Explore Madeira Island COASTAL NATURE SUMMER WINTER

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1 Explore Madeira Island COASTAL NATURE SUMMER WINTER

2 Explore Madeira Island COASTAL NATURE SUMMER WINTER DESCRIPTION Walk into the wild paradise of Madeira This is a great hiking tour with a variety of Madeira s best trails. You will discover the stunning sceneries of this volcanic island from its mountains, cliffs and levadas, which are an extensive network of small irrigation channels that make the perfect path for adventurous hikers. Erosion has formed the island by creating bizarre rock formations as well as deep gorges but a part of the land is covered by the Laurissilva forest, a rarity in the world that purifies the air and is recognized by UNESCO as Natural World Heritage site. This tour will be an unique and exhilarating hiking experience! Welcome to Madeira- The pearl of the Atlantic. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS TRIP INFORMATION ACCOMMODATION DISTANCE Comfort 7 19 km / Day TOUR GRADE ROUTE FIT Mountain terrain and levadas DURATION 8 Days 7 Nights START END Machico Funchal PROFILE Hilly Mountain scenery in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean; Madeira`s highest peaks; Levadas stunning trails and the vulcanic rock formations; Laurissilva forest, UNESCO s Natural World Heritage site; Funchal Old Town.

3 THE ITINERARY DAY 1 ARRIVAL Our Guide will welcome you at the Airport and drive to Machico, just 15min away. Here you ll have your first accommodation where you might enjoy to spend some time in the swimming pool, take a nap and relax with a beautiful mountainous view. ACCOMMODATION Hotel White Waters DAY 2 PONTA S. LOURENÇO Hike You will start your day with a 20 min transfer to Ponta de São Lourenço and the trail will walk you around this volcanic peninsula to the eastern-most point of Madeira island, with the amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean and the two islets near by. The Desembarcadouro Islet is classified a natural reserve and the peninsula is considered as a partial one; also, all the land and sea by the North coast, up to a depth of 50mts, is part of the European network of important community sites - Natura What a day! And what a scenery to enjoy and celebrate! Short transfer back to Machico (20min). ACCOMMODATION Hotel White Waters TRANSFER Machico to Ponta S. Lourenço (20min) HIKE 7 km + 500m TRANSFER Ponta S. Lourenço to Machico (20min)

4 DAY 3 MACHICO to PORTO DA CRUZ Today, let us go up to Facho Pic (322m) and enjoy the north coastal cliffs! Start the walk from your hotel at Machico and get on a trail along Caniçal Levada for about 2km and you ll start to see the great view of tiny terraces where islander s farmers cultivate the fertile Madeira soil. The path then ascends gently to the crest, Boca do Risco, and only here you can find this stunning panoramic view of the north cliffs. From Boca do Risco the trail continues, etched into the cliff face and following more or less the 300m contour, until the town of Porto da Cruz. A final transfer, of 30min, takes you to your hotel in Santana to rest. ACCOMMODATION Hotel O Colmo HIKE 17 km + 450m TRANSFER Porto da Cruz to Santana (30min) DAY 4 LEVADA CALDEIRÃO VERDE Hike Today the path is along Caldeirão Verde, one of the most famous Levada walks. Start this out-and-back walk in the Queimadas Forestry Park, after a 20 min transfer, and cross some spectacularly steep slopes to enjoy one of the finest ways of penetrating the deep valley of the São Jorge brook on foot; you will need a torch on this walk because it passes through several tunnels. The Levada of Caldeirão Verde is an impressive work of art, built in the 18th century, that begins in the main stream bed of the Caldeirão Verde brook., passes through steep cliffs and mountains and carries the water that runs off the highest mountains of Madeira. This levada is used for agricultural purposes but it is also an important way of reaching the interior of the deep valley, offering the traveler a vertiginous and spectacular view of the mountainous terrain. Transfer to Santana with the duration of 20min. ACCOMMODATION Hotel O Colmo TRANSFER Santana to Queimadas (20min) HIKE 13 km + 100m TRANSFER Levada Caldeirão to Santana (20min)

5 DAY 5 PICO RUIVO to ENCUMEADA Morning transfer to Achada do Teixeira (30 min) where you will start. This energetic ridge walk begins just below Pico Ruivo, the highest summit of the Island and the third highest of Portugal, and heads west, high above steep, through the wooded slopes to the mountain pass at Encumeada. Marked by frequent climbs and descents, the trail winds along elevations between 1800 and 1000 meters, but all is worth it due to the extremely beautiful landscapes and types of ecosystem that await the traveler; the Central Mountainous Massif and the Laurissilva Forest. We will walk back to the Hotel. ACCOMMODATION Residencial Encumeada TRANSFER Santana to Achada da Teixeira (30min) HIKE 14 km + 600m DAY 6 PINÁCULO PICO & LEAVADA DO NORTE We start walking from the hotel and take you through a variety of landscapes and magnificent views, until you reach Lombo do Mouro, first passing by the well-known Pináculo (Pinnacle) and walking along the Levada do Norte and Levada da Serra. Lovely views of São Vicente Valley will catch your eyes, also some of the architectural heritage of the island, namely the way of the county, a road used formerly for movement between the northern and the southern coast. Paved with stone, the levada was built to transport the water and were also built open tunnels in the rock to bring water. When you reach the top of the footpath at Pináculo, the two highest peaks will stand out and the Central Mountain Range will give an image to remember... ACCOMMODATION Residencial Encumeada HIKE 19 km + 750m

6 DAY 7 ENCUMEADA to BOCA DA CORRIDA What a lovely day to walk! Leave your hotel and see how the trail unfolds on the base of the highest peaks of Madeira Island, and crosses part of the majestic Massive Central Mountain. This Royal Path gives you a glimpse of Curral das Freiras in its mountain stronghold. The perspective offered by this route changes at every step, on every climb and every descend to fill your eyes and soul. It begins at Encumeada and runs along elevations between 1340 and 940 meters. Along the way, the view of Curral das Freiras, emerges and deserves your contemplation. This village is in a deep valley surrounded by mountains, located in the center of the island, and because of its unique features became the refuge of the nuns of the Convent of Santa Clara in 1566, that at the time of the pirate attacks in Funchal, took with them the treasure of the convent. Transfer to Funchal (40min) at the end of the day for you to enjoy the biggest city in the island and its wonders. ACCOMMODATION Hotel do Carmo HIKE 13 km + 500m TRANSFER Boca da Corrida to Funchal (40min) DAY 8 DEPARTURE Today it is your last day and it is time to pack up the good memories and say goodbye! Our guide will transfer you airport according to your time schedule. 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