Walking the Island of Madeira

All listed activities

Breakfast: All breakfasts are included and usually consist of coffee/tea, fruit juice, rolls or bread, butter and jam, cereal, ham and cheese.

Lunch (not included): The ingredients for lunch are usually bought at a nearby shop or supermarket each morning before taking the transfer to the start point of the walk. Premade sandwiches and snacks are available, or you may prefer to purchase bread rolls and freshly cut cheese/meat to create your own lunch. It is also possible to pre-order a picnic from the hotel the night before and the cost ranges from €13-€16.

Dinner: Three dinners are included while in Porto Moniz. For dinners not included, we aim to eat in a different restaurant each night. Typically, the tour leader eats with the group for at least two nights of the trip and recommends/arranges places to eat on the others. Typical Madeiran cuisine incorporates a lot of meat and fish with rather plainly cooked vegetables and boiled potatoes. There will generally be at least one vegetarian option on the menu, but vegetarians should be prepared to request an alternative dish if required.

vegetarian, vegan, meat

Throughout the trek, we stay in good quality hotels, some right on the coast with amazing views. Below are the hotels we normally use:

Machico: Hotel Dom Pedro (nights 1-2)

The hotel has sweeping views over Machico Bay and offers a range of leisure amenities, including table tennis, a pool table, and an outdoor pool (open in good weather). There is a piano bar with occasional live music and coffee/cake is served throughout the day in the lounge area.

Porto Moniz:

Hotel Aqua Natura Bay (nights 3-5)

The Hotel Agua Natura Bay has an enviable location with views over the natural swimming pools in town. Hotel amenities include a hot tub and sauna where you can rest your tired limbs, and we dine in the excellent hotel restaurants during our stay.

Funchal: Pestana Casino Studios (nights 6-7)

Pestana Casino Studios is ideally placed for exploring, just a five-minute walk to the centre of Funchal. It also has an outdoor pool and access to the indoor pool and spa facilities of the neighbouring Pestana Casino Park Resort.

Tour leader throughout

Transport from and to the airport is by taxi or minibus and is included. Other transport mentioned in the itinerary as an integral part of the guided walks is also included, as is the transfer of luggage between hotels.

Transport on optional excursions, or where you have voluntarily curtailed a group walk, is not included.