7 of the Best Hikes on Madeira Not to Miss

Vereda do Larano – Boca do Risco

If you want to take a hike along the coast, albeit perhaps a bit higher up in elevation, it is hard to beat the seven-mile Vereda do Larano – Boca do Risco hike in northeast Madeira.

This one presents sweeping vistas of the cliffs along the coast of Madeira everywhere you look, making for a great out-and-back hike that is among the easier hikes we tried on the island. That said, we did run into many tour groups in large numbers that made the trail feel crowded at times and, while you can return via a different path, we opted to stick to the coastal path to enjoy the sweeping vistas.

When accessing this trail, a small parking area for three or four cars is available near a private residence before a narrow road that you would walk up to begin the hike (be mindful of the house’s no parking signs). Although we’re not familiar with all road signs, we assumed a sign at this point meant no entry, despite cars parking further up near the trailhead proper (about 7 to 10 minutes away by foot). We parked further down the road in a section where it leveled out, as the hills here can be quite steep. Parking on the road fills up early and can stretch back quite far if you arrive later in the day.

Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova (PR7)

Levada do Moinho and Levada Nova are two hiking trails in southcentral Madeira that can easily be combined into a single loop. So, for the purposes of this article, although we’re calling them two trails, you can and should do them in a single outing over just under six miles round-trip.

In this one, you start by hiking along levadas (the historic concrete water channels found all over the island) through a valley, either lower into the valley on the Moinho trail or high on the cliffs on the Nova trail, before ultimately reaching a beautiful dual waterfall that you can hike behind at the far end of the Nova trail. At roughly the halfway point, the two trails connect via a set of stairs that will take full-loop hikers to the upper/lower trail, respectively, and along the way, you have gorgeous views of the valley and partial views out to the ocean to the south.

For those who are afraid of heights, we should note that the upper section of Levada Nova, particularly the stretches closest to the trailhead, has steep drop-offs and can be vertigo-inducing as the levada walkways are also quite narrow. Likewise, there is a section of this trail where you may choose to cross a river on rocks. Some hikers simply removed their shoes and walked through the river, as the rocks are few and far between; however, we circled back a little bit to the staircase to climb up to the trail without having to cross the river.

When accessing these trails, most parking is on the street. Please be mindful of houses near the trailheads and arrive early. On the day of our hike, parking near the Levada do Moinho trailhead filled up much sooner than Levada Nova’s entry point as well.

Vereda do Pico Ruivo (PR1.2)

For those who like summiting mountains, the hike on Vereda do Pico Ruivo is a must-see when on Madeira.

This hike will likely take you above the clouds for a stunning view that spans for miles around with scenes of the ocean, mountains, and some of the most desolate landscapes on the island- all within an easy climb running about four miles round-trip.

Vereda do Pico Ruivo is a popular hike for those who want to visit for sunrise; however, we’d be remiss if we did not mention that the trailhead is so high in elevation that we started our hike above the cloud line (yes, it is really high up there). As such, although some make it an early morning to summit for proper sunrise, we got lucky and saw the sun rise above the cloud line a bit later in the morning, right when we started our hike at about 8:30 am.

A win-win for us!

While this hike is not particularly challenging, and doesn’t have many large drop-offs or rugged trail conditions as you’d expect on other hikes in this article, it is also quite popular.

When accessing this hike, be sure to visit this one shortly after sunrise, as the parking lot here was completely full within a few minutes of our arrival. Likewise, in 2026, this trail had timed entry tickets being sold online; however, during our visit, no one was checking.

Vereda do Fanal (PR13)

If you want a hike that has a bit more of an open layout through rolling hills, cliffs, and through a gorgeous old forest, the Vereda do Fanal hike is for you.

This hike is interesting for a number of reasons, but to us the biggest highlights were that it felt like you are on a high-altitude plateau, complete with grazing cattle, and that in the area near the parking lot there is no real defined “trail”. For most visitors, this one is set up in a bit more of an explore-where-you-like style stroll, making it a good option for all skill levels. We saw children, fit hikers, seniors, and everything in between here.

So while you can hike here for many miles if you so choose, you could also do a short couple-mile loop and see many of the highlights as well.

When accessing this hike, there are two fairly large parking lots at the trailhead. While these fill up quickly, we easily found a spot later in the day hikers were leaving. That said, when we returned from our hike, many cars were parked alongside the road as the parking lots were quite full. Much like the Pico Ruivo hike, this trail had timed entry tickets being sold online and, likewise, no one checked our tickets.

Verada da Ponta de Sao Lorenco (PR8)

If you want desolate rock formations, coastal views, and an end-of-the-world feel, the hike Verada da Ponta de Sao Lorenco on the eastern tip of Madeira is for you.

This hike highlights the rugged beauty of the island in every respect, and, while an easy hike on average, comes with one big caveat- it can be incredibly windy. This is because, unlike other hikes, you are rather close to the water here at all times, and during our hike, we had stretches where the wind was so strong we could barely stand up!

Still, this hike offers scenic views unlike anywhere else we visited on the island, and was a fun, nearly four-mile round-trip hike. That said, we also found this trail to be quite muddy after the rain, too.

When accessing this hike, there is a fairly large parking lot at the trailhead. Much like other hikes, cars filled out along the road later in the day after the lot filled up. And, like other hikes, timed entry tickets were on sale online and no one checked our tickets during our visit.

Levada Do Caldeirao Verde (PR9)

If there was one hike on Madeira that we would call our favorite, it would be Levada do Caldeirao Verde. This hike is one of those experiences that has it all- cliff views, hiking along the levadas, lush forests, waterfalls, caves, and so much more. We often like to say Madeira is one of those islands where you never know what you’re going to expect around the next bend, and this hike exemplifies that perfectly.

You really don’t know what you’re going to see next here!

But, be warned, this hike is not for the faint of heart. While this one is more or less flat for the entire eight-mile out-and-back hike, you will be walking along the levadas the entire way, with narrow pathways and steep drop-offs at times, giving little room when passing others. Still, if you can stomach the heights, this one delivers one of the best hiking experiences in Madeira.

When accessing this hike, there is a parking lot at the trailhead. Most sources indicate that this lot charges a parking fee; however, we visited on a holiday and the gate was opened without fee. Likewise, this trail has timed entry tickets on sale online and, again, no one checked our tickets. Out of all of the hikes we tried, we wouldn’t be surprised if this one may check on non-holiday dates as there was more infrastructure present to this effect; however, we do not have experience beyond this.

While these are not all of the hikes you can take on Madeira, the above certainly give you a great cross-section of some of the top trails on the island. Don’t miss these when visiting!

Do you have a favorite hiking trail on Madeira? Comment below to share!