The 10 Best Activities in Madeira

The Madeira archipelago is an ideal paradise destination for a holiday surrounded by nature. First of all, it is important to know that the archipelago is made up of two main inhabited islands: Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island.

Visitors usually spend most of their time on the former, also known as the Pearl of the Atlantic due to all the things to see and do in Madeira. In this article, I will mainly tell you about the activities you should not miss, compiling the most interesting and varied adventures that this small island has to offer.

If you are a hiking enthusiast and enjoy being in nature, you should know that the island of Madeira offers a unique opportunity to enjoy this activity. Considered one of the best tours in Madeira from Funchal, you will find numerous local companies in the city offering this type of experience.

The destination, duration and many other details will depend on the company you hire. However, many local companies offer excursions to places such as Pico Ariero or Pico Ruivo, the highest peaks in Madeira, where you can enjoy the most incredible views imaginable.

Keep in mind that the routes to Pico Ruivo or Ariero are classified as moderate, so you need to be in reasonably good physical condition to complete them. If you are looking for easier walks, consider booking an excursion to destinations such as the Rabaçal area or similar.

Anyone wishing to go hiking or mountaineering in Madeira should take into account the essential tips for hiking safely. At the same time, regardless of your level of experience, it is highly recommended that you book an organised excursion with expert guides.

Canyoning is another outdoor activity for which Madeira is the perfect destination. Fans of this sport will discover incredible landscapes during their adventure, with routes and descents designed for different levels of difficulty.

If you can combine canyoning with oneof the Jeep safaris from Funchal, you are sure to enjoy a perfect day of adventure on the island.

Madeira is an island with a rugged terrain, which translates into numerous high mountains and canyons with impressive waterfalls. Canyoning in Madeira involves exploring areas of the island such as Porto Moniz – Rabaçal and São Vicente, all famous for their impressive waterfalls.

Regardless of your level of experience, I recommend undertaking this adventure on an organised tour so that you can receive assistance from an expert guide and have return transport between Funchal and the exploration area.

As with many other activities on the list, I advise my fellow travellers to be very cautious and follow the general safety advice when canyoning in Madeira.

Bookings must be made in advance to secure your place on the day you want to go on your adventure.

This is especially important if you are travelling to Madeira with friends or family and everyone wants to take part in the adventure.

The beauty and appeal of Madeira as a tourist destination goes beyond its mountainous landscapes and includes the entire coastline, a series of beautiful beaches and impressive marine wildlife.

Consequently, enjoying a boat trip in Madeira is another activity that I recommend putting at the top of your list of priorities.

Both in Funchal and in other major cities in Madeira, you will find numerous local companies offering this type of experience at different times, in different formats and styles.

Boat trips are also one of the best ways to see dolphins and whales in Madeira, an activity that is often included in organised excursions.

If you visit Madeira during the summer, you will find that it is possible to go snorkelling in the area and swim in the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean surrounded by these beautiful creatures.

Although the specific details of the excursion may vary depending on the company you hire for the experience, in most cases the tours usually last between 3 and 4 hours. This means that you can easily combine this excursion with other activities on the list, even if you are travelling to the island for a short holiday.

Whether you are an amateur or a professional cyclist, you should know that Madeira is a destination for cyclists at practically any time of year.

Even during the winter months, from December to February, the mild temperatures allow you to enjoy your cycling holiday.

In addition to the good weather, variety is another factor that makes Madeira the perfect destination for cyclists. If this is your choice, you are sure to find numerous different routes, including road cycling and mountain biking.

You will find paved trails with spectacular views of the city and mountain trails that are divided according to difficulty level.

For example, the Route of the Peaks is a trail of more than 17 kilometres recommended for very experienced cyclists; the route from Arriero to Ruivo is of moderate difficulty, also recommended for experienced cyclists; while the Ribera da Janela Route, although long at 9.3 kilometres, is easier to ride, despite its length.

Organising a cycling route in Madeira is quite easy, as you can find local companies in Funchal that offer bike rental services to travellers, as well as companies that organise excursions.

If you decide to go on your own, some popular bike rental options in Madeira are:

• Happy Bikes
• E-Bike Madeira
• Freeride

Another experience that is definitely worthwhile is a guided tour of Funchal. Located on the south coast of Madeira, this city is the capital not only of the small island but of the entire archipelago.

Funchal is a wonderfully balanced place where you can discover some of the island's flora, with its impressive landscapes, architecture and people.

Guided tours of Funchal are offered by various local companies and come in different formats to suit every type of traveller. I recommend looking into the different options and booking the ones that appeal to you most in advance. Some of the organised tours you can find in Funchal are:

• Walking tours of the old town of Funchal, an experience designed to explore the medieval centre of the city and discover its most emblematic old buildings.
• Gastronomic tours, which combine a walking tour of the old town with tastings of local products in different establishments.
• Basket car tours, the traditional descent in basket cars in Funchal, a typical activity in Madeira that tourists and locals alike enjoy and that you can try during your trip to the city.

The best part is that most of these tours are short excursions that you can easily combine with other activities on the list, for a more complete holiday and to enjoy your stay in Madeira to the fullest.

The Madeira archipelago is the ideal place for water activities such as surfing, but also scuba diving, snorkelling and snorkelling. Its privileged location in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the water temperature — around **21 °C on average —**and its crystal-clear waters with excellent visibility make it a marine paradise.

Among the most popular activities is snorkelling in the Garajau Nature Reserve, where you can swim alongside groupers and observe spectacular biodiversity, even without having to dive too deep. You can also snorkel at spots such as Reis Magos and Ponta de São Lourenço, which are ideal for their abundant marine life and easy access.

Diving activities in Funchal are in high demand and you can book guided experiences that include all the equipment. If you already have experience and prefer to go on your own, here are some of the best diving spots in the archipelago:

• Porto Santo: The second island in the archipelago offers visibility of up to 40 metres and the remains of the Madeirense shipwreck from 2001.
• Garajau Nature Reserve: With over 7 km of protected coastline, its giant groupers are the emblem of this area.
• Reis Magos: One of the best places for snorkelling and night diving, with abundant wildlife such as toadfish and seahorses.
• Ponta de São Lourenço: Ideal for observing unique rock formations and marine life such as barracudas, octopuses and black corals.
• Baixa da Agulha: In the Desertas Islands Nature Reserve, it requires a boat trip from Funchal, but the experience is unforgettable.

Known as the Tropical Gardens of Monte Palace, Madeira's impressive botanical garden is located in the town of Monte, on one of the high hills bordering the old town.

The best way to get to this part of the island is to take the Madeira cable car, which stops very close to the entrance to the garden.

You will have the opportunity to fly over the city at a height of 560 metres during a straight journey of approximately 3,200 metres. You can see Madeira from the skies on a trip that takes about 20 minutes on average.

The Madeira cable car operates every day of the year from 9 a.m. until the last departure at 5.45 p.m. Tickets cost approximately £16 for a return trip.

Although the trip itself is an exciting adventure, a visit to the botanical garden is a different way to discover the hidden beauty of Madeira in a 100% controlled environment that prioritises the proper conservation of the island's plant species.

It is also an excellent family activity if you are visiting Madeira with children, as the site is known for its impressive botanical collection, making for an educational, informative and fun visit in equal measure.

Madeira is the name given to the archipelago made up of several islands. Therefore, all travellers looking for a more complete experience should consider a trip to the Ilhas Desertas from Madeira in their travel plans.

The Desertas Islands of Madeira are a group of small inhabited islands where you can appreciate the local fauna and flora in their wildest state. The small islets together form a nature reserve where the exploitation of fauna and flora is strictly prohibited.

Travel to the islands to discover the exotic local vegetation and spot birds of different species that are difficult to find anywhere else in the world, so make sure you bring a good pair of binoculars.

Now, if you're a photography enthusiast, be sure to bring your camera! This area of Madeira is famous for being one of the few places in the world where you can see monk seals

In the city, you'll find numerous local companies offering this type of experience, with return boat transport from Funchal. If your trip is going to last several days, for example 7 days in Madeira or more, don't hesitate to book a day for this fun excursion.

Canoeing or kayaking on the island of Madeira is exciting and fun. However, unlike other locations, canoeing on the island of Madeira is not done on the river but rather in the blue sea waters surrounding the island.

Booking an organised excursion is the best way to enjoy this type of experience, as the company provides travellers with everything they need for the adventure , including safety equipment and canoes , return transport and an expert guide who accompanies the group throughout the tour.

The best thing about these excursions is that they are short and considered among the best tours in Funchal. You can easily combine the canoe trip with other experiences included in this list. Food and drinks are not usually included.

Finally, although the location may vary depending on the company you hire for the experience, the most popular destinations include the following: Ponta de São Lourenço, Cabo Girão Nature Reserve and Garajau Nature Reserve.

Paragliding is a fun and interesting activity that is on many travellers' wish lists. If you are going to Madeira on your next holiday, you should know that there are several local companies on the island that offer this type of experience.

The companies in charge give a short talk explaining in detail what the experience will be like and provide all the necessary safety equipment: helmet, goggles and other items. On the day of your adventure, make sure you wear suitable clothing, such as sports shoes or boots and comfortable, not too loose-fitting trousers.

You can experience Madeira from the sky accompanied by an expert guide on a short flight. Bear in mind that many details of the experience may vary depending on the company you hire, and you should also consider that the departure point for flights may change depending on the season and the prevailing weather conditions.

Paragliding on the island of Madeira is a short adventure that usually takes about 2 hours to complete.

Most companies offer direct pick-up from hotels in Funchal, so you don't have to worry about transport either. This alternative is ideal for combining your adventure in the air on the island with many other activities included in this list.