Wanderwoche

Get to know Madeira with 5 guided hikes.
Accommodation for all variants is provided in a hotel of your choice. In the 2026 summer season, this applies to the region of Funchal, Canico/Canico de Baixo or the hotels Calheta Beach (FNC012), Enotel Sunset Bay (FNC011), Saccharum (FNC154), and Quinta Alegre (FNC135). From winter 26/27 onwards, only in hotels in the Funchal and Canico/Canico de Baixo regions. The hotels in the west of the island can then be combined with the code FNC998 (Hiking Week West).

Depending on the day of arrival, there is a fixed sequence of full-day or half-day hikes. For stays longer than one week, our local agency will attempt to plan the hikes so that they do not take place on consecutive days.
For arrivals on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, you will take part in 4 full-day and 2 half-day hikes. The two half-day hikes take place on the same day (morning and afternoon; you do not need to return to the hotel in between).
For arrivals on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, you will take part in 5 full-day hikes.
For the full-day hike on Friday, you can choose between the two listed hikes and inform your tour guide upon arrival.
Please note that some of the hikes include up to 4.5 hours of pure walking time with ascents of up to 600 meters in altitude. Appropriate physical fitness, surefootedness, and a head for heights are required. You do not need special equipment, but you do need good hiking boots, sun protection or rain protection, sufficient food/provisions, and a flashlight.
Subject to changes in the schedule and hikes!
The detailed description of the individual hikes can be found below:
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Arrival Monday
Tuesday – Pico Cedro-Pico do Arieiro/Ruivo & Achada do Teixeira (Hike 7)
Wednesday – RABAÇAL: 25 SPRINGS AND RISCO WATERFALL (Hike 3)
Thursday – Morning: Levada da Serra do Faial (Hike 4) + Afternoon: Levada + Poncha (Hike 2)
Friday – Ribeiro Frio/Portela! (Hike 5) or Ponta de São Lourenco (Eastern tip) (Hike 8)
Saturday – Prazeres/P. Pargo (Hike 6)
Sunday – Day at leisure
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Arrival Tuesday
Wednesday – RABAÇAL: 25 SPRINGS AND RISCO WATERFALL (Hike 3)
Thursday – Morning: Levada da Serra do Faial (Hike 4) + Afternoon: Levada + Poncha (Hike 2)
Friday – Ribeiro Frio/Portela! (Hike 5) or Ponta de São Lourenco (Eastern tip) (Hike 8)
Saturday – Prazeres/P. Pargo (Hike 6)
Sunday – Day at leisure
Monday – Queimadas – Caldeirão Verde (Hike 1)
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Arrival Wednesday
Thursday – Day at leisure
Friday – Ribeiro Frio/Portela! (Hike 5) or Ponta de São Lourenco (Eastern tip) (Hike 8)
Saturday – Prazeres/P. Pargo (Hike 6)
Sunday – RABAÇAL: 25 SPRINGS AND RISCO WATERFALL (Hike 3)
Monday – Queimadas – Caldeirão Verde (Hike 1)
Tuesday – Pico Cedro-Pico do Arieiro/Ruivo & Achada do Teixeira (Hike 7)
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Arrival Thursday
Friday – Ribeiro Frio/Portela! (Hike 5) or Ponta de São Lourenco (Eastern tip) (Hike 8)
Saturday – Prazeres/P. Pargo (Hike 6)
Sunday – RABAÇAL: 25 SPRINGS AND RISCO WATERFALL (Hike 3)
Monday – Queimadas – Caldeirão Verde (Hike 1)
Tuesday – Pico Cedro-Pico do Arieiro/Ruivo & Achada do Teixeira (Hike 7)
Wednesday – Day at leisure
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Arrival Friday
Saturday – Prazeres/P. Pargo (Hike 6)
Sunday – RABAÇAL: 25 SPRINGS AND RISCO WATERFALL (Hike 3)
Monday – Queimadas – Caldeirão Verde (Hike 1)
Tuesday – Pico Cedro-Pico do Arieiro/Ruivo & Achada do Teixeira (Hike 7)
Wednesday – Day at leisure
Thursday – Morning: Levada da Serra do Faial (Hike 4) + Afternoon: Levada + Poncha (Hike 2)
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Arrival Saturday
Sunday – RABAÇAL: 25 SPRINGS AND RISCO WATERFALL (Hike 3)
Monday – Queimadas – Caldeirão Verde (Hike 1)
Tuesday – Pico Cedro-Pico do Arieiro/Ruivo & Achada do Teixeira (Hike 7)
Wednesday – Day at leisure
Thursday – Morning: Levada da Serra do Faial (Hike 4) + Afternoon: Levada + Poncha (Hike 2)
Friday – Ribeiro Frio/Portela! (Hike 5) or Ponta de São Lourenco (Eastern tip) (Hike 8)
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Arrival Sunday
Monday – Queimadas – Caldeirão Verde (Hike 1)
Tuesday – Pico Cedro-Pico do Arieiro/Ruivo & Achada do Teixeira (Hike 7)
Wednesday – RABAÇAL: 25 SPRINGS AND RISCO WATERFALL (Hike 3)
Thursday – Day at leisure
Friday – Ribeiro Frio/Portela! (Hike 5) or Ponta de São Lourenco (Eastern tip) (Hike 8)
Saturday – Prazeres/P. Pargo (Hike 6)
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DESCRIPTION OF INDIVIDUAL HIKES:
Hike 1: Queimadas – Caldeirão Verde (Monday)
Through the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site into the green cauldron. One of the most spectacular levada hikes on the island of Madeira. Impressive gorges and a waterfall define this hike. A visit to the Queimadas Nature Park is included.
Difficulty: easy/moderate, Duration: approx. 5 hrs (plus transfer time), Length: approx. 12 km, Type: Levada hike
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Hike 2: Levada + Poncha (Thursday) Halfday
Thursday – Afternoon (14:30 – 18:00)
Quiet route through the eastern part of the island along a levada. Along the entire route, you will enjoy panoramic views that highlight the island's volcanic origin.
At the end of the route, you will taste the famous Poncha, a drink made from white rum, natural orange juice, and honey.
Distance: 4.5 km/Duration: 2 hours/Difficulty: easy
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Hike 3: RABAÇAL: 25 SPRINGS AND RISCO WATERFALL (Wednesday/Sunday)
Through the impressive laurel forest, this hike leads along an old levada to the two highlights of Rabaçal: the 25 springs and the Risco waterfall.
Duration: approx. 3.25 hrs (plus transfer time), Length: approx. 9 km, Type: Levada hike, Difficulty: easy
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Hike 4: Levada da Serra do Faial (Thursday).
Another easy hike along a beautiful levada near Funchal with views of the sea, mountains, and the city of Funchal. The hike begins at "Caminho do Pico do Infante" and ends at "Rochao". Duration: approx. 2.5 hrs (plus transfer time), Length: approx. 8 km, Type: Levada hike, Difficulty: easy
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Hike 5: Ribeiro Frio/Portela! (Friday).
Levada hike through untouched nature with magnificent views over narrow gorges and valleys with "Penha D' Aguia" in the background. Duration: approx. 4 hrs (plus transfer time), Length: approx. 10 km, Type: Levada hike, Difficulty: easy-moderate
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Hike 6: Prazeres/P. Pargo (Saturday).
In Prazeres, we begin this magnificent hike between the sea and mountain landscape via winding paths through valleys and over hills with a great view of the fishing village "Paúl do Mar". We continue along "Raposeira", "Faja da Ovelha" to the outermost western cape "Ponta do Pargo". Duration: approx. 4.5 hrs (plus transfer time), Length: approx. 12 km, Type: Levada hike, Difficulty: easy
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Hike 7: Pico Cedro-Pico do Arieiro/Ruivo & Achada do Teixeira – (Tuesday). Arieiro-Ninho da Manta-Ribeira das Cales (Hike 7).
Madeira's second-highest peak, the 1818 m high Pico do Arieiro, is still accessible by bus. The road ends there. Those who want to go higher have the option to set off on foot. This demanding hike from Pico do Arieiro to the highest point of the island, the 1862 m high Pico Ruivo, takes about three hours. If the weather plays along, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view over Madeira, the neighboring island of Porto Santo, and the 1,700 m high mountains (Pico do Cedro, Curral Martinho, and the uninhabited Desertas). There are numerous breathtaking panoramas to marvel at. Difficulty: moderate/hard, Duration: approx. 4.5 hrs (plus transfer time), Length: approx. 10–12.5 km, Altitude difference: ↑ 550–440 m/↓ 700–930 m.
Please note for this hike that fog, rain, and wind can occur, and good fitness/hiking experience is required.
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Hike 8: Ponta de São Lourenco (Eastern tip) – (Friday)
The hike across Ponta de São Lourenco is one of the classic hiking tours on Madeira. Washed by the blue Atlantic, it goes in sections over stony rocks, through sparse vegetation, but always accompanied by a magnificent play of colors from bizarre rock formations. In clear weather, the view extends to the island of Porto Santo in the north, and in the south across Canical, the old whaling village, to Santa Cruz and the Desertas.
Duration: approx. 3.5 hrs (plus transfer time), Length: approx. 11 km, Difficulty: moderate/hard, Altitude difference: ↑ 200 m/↓ 200 m.
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IT Note: The hiking week can be selected as an optional additional service when booking hotels in Funchal or Canico, or you can book the excursion package separately with code FNC999 or FNC997 for FNC135 (Requirement H) in addition to a hotel stay of at least 1 week in the region of Funchal, Canico/Canico de Baixo, or the hotels FNC011, FNC012, FNC135, FNC154.
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Please note: As of 01.10.24, the municipality of Funchal charges a tourist tax of €2 per person (maximum 7 nights; children up to 12 years are free). Payment is made locally at the hotel.
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Included in the price:
• Transfer from the hotel to the hiking excursion and back.
• German-speaking excursion guide.
• Guaranteed execution of the hike (no minimum number of participants).
Not included in the price:
• Fee for hiking trails: €4.50 per person/hiking trail or €10.50 per person (for Vereda do Areeiro), viewable at "Pagamento de Taxas para acesso aos Percursos Pedestres Classificados-SIMplifica", payable to the tour guide, who will forward the fee to the regional authority IFCN responsible for the management of the hiking trails on the island. Applies from 01.01.2026, changes possible.
• Drinks and meals.
• Overnight stays in your desired hotel.
• Personal expenses.
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An extension stay can optionally be taken either in the already booked hotel or in another hotel on Madeira. The intermediate transfer from your hotel to the extension hotel is generally to be organized by yourself.
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The order of the hikes can be found under the section "Facilities". No minimum number of participants; guaranteed execution (weather-dependent). Subject to changes to the excursions. For stays longer than one week, our local agency attempts to plan the hikes so that they do not take place on consecutive days.
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Pick-up takes place at the hotel or at a meeting point near the hotel.
Please note that depending on the location, there may be longer transfer times, as guests are also picked up at stops along the way.
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To participate in the hikes, a hotel in Funchal, Canico, or one of the following hotels must be booked: FNC011, FNC012, FNC135, FNC154.

INCL. 5 GUIDED HIKES ACCORDING TO PROGRAM + TRANSFERS. STURDY FOOTWEAR/WEATHERPROOF CLOTHING RECOMMENDED. SUBJECT TO CHANGES IN EXCURSIONS!
In the catalog "Canaries · Madeira" Summer 2026 on page 209.