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Madeira Tours

Madeira itineraries: 3-, 5-, 7-, and 10-day templates

These templates are starting points, not commandments. The single biggest planning mistake I see is overpacking the schedule. Madeira rewards slow days. Plan one big activity per day, not three. Leave one full free day in any 7+ day itinerary.

All templates assume:

  • A rental car for the entire trip
  • Base in Funchal centre or Lido for shorter trips; split base for longer trips
  • Average traveler fitness; no specialist hiking or technical canyoning experience required

3-day template (long weekend)

A genuine "taste of Madeira" trip. Aim for shoulder season weather; summer can feel rushed.

Day 1: arrival + Funchal orientation

  • Pick up rental car at FNC airport. Drive via VR1 to your hotel (20-25 minutes).
  • Afternoon: walk the Funchal old town and seafront. Mercado dos Lavradores. Cable car up to Monte if energy allows.
  • Dinner: a seafood tasca in the old town.

Day 2: levada walk + south coast

  • Morning: Levada das 25 Fontes (PR6) or Levada do Bom Sucesso. Both family-friendly. See the hiking activity page.
  • Lunch: Camara de Lobos fishing village.
  • Afternoon: Cabo Girao skywalk + sunset.
  • Dinner: an upmarket Funchal restaurant for the local wine.

Day 3: boat trip + departure

  • Morning: a 3-hour catamaran or RIB boat tour for dolphins. See the boat tours page.
  • Lunch in Funchal.
  • Afternoon: easy options - Botanical Gardens, Forum Madeira shopping, or a swim at Praia Formosa.
  • Late afternoon: drive to FNC airport.

Skip with 3 days: PR1, the West tour, north-coast bases, multi-activity packages.

5-day template

The minimum for a representative first visit. Cover both south and west coasts, one full hiking day, one boat day.

Day 1: Arrival + Funchal old town.

Day 2: PR1 (Pico Areeiro to Pico Ruivo) - the famous ridge hike, start at 06:30 from Areeiro. Lunch in Funchal. Afternoon: rest or pool time.

Day 3: Boat trip in the morning (catamaran for first-timers). Afternoon: sample the local wine - either a quick Blandy's tour in the old town or drive up to Estreito de Camara de Lobos for a vineyard visit.

Day 4: West tour day - Cabo Girao, Camara de Lobos, Calheta sandy beach, Porto Moniz volcanic pools. Long driving day; budget 7-8 hours including stops. The west tour itinerary is on our excursions page.

Day 5: Slower last day - Funchal Botanical Gardens or a short levada (Levada do Bom Sucesso). Lunch. Drive to FNC airport.

Skip with 5 days: north coast (Santana, Sao Vicente caves), east coast (Ponta de Sao Lourenco), canyoning, multi-day MTB.

7-day template

The sweet spot for first visits with kids or for couples wanting to slow down.

Day 1: Arrival + Funchal old town orientation.

Day 2: PR1 ridge hike at sunrise. Quiet evening.

Day 3: West tour - Cabo Girao + Camara de Lobos + Calheta + Porto Moniz natural pools. Sleep in Calheta or Porto Moniz tonight to break up the driving.

Day 4: From your west or north base, drive the dramatic NW coast back via Sao Vicente caves and Encumeada pass. Stop at Fanal Forest if cloudy (better photography). Return to Funchal.

Day 5: Boat tour for dolphins (or whale-watching season). Afternoon free; consider Sao Tiago Fortress or Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro gardens.

Day 6: East coast - Machico, Ponta de Sao Lourenco hike (PR8, easier than PR1, beautiful coastline), Caniçal whaling museum if interested. Sleep back in Funchal.

Day 7: Pick one to add: a wine tour, a canyoning half-day, or a slow morning + departure.

This template gives you Funchal time, both coasts, one ridge hike, one boat day, plus a buffer for weather changes.

10-day template (recommended for serious visitors)

Splits the base. Funchal first, Calheta or Santana second. Adds optional activities and a free day.

Days 1-5: Funchal base

  • Day 1: arrival + old town
  • Day 2: PR1 ridge hike at sunrise
  • Day 3: boat tour + wine tasting
  • Day 4: West tour (long day, return to Funchal)
  • Day 5: free day - rest, beach, or extra activity (canyoning, scuba, or MTB)

Days 6-10: Calheta or Santana base

  • Day 6: travel day to your second base. Stop at viewpoints en route. Settle in.
  • Day 7: from Calheta, do PR6 (Levada das 25 Fontes); from Santana, do the Vereda do Pico Ruivo hike.
  • Day 8: a "small island" day - Porto Moniz natural pools or Fanal Forest from Calheta, or the NE coast viewpoints from Santana.
  • Day 9: a second activity - canyoning, a different boat tour, or a slow village day in Camacha or Curral das Freiras.
  • Day 10: drive back to FNC airport with stops.

This template lets you actually see most of the island without rushing, with two distinct accommodation experiences.

Common adjustments

  • With kids: replace PR1 with the Levada do Bom Sucesso. Replace the west tour with Calheta beach time. Skip the canyoning unless 12+.
  • With elderly travelers: keep walking distances short. Substitute hikes with the Pico do Areeiro viewpoint (paved + accessible).
  • Hiking-focused: redirect free days to PR2, PR4, or the Encumeada-Boca da Corrida traverse.
  • Wine-focused: swap one hike day for a Camara de Lobos vineyard tour + Blandy's Wine Lodge tour + a tasting flight at D'Oliveiras.
  • Photography-focused: book sunrise drives to Pico Areeiro and Cabo Girao. Add Fanal Forest in cloudy weather.

Where to go next

For activity-specific deep-dives, see:

By Filipe Pereira, Madeira local travel guide. Last verified 2026-05-04.

Por Filipe Pereira, Madeira Local Travel Guide & Curator. Última verificación el 2026-05-04.