10-Day Madeira Tour Packages
Picture ten days on Portugal's subtropical Atlantic island. Madeira offers levada walks, Funchal's markets and wine lodges, and dramatic coastal cliffs. Visit Porto Moniz's natural swimming pools, maybe summit Pico Ruivo, and explore the eastern peninsula. Spring brings flowers, the summer is warm, and winter is mild - it’s basically always pleasant.
Insider tips: Recommended 10-day Madeira tour itineraries
Compiled by
MelissaMadeira travel expert at TourRadar
8 Day Madeira Itinerary, incl. Machico and Funchal
Five destinations stretch from Machico to Funchal over eight days. Daily guided walks combine coastal paths, levada trails, and mountain ascents, including a sunrise trek to Pico Ruivo (6,109ft).
- Day 1
Machico
Begin your Madeira journey in historic Machico. Check into your hotel overlooking Machico Bay and spend time exploring the waterfront area. A recent guest mentioned: "The hotel in Machico has sweeping views over the bay and excellent facilities for unwinding after the walks ahead."
- Day 2
Ponta de São Lourenço
Visit Madeira's easternmost point for a beautiful 5-6 mile coastal walk along Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula. You'll see stunning rock formations and native plants along the way. Be sure to bring plenty of water as this exposed trail gets hot and windy. One hiker noted: "The rock formations were stunning, though we had to cut the trip slightly short due to afternoon transport limitations." Head back to Machico afterward.
- Day 3
Porto da Cruz
Take a transfer to the north coast for an impressive walk. Begin on the Levada do Caniçal before climbing to Boca do Risco for amazing sea views. Some parts of the path to Porto da Cruz are narrow and cut into cliffs, so walking poles will help. Stop at the historic rum factory in Porto da Cruz before moving on to Porto Moniz for overnight.
- Days 4-5
Queimadas Natural Park & Fanal Forest
Explore the green interior over two days. Start with the Levada do Caldeirão Verde walk through Queimadas Natural Park. You'll need to bring a headlamp for the tunnels. The next day takes you through Fanal Forest with its ancient laurel trees. A walker shared: "The twisted trees in the mist created an otherworldly atmosphere."
- Days 6-7
Funchal
Move to Funchal for your final two nights. Take a day to see the capital. You can ride the cable car to Monte Palace Gardens, visit Sé Cathedral or go whale watching. On your last full day start early (around 5am) to see sunrise at Pico Arieiro (5,965ft) before hiking to Pico Ruivo, Madeira's highest point at 6,109ft. One traveler said: "Watching the sun rise above the clouds at Pico Ruivo was a magical moment I'll never forget."
- Day 8
Departure
Your adventure ends after breakfast in Funchal. The main airport is about 20 minutes away.
8 Day Madeira Itinerary, incl. Porto da Cruz and Funchal
This 8-day self-guided trip takes you around Madeira, visiting Porto da Cruz, Machico, Santana, São Vicente, Porto Moniz, Calheta, and Funchal. You'll walk through UNESCO-listed laurel forests on Levada do Rei and hike Levada do Norte to Cabo Girão, Europe's highest sea cliff at 580m.
- Day 1
Porto da Cruz
Begin your adventure in this small fishing village with its unique black sand beach. Stop by one of the island's few remaining sugar mills to try "Poncha," a local drink made with sugar cane liquor, honey, and fresh orange juice. Get your hiking boots ready for tomorrow's walk, as the northern coastal paths can get slippery in wet weather.
- Day 2
Machico to Porto da Cruz
Take an early transfer to Machico for a 4.5-hour hike on old vineyard supply routes. You'll follow the north coast, with great views for photos. The 15km trail includes 550m of climbing. Bring lots of water and sunscreen since there isn't much shade. Starting early helps avoid the hot midday sun.
- Day 3
Porto da Cruz to São Vicente
Start in Santana, where you can see traditional A-frame thatched houses. Walk the Levada do Rei trail through laurel forest to Ribeiro Bonito waterfall. The 10km route goes through short tunnels, so pack a headlamp. After your hike, try the local pastries at Quinta do Levada bar.
- Day 4
São Vicente to Porto Moniz
A transfer takes you to Paul da Serra plateau for one of the island's best hikes. Walk through UNESCO laurel forests and flowering broom fields to Fanal's peaceful pastures. The day ends in Porto Moniz, known for its natural lava pools. Bring swimwear for a refreshing post-hike swim.
- Day 5
Porto Moniz to Calheta
The 17km coastal path offers ocean views and passes through eucalyptus forests. Look for wild Callas, Amaryllis and Agapanthus flowers along the way. The trail drops 650m to Calheta. Hiking poles will help with the descent.
- Day 6
Calheta to Funchal
Follow Madeira's longest irrigation channel, the Levada do Norte, through farmland terraces. You'll see amazing views from Cabo Girão, Europe's highest sea cliff. Bring enough snacks as food stops can be limited on this 15km route.
- Day 7
Funchal and Monte
Ride the cable car to Monte for your final hike. See the Nossa Senhora do Monte church and watch the traditional wicker toboggan rides. The 8km walk back to Funchal shows off city and ocean views. Visit the Botanical Gardens in late afternoon when it's quieter and cooler.
- Day 8
Departure
With a late flight, spend time exploring Funchal's old town. The airport is a 30-minute taxi ride away, costing about $40 USD.
8 Day Madeira Itinerary, incl. Porto da Cruz and Funchal
This 8-day self-guided walking adventure covers 7 different places across Madeira Island, from Porto da Cruz to Funchal, with daily hikes averaging 10 kilometers. Walk through the UNESCO-listed laurel forests at Paul da Serra, following the Levada do Rei through old-growth vegetation to Ribeiro Bonito waterfall, and visit Cabo Girão, Europe's highest sea cliff at 580 meters. You'll stay at Costa Linda in Porto da Cruz, Savoy Saccharum in Calheta, and Four Views Baía in Funchal while checking out traditional villages like Santana with its thatched-roof houses and swimming in Porto Moniz's natural lava rock pools.
- Day 1
Porto da Cruz
Begin your Madeira adventure in this charming fishing village. Take it easy while you explore the black sandy beach and visit one of the last working sugar mills. Try the local "Poncha" drink made with sugar cane liquor but be careful. It's stronger than it tastes so take it slow if you're hiking tomorrow.
- Day 2
Machico to Porto da Cruz
Get an early transfer to Machico (about 20 minutes) for your coastal hike. The path follows old vineyard supply routes along the dramatic north coast. The trail can get slippery after rain so bring hiking poles. Plan for 4.5-5 hours of walking. You'll cover 15km with 550m elevation gain.
- Day 3
Santana to São Vicente
Head to Santana known for its distinctive A-frame thatched houses. Take the Levada do Rei trail through UNESCO-protected laurel forests to Ribeiro Bonito waterfall. You'll need a headlamp for the short tunnels. The trail stays muddy even in dry weather so wear proper hiking boots. After 3 hours and 10km of hiking treat yourself to traditional cake at Quinta do Levada.
- Day 4
Paul da Serra to Porto Moniz
Start with a morning transfer to Paul da Serra plateau. This high-altitude trail has spectacular views but can get foggy. Head out early for the clearest skies. The path through Fanal's twisted trees and highland cattle pastures is beautiful but exposed. Bring sun protection and layers since the weather changes quickly. End your day at Porto Moniz's natural lava pools. Bring a swimsuit. The pools are perfect for tired legs.
- Day 5
Porto Moniz to Calheta
The 17km coastal route today includes 650m of descent. Skip this one if you have vertigo. As one reviewer said: "The walk along the ocean was nice." Take your time. It's a long 4.5-5 hour day. You'll get nice shade in the eucalyptus forests. Finish in Calheta where you can relax on one of Madeira's few sandy beaches.
- Day 6
Calheta to Funchal
Walk along Levada do Norte Madeira's longest water channel through terraced farms with amazing coastal views. The path is well-maintained but gets narrow in spots. Stay alert and keep children on the inside. The 15km takes about 5 hours and ends at Cabo Girão Europe's highest sea cliff. The glass skywalk is optional if you're comfortable with heights.
- Day 7
Monte and Botanical Gardens Loop
Take the cable car to Monte (€15 avoid 11am-2pm crowds). Try the famous wicker toboggan rides down. Yes they're touristy but really fun. One traveler noted: "The hike up to the gardens has some 32% grades. Consider the cable car unless you want a serious workout!" Explore the botanical gardens with their diverse flora across 35000 square meters.
- Day 8
Departure from Funchal
For morning flights leave your hotel 3 hours early. Funchal's narrow streets often get congested. A taxi to the airport costs about €35 and takes 30 minutes.
Explore our featured Madeira tours
TourRadar earns higher commission on featured adventures here.
What people love about 10-day Madeira tours
- Walking in Madeira
I now understand why the Madeira Island tour is the most popular Explore adventure. Our tour guide and walking guru, Filip was terrific. He made sure every person was safe at all times and kept track of all of us. I loved learning about this beautiful island from Filip who is a native Madeiran. The other travelers were lovely people. We enjoyed every walk together, every meal shared was full of laughter and good wine. This is one island I would like to visit again and stay longer. I would highly recommend this tour.
- Discover Madeira, Self-drive
The hotels were very good. The car rental was a little inconvenient as it was offsite from the airport. The only improvement would be either to include GPS in the rental car or a proper detailed map. We arrived on a rainy, foggy night and it was almost impossible to find our guest house the first night.