Madeira is a Portuguese island in the middle of the Atlantic. Due to its volcanic origin and the tropical climate it is a paradise for nature lovers. Fortunately the island has a wonderful network of signed and well maintained hiking routes that can take you to the most amazing spots - from the mountaintops to the deserted peninsula. Here’s four of them I had the chance to take; it’s not a “best of” selection, as all of the routes are fabulous, but I wanted to show the great variety of natural landscapes the island offers.
PR6 Vereda das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco
Let’s start with the most iconic routes of the island, the levadas. What’s a levada? They are channels that transport the water from the more humid north side of the island to the plantations of the sunny south side. They have a very gentle slope and a network of more than 1000 km (!!!) - so they are the ideal routes for a walk in the wilderness.
PR6 Vereda das 25 fontes is one of the most popular route of the island. Along the channels it first leads to the Risco waterfall and then to 25 Fontes, where a bunch of waterfalls fill up a lagoon. Apart from these the tour offers lush forests with very special fauna and amazing views towards the valleys.
PR8 Vereda da Ponta de Sao Lourenco
The next route takes you to the distant end of the island, the uninhabited Sao Lourenco peninsula. It is pure nature at its best: beautiful seascapes, amazing rock formations and grassy hillsides. In summer you can also climb down to the sea for a swim!
PR13 Vereda do Fanal
Fanal is a place with a rare beauty. It stands on a plateau, the top of the island. Between the picturesque laurissilva trees the landscape opens up towards the north, where the plateau ends. On this edge the trees are formed into weird shapes by the winds, and the among the grove peaceful cows graze the thick underbrush.
PR1 Vereda do Areeiro
The most breathtaking tour was left for the end. Vereda do Areeiro connects the two highest points of Madeira, it starts at Pico Areerio (1818 m) and leads to Pico Ruivo (1862m). The hike is very tough, constant ups and downs (walking forth and back its 1200 vertical m ascent & descent on 10 km), but the effort is rewarded with magnificent views of the jagged terrain and the clouds forming under our feet. The route itself is extraordinary too, it contains 4 tunnels, sometimes it leads on narrow ledges, sometimes on a 60 cm wide ridge, where both sides drop down hundreds of meters.
Finally here is a short video of the amazing route and the magnificent view:
For more information I found this site very useful with their descriptions, detailed data and maps.
If you also like hiking and exploring the nature, please support my idea of Adding hiking paths to Google Maps on Local Guides Connect Idea exchange.
