In a nutshell
- Would you like to go on excursions while staying in Funchal, Madeira? Great idea! There is so much to discover in Madeira Island.
- From island tours to guided hiking tours and boat trips, in this article we show you 11 tips for cool excursions in Madeira starting in Funchal.
- For each excursion, we will tell you whether it is better to book a guided tour or do it on your own and give you our personal tips.
Day Trip to the West of Madeira
An island tour of Madeira is especially great at the beginning of your trip to get to know Madeira better.
We particularly like a round trip through the west of the island. You can easily do this in a rental car.
If you don’t want to drive yourself, book a guided day trip from Funchal. This will take you past the most important highlights in the west:
- Cabo Girão Viewpoint
- Ponta do Sol village
- Fairy forest of Fanal
- Ribeira da Janela
- Lava pools of Porto Moniz
Book a guided tour to the west of Madeira Island
Hiking to Pico Ruivo
Important note: The hike is currently partially closed. For the latest information on trail closures to Pico Ruivo, see VisitMadeira here and here.
One of the most popular destinations for an excursion from Funchal is the Pico do Arieiro, the third-highest mountain in Madeira.
The hike to Madeira’s highest mountain, Pico Ruivo, starts from there. And it is an absolute hiking highlight. The views of Madeira’s mountain landscapes are amazing and the hiking trail is extremely varied.
If you don’t have much hiking experience, it’s best to book a guided tour for the trail. Otherwise, you can also do it on your own.
Book a guided hiking tour from Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo
Transfer to Pico Arieiro (return journey from Achada do Teixeira)
Hiking at Rabaçal
Rabaçal is a popular hiking area in Madeira. The Levada das 25 Fontes hike and the trail to the Risco waterfall start here. You can easily combine both trails.
For this excursion, we recommend that you do it on your own and book a transfer from Funchal – this makes more sense than traveling by rental car, as the start and end points of the hikes are different.
However, it is also worth hiking with a guide as you will learn more about Madeira’s landscape.
Book a transfer to Rabaçal
Book a guided hiking tour: Levada das 25 Fontes
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
Ponta de São Lourenço is a peninsula in the east of Madeira with breathtaking cliffs and a green landscape.
The peninsula is accessible via the hiking trail Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço.
With a length of 7.4 kilometers (there and back) and a well-maintained path, it is ideal for beginners. However, it is still strenuous in some places.
As you can easily get here by rental car or bus, the Ponta de São Lourenço is an excursion from Funchal that you can easily do on your own.
Hiking Trip to the Levada do Caldeirão Verde
One of the most beautiful levada hikes in Madeira is the Caldeirão Verde trail.
By the way: Levadas are water channels that channel water from rainy areas of the island to areas with little rainfall. It feels like there are countless levadas on Madeira and there are some really beautiful trails along them.
If you are new to hiking, it is best to book a guided tour for the Caldeirão Verde hike. Otherwise you can also do the excursion on your own.
The trail is 17.4 kilometers long in total, but you can also shorten it and only walk part of it.
Book a guided hike: Caldeirão Verde
Book a transfer to the Caldeirão Verde hike
Excursion to Santana
Santana is one of the most beautiful town in Madeira, mainly due to its small, triangular houses.
The traditional houses of Santana are a real highlight of Madeira and cool photo motifs. You can also visit some of them, as they have been converted into souvenir stores.
In addition to the thatched-roof houses, Santana also has a beautiful viewpoint, the Miradouro Rocha do Navio. From there, you can take the cable car down to the sea or simply enjoy the view.
The excursion to Santana is best done on your own. You can either hire a car or take the bus (line 56).
Excursion to Monte
Monte is a municipality in Funchal and is located about 500 meters above the old town. Here you will find some of the most beautiful sights of Funchal.
You can easily make the trip to Monte on your own. From the old town, you can take the cable car to the top of the mountain. The best way to book tickets for the ride is online on the cable car website.
Once at the top of Monte, visit the Tropical Garden (admission €10) and if you are interested in Madeira’s flora, you can also continue to the Botanical Garden (admission €7.50).
The top highlight in Monte, however, are the basket sledges. You can whizz down the mountain on this traditional means of transportation. A ride costs 35 euros for 2 people.
Excursion to the Nun's Valley
The Nun’s Valley is a valley near Funchal and is perfect for a half-day trip from the capital. There is a beautiful path that leads you into the valley – or rather into the village of Curral das Freiras.
You can easily get to the Nun’s Valley on your own by bus. Take bus 81 from Funchal to the Eira do Serrado parking lot.
There is a viewpoint at the parking lot and this is where the short hike starts. As you walk downhill the whole time, the hike is easy and takes around an hour.
At the end of the trail, you will arrive in the village of Curral das Freiras. From there, take the bus back to Funchal.
Whale Watching Tour by Catamaran
Boat trips are a popular activity in Madeira. No wonder, as the island is located in the middle of the Atlantic. There are particularly many whale watching offers – you can see whales on Madeira all year round.
Note: Unfortunately, you never have a guarantee that you will see a whale on a tour. The highest probability is from September to November.
Most whale watching tours start in Funchal. The cool thing is that you can see Madeira Island from the water on the boat tour – the island looks completely different from this perspective.
Book a whale watching tour in Madeira Island by catamaran
Day Trip from Madeira to Porto Santo
Porto Santo is a popular destination for a day trip from Madeira. The island has a 9 kilometer long sandy beach where you can enjoy a wonderful day at the beach.
You can either book a guided tour to Porto Santo or take the ferry there on your own. With a guided tour, you don’t have to worry about transportation yourself and you have a guide with you on Porto Santo.
Book a guided day tour from Madeira Island to Porto Santo
Alternatively, you can take the ferry from Funchal and travel to Porto Santo on your own. The crossing takes 2.5 hours and there is usually a ferry there in the morning and back to Madeira in the evening.
Book ferry tickets to Porto Santo
Day Trip to the Ilhas Desertas
The Ilhas Desertas are an uninhabited group of islands southeast of Madeira. They are of volcanic origin and the rugged, arid landscape is super impressive.
They are a nature reserve, but you can still discover them by boat. Day trips to the Ilhas Desertas are offered from Funchal.
On the excursion, you sail past the islands, make a swimming stop and disembark on the Deserta Grande.
Book a day trip to the Ilhas Desertas
These were our tips for excursions from Funchal, Madeira
How did you like our tips for excursions in Madeira? Have you done one of the tours in Madeira Island, or do you have any other tips? Let us know in the comments. We look forward to hearing from you!