakfast
Funchal - Central Tour - Funchal
Day 6: Breakfast and departure on a half-day tour. The journey from the hotel will take you to Câmara de Lobos and then to the Boca dos Namorados vantage point (1,100 metres above sea level), which commands spectacular views over the village of Curral das Freiras. Not far from here, there'll be a stop at a traditional bar to taste the typical poncha, the famous local drink made from sugar cane rum, lemon juice and honey. Then it's a comfortable off-road drive to the cliff of Cabo Girão, where you'll get to admire the magnificent views of Funchal and Câmara de Lobos. Return journey to the hotel, time at your leisure and overnight stay.
Breakfast
Funchal - Levada do Norte Trail - Funchal
Day 7: Breakfast and departure on a low-difficulty two-hour hike of approximately six kilometres. The Levada do Norte Trail covers one of the most walked and oldest routes in Madeira, built with the chief function of transporting water from the rainier north towards the drier south of the island in order to irrigate the farmland. It's perfect if you fancy a relaxing and untaxing hike during your stay in Madeira. You'll have a whole two hours to marvel at the fantastic views of Campanario, the Ribeira Brava and the Atlantic Ocean. You'll also get to observe the so-called 'poios de Madeira', which are agricultural terraces that take advantage of every centimetre to grow vegetables, tubers and fruits for local use. It's also possible to see some species native to the island of Madeira. And right at the end of the trail is a wonderful laurel grove. Return journey to Funchal for overnight stay.
Breakfast
Funchal - City of origin
Day 8: Breakfast. Transfer to airport. Flight with destination the city of origin. Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
Breakfast
Your trip includes
Return flight.
Accommodation in selected hotels or similar category.
Transfers as per itinerary.
Visits in a guided tour that are detailed in the program and not considered as optional.
English-speaking local guide.
Diet: 7 breakfasts.
Insolvency protection.
Your trip doesn't include
Accommodation fees in Funchal paid directly at the establishment.
Any other service not previously mentioned as included.
Reviews Madeira with Levada do Norte Trail
Angela Quintana
Es una isla muy bonita, tiene unos paisajes increíbles, la gente es súper amable. En cuanto a las excursiones todo bien, los guías son amables y simpáticos, te explican todo y te resuelven cualquier duda. Tienes bastante tiempo libre para visitar por tu cuenta la isla también, pero con las excursiones la recorres entera. El clima agradable, recomiendo llevar un abrigo para excursión al norte de la isla y para la excursión a Santana. En general ha sido un buen viaje.
Fabricio Rossi
Alguns passeios poderiam ser substituídos por outros mais interessantes. O próprio passeio da Levada não é muito interessante, nem o da caravela. O hotel regular.
Expected Hotels (or similar)
In this section you will find a selection of hotels according to the category specified in the itinerary.
Alojamento Central 2
Important remarks
- Triple rooms in Europe are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- During congresses and special events, the confirmed hotels and other accommodations may be different to those indicated.
- During the circuit by Europe, only one suitcase and one carry-on bag per person are allowed.
- Check-in time at the hotel on the day of arrival depends on each establishment, but in no case will it be before 3:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.
- The order of visits in this itinerary is indicative, and will be carried out according to the day of arrival and availability.
- The half-day Jeep tour: Central Madeira always runs on a Wednesday.
- The order of the itinerary may be altered for logistical reasons, without prior notice, but no scheduled trips will be cancelled (except in the case that adverse weather conditions prevent its realisation).
- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.
- Prices are calculated based on admission fees to the sights as of the date of publication. If there is an increase in these prices, you will be promptly informed.
- If you are a person with reduced mobility, please contact us to confirm the suitability of the trip.
- Consult the necessary documentation to enter the destinations visited and for transit in the countries where air stopovers are made.