Madeira Great Walks ADVENTURE NATURE

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1 Madeira Great Walks ADVENTURE NATURE

2 Madeira Great Walks ADVENTURE NATURE DESCRIPTION Sweet paradise in the middle of Atlantic Madeira Great Walks is an incredible hiking program along one of the most beautiful Portuguese islands known as the Pearl of the Atlantic! If you are a hiking lover this is the ideal opportunity for knowing Madeira and its unique characteristics. Madeira has been created by volcanic eruptions and erosion has formed the island by creating bizarre rock formation as well as deep gorges. The best Madeira trails are full of wonders and you will discover them while you pass by mountains, cliffs and levadas with breathtaking sceneries and natural highlights like the natural pools of Porto Moniz and the Laurissilva Forest, both considered Humanity Natural World Heritage by UNESCO! Now it s your time to explore this hiking paradise! TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Laurissilva Forest and Porto Moniz Natural Pool - Humanity Natural Heritage by UNESCO; Quiet trails and stunning sceneries over the ocean; Unique black sand beaches in Madeira; TRIP INFORMATION Madeira gastronomy, fresh fish and products. ACCOMMODATION Comfort TOUR GRADE Leisurely DURATION 8 Days 7 Nights START END Machico Funchal DISTANCE 6 12 Km / Day ROUTE Hiking trails and Levadas (water irrigation channels) PROFILE Mostly flat on Levadas Hilly but soft climbs

3 THE ITINERARY DAY 1 ARRIVAL Our Guide will welcome you at the Airport and drive to Machico. Here you will stay in your first accommodation! You might enjoy to spend some time in the swimming pool, take a nap or relax with a beautiful view. ACCOMMODATION White Waters Hotel DAY 2 GIRÃO CAPE & LEVADA DO NORTE Our day starts with a transfer to Cabo Girão 25min away from your hotel. Here you ll start walking in the Levada do Norte, the largest and most important levada in the island. This is a very pleasant and easy trail for a start, allowing you to enjoy the island all year around due to it s milder climate. Along the way, you ll see fantastic views arising and highlighting the parishes of Câmara de Lobos and Campanário, the green fields and the carefully worked plantations, and a set of houses and buildings that form the villages. Occasionally, you may find some locals handling their land, or just taking a walk. Similarly to other walking paths of Madeira Island the beauty is immense and there is always time to take a break and look at the several species of fauna and flora of this site. At the end of the hike you will be transferred back to the hotel (25min). ACCOMMODATION Hotel Jardim do Mar TRANSFER Machico to Cabo Girão (25min) HIKE 11 km +250m /-250m TRANSFER Boa Morte to Calheta (25min)

4 DAY 3 RABAÇAL & 25 FONTES After a 30 min transfer to the surroundings of Rabaçal, start your hike, with an amazing hidden secret waiting for you today After gently descending to Rabaçal you will find two paths (PR6.1 and PR6.5), the path that signs PR6.1 will take you to an impressive waterfall as it goes along Levada do Risco. At an altitude of 1000m above the sea level, the path reveals many landscapes, wonderful sensations and a wide variety of endemic species, finally taking you to the 25 Springs Lagoon (Lagoa das 25 Fontes). What a magical place! Created by the waters that come down from the Mountain Marsh (Paul da Serra) and mysteriously appear from behind the wall that forms the lagoon, this place allowed the construction of the 25 Fontes Levada in 1835 and it is always a diamond for our eyes combining the beauty of more than 25 springs. And now it is time to rest, returning to the same hotel as the night before (30min transfer) and enjoying a tasty traditional dinner. ACCOMMODATION Hotel Jardim do Mar TRANSFER Calheta to Rabaçal (30min) HIKE 10 km + 100m / - 400m TRANSFER 25 Fontes to Calheta (30min) DAY 4 JARDIM DO MAR to PAÚL DO MAR Today you will be walking a route full of heritage, located in the west of Madeira island and linking the village of Prazeres to the picturesque village of Jardim do Mar. In the past, this trail was one of the few routes available for the population of Prazeres to access the coastline. Characterized by a height difference of approximately 500m, it is an opportunity to walk calmly and take your time absorbing the landscape of the sea shore and the land filled with terraced farm plots held in place by stone walls, formerly used for growing grain crops by dedicated local farmers. Designated as a municipal path, this trail is a genuine historical heritage, bearing witness to the isolation of past generations and to the ingenious and difficult trails built by the people to overcome it. Before leaving to the same hotel as the day before (short 15min transfer) make sure to explore Paúl do Mar, an old fishing village known for the export of tuna with a small and lovely parish on the seashore, and wonder at the high cliffs that surround it ACCOMMODATION Hotel Jardim do Mar HIKE 6 km + 600m / - 600m TRANSFER Paúl do Mar to Calheta (15min)

5 DAY 5 PAÚL DA SERRA PLATEAU Hike If you woke up thinking this natural beauty must be special, you are right! The trail reserved for today is included in an area of Laurissilva Forest, classified as World Natural Heritage by UNESCO since December 1999 and member of the European Network of Sites of Community importance - Nature After a 35min transfer start exploring Paúl da Serra plateau and follow the trail to visit several viewpoints that reveal a set of beautiful landscapes, highlighting the view over the valley of Ribeira da Janela and Chão da Ribeira. Pay attention to the area known as Fio where the visitors can appreciate what is left of an ingenious apparatus of steel cables which stretch down-hill and were used to carry wood and shrubs collected in Fanal forest, down to Chão da Ribeira, and also for farming activities. Finally the area of Fanal, a small volcanic crater classified as a resting reserve of the Natural Park of Madeira with the centenary forest of Ocofeafoefens trees (Til) showing us how overwhelming untouched nature can be. ACCOMMMODATION Hotel Euro Moniz TRANSFER Calheta to Paúl da Serra (35min) HIKE 10 km + 200m /- 300m TRANSFER Fanal to Porto Moniz (30min) We will then transfer you to the hotel in Porto Moniz (30min). DAY 6 LEVADA DA JANELA Tunnels, tunnels and tunnels today is going to be an amazing day! Along the way you will find several tunnels, where you can feel and ear the water falling from the rocks, the natural music for relaxation. Enjoy the fantastic scenery that arises, full of maritime pine and eucalyptus and then, the dense vegetation characteristic of the native forest Laurissilva. Full of colours, full of flowers and trees, at this day you will pass by species such as the Canary Willow, as well as the large Madeira laurel, Madeira mahogany and the Lily-of-the-valley tree, that abound along the Levada. You will also notice Geraniums, Orchids and Canary Buttercup, easily recognized by their bright yellow flowers. Like looking through a window (janela), at the end of the day you will reach a fantastic view dominated by large rocks that paint the landscape with a soft and pleasant shade of grey Ribeira da ACCOMMODATION Hotel Euro Moniz TRANSFER Porto Moniz to Levada da Janela (5min) HIKE 12 km + 150m / - 150m TRANSFER Levada da Janela to Porto Moniz (5min) Janela. Here, among the rocks, flows the pure and crystal water, forming several ponds here and there. Your hotel awaits but, if you still have the energy, do not forget to visit the natural pools of Porto Moniz, not only for their excellent bathing conditions but also for their beauty. These natural pools are the perfect place for relaxing, swimming, sunbathing or even just for a visit. Short 5min transfer back to the hotel.

6 DAY 7 FUNCHAL After a 60min transfer to Funchal you will have the day off to enjoy the city! This is the most famous city of Madeira and people love to walk the streets of its cosmopolitan city center, look for its historical sites like the Cathedral or find the best ocean view spots, the opportunities are endless. You must find the market of Funchal and enjoy part of your day tasting the best gastronomy from the island; from meat skewer, to banana cake or the traditional poncha drink you will not be disappointed. ACCOMMODATION Hotel do Carmo TRANSFER Porto Moniz to Funchal (60min) DAY 8 DEPARTURE Your last day is here, time pack up the good memories and say goodbye! Our guide will pick you up and transfer you to the airport wishing you a nice flight home.

7 All programs are specially designed for adventure lovers. Amazing experiences are guaranteed. We aren t responsible for possible side effects, that may include moments of extreme happiness, sense of freedom and desire to continue with us. Contact us for more information. Portugal Nature Trails is a registered trademark of Caminhos da Natureza Registered Company as RNAVT (National Registry of Travel Agencies and Tourism) and RNAAT (National Registry of Animation Agent and Tourism) Rua 7 de Junho,58, Leceia, BARCARENA PORTUGAL