The 10 Best Activities in Madeira

The Madeira archipelago is an ideal paradise destination for a vacation 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 shouldn't miss, compiling the most interesting and varied adventures that this small island has to offer.

If you love hiking and 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 organized 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 organized tour so that you can receive assistance from an expert guide and have transportation to and from Funchal and the exploration area.

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

Reservations must be made in advance to secure your spot for the day you want to go on your adventure.

This is especially important if you are traveling to Madeira with friends or family and everyone wants to participate 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 organized excursions.

If you visit Madeira during the summer, you will find that it is possible to snorkel 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 traveling to the island for a short vacation.

Whether you're an amateur or a professional cyclist, you should know that Madeira is a destination for cyclists in practically any season of the year.

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

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 trips 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 kilometers recommended for experienced cyclists; the route from Arriero to Ruivo is of moderate difficulty, also recommended for experienced cyclists; and the Ribera da Janela Route, although long at 9.3 kilometers, is easier to ride, despite its length.

Organizing a cycling route in Madeira is quite easy, as you can find local companies in Funchal that offer bike rental services to travelers, as well as companies that organize 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 traveler. I recommend looking into the different options and booking the ones that catch your eye in advance. Some of the organized tours you can find in Funchal are:

• Walking tours of the old town of Funchal, an experience designed to explore the medieval center of the city and discover its most emblematic old buildings.
• Food tours, which combine a walking tour of the old town with tastings of local products at 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 do 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 vacation 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, snorkeling, and snorkeling. 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 snorkeling in the Garajau Nature Reserve, where you can swim alongside groupers and observe spectacular biodiversity, even without having to go too far down. 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 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 meters and the remains of the sunken ship Madeirense from 2001.
• Garajau Nature Reserve: With more than 7 km of protected coastline, its giant groupers are the emblem of this area.
• Reis Magos: One of the best places for snorkeling 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 meters during a straight-line journey of approximately 3,200 meters. 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 €18 for a round 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 prioritizes 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 travelers 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 round-trip boat transportation 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 Madeira is not done on a river but rather in the blue waters surrounding the island.

Booking an organized excursion is the best way to enjoy this type of experience, as the organizing company provides travelers with everything they need for the adventure, including safety equipment and canoes , round-trip transportation, and an expert guide who accompanies the group throughout the tour.

The best part is that these are short excursions, 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 travelers' bucket lists. If you are going to Madeira on your next vacation, 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 more. On the day of your adventure, make sure you wear suitable clothing, such as sports shoes or boots and comfortable, not too loose-fitting pants.

You can experience Madeira from the sky accompanied by an expert guide on a short flight. Keep 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 transportation. This alternative is ideal for combining your adventure in the air on the island with many other activities included in this list.