What is the ideal 6-day itinerary for Madeira?
An ideal 6 days in Madeira: day 1 Funchal, day 2 sunrise at Pico do Arieiro and the hike to Pico Ruivo, day 3 Ponta de São Lourenço and Machico, day 4 Cabo Girão, Porto Moniz and Fanal Forest, day 5 the 25 Fontes waterfalls and Calheta, and day 6 Caldeirão Verde or a slow day in Câmara de Lobos.
Day by day
- Day 1, Funchal: Old Town, Mercado dos Lavradores, cable car to Monte and the toboggan ride.
- Day 2, the peaks: sunrise at Pico do Arieiro, the one-way hike to Pico Ruivo (permit 10.50 EUR), down to Achada do Teixeira, then Santana.
- Day 3, the east: Ponta de São Lourenço in the morning before the heat (permit 4.50 EUR), then Machico's beach and old town.
- Day 4, the west: Cabo Girão skywalk, the Porto Moniz rock pools, Seixal and Fanal Forest.
- Day 5, Rabaçal: the 25 Fontes and Risco waterfall trails (permit 4.50 EUR each), then Calheta's beach.
- Day 6, your choice: the Caldeirão Verde levada trail near Santana (permit 4.50 EUR), or Curral das Freiras and poncha in Câmara de Lobos.
Keep a weather day
Mountain fog can hide the views on any day, so keep days 2 and 6 swappable and move the peak to the clearest morning. Check the forecast each evening.
Where to stay
Funchal works as one base for all six days: nothing on this plan is more than about an hour away by car. Book the permit trails first, then fit the rest around them.
FAQ
- What is the ideal 6-day itinerary for Madeira?
- Funchal, then Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, Ponta de São Lourenço, the north-west, 25 Fontes, and Caldeirão Verde or Câmara de Lobos.
- Is 6 days in Madeira enough?
- Yes. Six days covers the island's highlights and three or four of its best hikes, with room for a weather day.
- Which hikes need a permit?
- All of the classified PR trails, including Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, Ponta de São Lourenço, 25 Fontes, Risco and Caldeirão Verde.