Madeira Island Sports & Outdoors

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The access to the Nature Reserve is free. However, amenities are minimal. Gravel parking lots, if they exist at all, are small. But after parking the car at the parking space we started our hike in front of Baia da Abra on the south coast. We walked our way to the north coast. The trail follows the coastline the entire time, with great views at the rocky formations below, and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

We thought that this preserve was a bit eccentric, because it looks like a dessert or sometimes a steppe and it definately has no levades like the rest of the island! The paths were small and let us along some fascinating rocky ledges. After going for a while we came to a point where we could descend down to the rocky coast. We spended quite some time here, marvelling at the fascinating rocky formations. After enjoying the sights from different angels we returned to the main trail.

Equipment: Have a look at Madeira Packing List.

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The hike invited us to climb up the rocks and once up there we saw very little evidence of man´s changes to the island. There are excellent views over both the northern and southern sides of the island. When the weather conditions allow it, also on Porto Santo Island. Unfortunately we were not that lucky. Once we were at the north side of the island we saw that it was quite different compared with the south coast. The north coast is more dramatic and not easily accessibly by boat, because it is more exposed to the winds and rough see.

Right here the waves swept against the rocks and numerous little rocky islands. The south coast has seen less erosion and there exists numerous possibilities to reach the shore by boat. A trully amazing hike and we agreed on the fact that this would be a great place to watch the sun set.

Equipment: Have a look at Madeira Packing List.

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So, it was time for us to introduce ourselves to Madeira's "signature" hiking experience - the levada paths. Before we left Paulo told us an interesting story aout the difference between old and new levadas. The older levadas, built centuries ago, are narrow and plummet steeply downhill from mountainside springs - really challenging walking.Their banks are covered with wild flowers and the water rushes and foams with energy. The newer levadas are wide "mini-canals" and their banks run horizontally along the island's contours - ideal for easy walks. Their flow is stately and serene and their banks are lovingly planted with Agapathus Lilies and Hydrangeas.

We enjoyed several levada hikes that took us into narrow valleys walled-in by towering, flutted cliffs and into subtropical greenery! We witnessed that often the paths were overhung with flowers and other unusual sub-tropical plants and they nearly all gave us wonderful views down towards the valleys and the sea. One of our favourite hike was when we followed the course of the levada do Canical (the "Mimosa Levada") as it makes it way "through the backyards" of settlements at the upper edge of the town of Machico. It passed through some traditional settlements, some of which were quite poor. For although the island has obviously benefited from tourism since the advent of cruises and air flight, the wealth has not necessarily spread right down through the social structure.

Equipment: Have a look at Madeira Packing List.

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If you like hiking, Madeira is your paradise! Walking the "levada" paths is one of the most popular activities with visitors. Levadas (Portuguese for "led") are irrigation canals and they transport the rainfall water from the north, which has almost 2 meters of rain a year, to the dry south.

In the 16th century the Portuguese started building levadas to carry water to the agricultural regions. The most recent was made in the 1940s. Madeira is very mountainous and building the leveadas was often difficult. Such watercourses are not unique; what is unique is their accessibility and extent. The maintenance-paths along the levadas will take you to places you would have never reached any other way. The island's irrigation system now comprises an impressive 2150 km of channels, including 40 km of tunnelsand therefore provide a remarkable network of walking paths. For the hiker today, the levadas permit access to a wonderful variety of landscapes, which would otherwise be inaccessible. Some of them are not for the `faint-hearted` - as they have quite high vertical drops beside them, but will be able to choose routes which suits us.

Equipment: Have a look at Madeira Packing List.

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Another hike was at the Poios Levadas. This particular hike took us along some new levadas which transported the water to the terraces (poios). Later during this walk we heared water streaming like it was a river. Yes, indeed, you guessed it right...we found an old levada. It was quite a contrast. Besides the fact that we appreciated Madeira's myriad aqueducts for their beauty and ingenuity of design, we also loved all those magnificent views we had at the mountain rims.

Walking the levadas is just great, some of them do provide easy and relaxing walks through beautiful countrysides. But do keep in mind that others are narrow and crumbling ledges where a slip could result in a serious injury (or evend eath). Our tip is to prepare yourself and collect updated information about the route you are planning to follow. And make sure about the total time you will be spending on that route, so that you will finish the hike before dark.

Equipment: Have a look at Madeira Packing List.

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The excellent built path to Pico Ruivo, with an altitude of 1862 meters the highest peak of the island is a two to three hour walk. It's quite steep, because the high mountains in the center of the island only have a few kilometers to get down to sea level. But once there it has incredible views over the north, east, west and south.

By the time we returned to Pico do Arieiro we really saw a lot of tourists! We started out at 9 o'clock in the morning with only a French couple at the parking lot. But now we saw over 15 coaches (tour busses). Most visitors won't stay too long. They only take some pictures of the beautiful views and buy something at the way too expensive souvenir shop. For us the hike was a morning well spent!

Equipment: Have a look at Madeira Packing List.

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Because of the good weather we had some spectacular views of the island. We could see all the way to Porto Santo which lies 45 nautical kilometers to the north. After enjoying the overwhelming views we decided to go for a hike towards Pico Ruivio. It must be noted that all major peaks are accessible from Pico do Arieiro.

The path we took was excellently constructed. It's a wonderful hiking path with its ups and downs, from the beginning to the end. We learned that on a daily average only 1000 tourists do hike on it. It was quite a strenous walk, but we were justly rewarded with suburb views to all corners of the island. We passed the shoulder of Pico Moledo and this afforded an excellent view down the Ribeira Seca and the Penha de Aguia.

Equipment: Have a look at Madeira Packing List.

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The Pico do Arieiro is with its altitude of 1818 meters the third highest peak on the island of Madeira. It can be reached easily by car and from here you can walk 10 extremely spectacular kilometers to Madeira's highest mountain, the 1862 meters high Pico Ruivo, that is ... if you're not afraid of heights!

When we left by car towards Pico do Arieiro the weather was heavily clouded in Santo da Serra. With our car we drove through the clouds and later on we saw them below us, which gave a spectacular view! After a 40 minutes drive we reached the Pico do Arieiro car Posado with its car park, bar, restaurant and accomodation. It was about 9 o'clock in the morning and we only met a French couple.

Equipment: Have a look at Madeira Packing List.