Walking in Madeira

Our tour begins today in Santana on Madeira's north coast. The beautiful village is home to the famous 'Bordado da Madeira' embroidery and traditional thatched, A-frame houses known as 'palheiros'. For those arriving in time, your Tour Leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Madeira Airport (FNC), which is around a 30-minute drive from the hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Tonight, you might like to try one of the fresh seafood dishes that Madeira is known for, such as tuna with fried maize or black scabbard with fried banana, and for dessert why not sample the local passionfruit pudding?

This morning, we'll drive to the starting point of today's walk via peaceful agricultural land where the rich soil yields up to three crops per year. We'll follow a levada (Madeira's unique irrigation canals), weaving through a rural landscape where fruits and vegetables grow side by side with exotic forests. We'll continue on the path to Boca do Risco, one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the east side of the island. From here, we'll walk along the cliff tops, where we can soak up panoramic views and spot local wildlife, including the Madeira Firecrest. Our walk finishes at Porto da Cruz. Walk completed, we'll drive back to Santana, stopping at a sugar cane factory and rum distillery for an optional tasting of the dark nectar. Today's 12-kilometre/7.45-mile trek is expected to take around 5 hours with 100 metres/328 feet of ascent and descent. The cliff-side path is narrow in places, with small, exposed sections that don't have a railing - care should be taken along these sections and those with vertigo might want to skip them.

This morning, we'll drive up to Boaventura, a hamlet of houses perched on the hillside at the top of the valley. Our trail kicks off with almost 200 metres/656 feet of incline, but the rest of the way is relatively flat, taking us from the top of the valley and winding down towards the coast. We'll walk to a hidden waterfall before entering the lush UNESCO-protected Laurel Forest and following the Levada dos Tornos. The Levada dos Tornos is one of the most important levadas in Madeira as it brings water from the island's north to its southern, drier areas. As we get closer to the coast, you can catch sweeping views of the valley. From Faja do Penedo our vehicle will take us along the scenic north coast to Porto Moniz. The 16-kilometre/10-mile stretch of road from Sao Vicente to Porto Moniz took 16 years to complete (it was built entirely by hand!). Porto Moniz is known for its unusual rock pools which were created by volcanic activity. In summer, the sun warms the trapped sea water making them perfect to dip into for a swim or a soak. When the weather is rougher, the waves crash dramatically over the seawall blotting out the rock pools altogether. Today's 13-kilometre/8-mile trek is expected to take around 5 hours with 280 metres/918 feet of ascent and descent. Again, several exposed sections don't have a railing - care should be taken along these sections and those with vertigo might want to skip them.

Today's walk starts at Rabaçal, from where we'll follow the Levada do Alecrim (rosemary), one of the most beautiful levadas in Madeira. Along the trail, we'll spot several species of flora that are endemic to Madeira and take in the views down into the Rabaçal and Ribeira da Janela valleys. We'll reach the majestic Lagoa do Vento, a river basin formed by the water falling from the top of the cliff, coming from the Ribeira do Lajeado. After a rest (and perhaps a swim), we'll have an hour walking through the Laurel Forest to reach the House of Rabaçal, where we'll stop for lunch. Fed and watered, we'll follow the Levada do Risco to the waterfall that feeds it. It's a magnificent viewpoint and the perfect rest spot to stop before we continue to the 800-metre/2624-foot Tunel dos Cavaleiros, through which the beautiful valley of Calheta and the sea can be spotted. Today's 12-kilometre/7.5-mile trek is expected to take around 5 hours with 475 metres/1,558 feet of descent.

Today, we'll drive to the south coast, making a stop at Ponta do Vigia, the westernmost tip of the island. The lighthouse here stands on the cliffs 300 metres/984 feet above the waves. Built in 1922, it houses a small museum containing an exhibit about the lighthouses of Madeira. Our walk today begins from Lombada, just inland from Ponta de Sol. We'll follow the Levada Nova around the hillside, with views over the coastline and villages of Ribeira Brava. The landscape gives us a glimpse into local livelihoods and traditions as we pass banana plantations, cultivated fields and colourful flora. Our walk ends in Ribeira Brava, where we'll stop for a refreshment before heading to the capital, Funchal, with a stop at Miradouro do Tanque en route. Funchal takes its name from 'funcho', meaning fennel and according to local legend, when Zarco landed here in 1419, he named this spot after the abundance of the herb he found. Visiting sailors used to call the city 'Little Lisbon' thanks to the grandeur of its cathedral and the buildings that line its harbour. Our base for our final three nights is Hotel do Carmo, a 3-star hotel in the heart of Funchal. The hotel features playful 1960s interior design with vintage furniture and retro artworks adding to its character. It has a rooftop swimming pool with views over the bay and the surrounding mountains. Today's 10-kilometre/6.2-mile trek is expected to take around four hours with 50 metres/164 feet of ascent and descent. There are several small sections of the hillside levada without railing protection.

This morning there will be the option to get to know Funchal with a guided, hour-long orientation walk with our tour leader. Alternatively, you can explore the old town at your own pace. Take the opportunity to discover the narrow, cobbled lanes as you pass by renovated fishermen's cottages, vibrant restaurants and art and craft shops. Don't forget to take the time to admire the artworks painted on the doors of the oldest street, Rua de Santa Maria. You might like to visit the Mercado dos Lavradores (the farmers market) or a Madeiran embroidery workshop. There'll also be the opportunity to visit Blandy's Wine Lodge and taste a variety of Madeiran wine, which has been produced on the island since the 17th century. In the afternoon, there are a choice of activities on offer. You might choose to take a half-day cruise to try to spot whales and dolphins. Alternatively, you can enjoy more time exploring Funchal, strolling through the botanic gardens and finishing the afternoon with tea at the opulent Reids Palace Hotel. If you'd rather be out in nature, you could take the cable car up to the tropical gardens at Monte.

Today's walk starts at Pico Arieiro (1,818 metres/5,965 feet). From here, we'll follow the trail to the summit of Pico Ruivo (1,862 metres/6,109 feet), Madeira's highest point. Our route takes us along part of Madeira's famous Balcony Walk and passes through several tunnels (remember your torch) including the Túnel do Pico do Gato. It's worth noting that this trail is more challenging than our previous walks and there are some short, steep sections involving stone steps and metal staircases. From the Pico Ruivo, we'll descend to Achada de Texeira (1,542 metres/5,059 feet) before returning to Funchal by bus. Perhaps the best way to spend our final night in Madeira is on the harbourfront, sipping a glass of local wine, or in the old town, where you'll find plenty of restaurants serving up traditional dishes. Look out for Espada, a long flat fish that's unique to the waters around Madeira (and some islands in Japan). The Madeirans serve it with banana - a delicious combination! Today's 11-kilometre/6.8-mile trek is expected to take around five-and-a-half hours with 320 metres/1,049 feet of ascent and descent. As noted above, this walk is the most challenging on our itinerary. It might not be suitable for those with a fear of heights as there are some sections with steep drop-offs. Our tour leader is there to support you through it. It's also worth noting that the Balcony Walk can be extremely busy. It can also close without notice due to bad weather and landslides. Our tour leader may decide to alter the itinerary depending on the conditions on the day.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Funchal. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Funchal at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Madeira Airport (FNC), which is a 25-minute drive from the hotel.