MADEIRA
ISLAND HIKE

Madeira, Portugal · 8 days · ~54 miles · Proposed: Jun 21–28, 2027

Duration
8 Days · 7 Nights
Distance
~54 Miles
Elevation Gain
~9,800 ft (cumulative)
High Point
Pico Ruivo · 6,109 ft
Dates
Jun 21–28, 2027 (proposed)
Booking
PR1 & PR1.2 require free online permit
View Map ↗

Day 1: Arrive Funchal & Old Town Orientation

~2 mi walking · Easy
Arrive Funchal (FNC) · sea level
Walk Zona Velha (Old Town), Mercado dos Lavradores
Lodging Hotel, Funchal

Fly into Funchal and settle in — no altitude concerns here (sea level start), so this day is about jet lag recovery and logistics, not miles. An easy afternoon walk through the cobbled Zona Velha, the produce and flower stalls of Mercado dos Lavradores, and the seafront promenade. Gear check and pack redistribution for the trail days ahead.

🛬
Logistics: Funchal Airport (FNC) has a short, dramatic runway built on stilts over the water — window seat recommended.
🐟
Market: Mercado dos Lavradores is a good first taste of local produce, fish, and passion fruit liqueur samples.
🎒
Gear check: Confirm rain shells and layers — mountain weather changes fast even though Funchal itself is mild.
Elevation
Sea level, minimal change
Terrain
City streets · harbor promenade
Highlight
Zona Velha

Day 2: Vereda do Areeiro — Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo

~7 mi one-way · +2,000 ft / -1,400 ft
Start Pico do Areeiro · 5,965 ft
Route PR1 — tunnels, ridgeline, exposed steps
Summit Pico Ruivo · 6,109 ft (island high point)

The signature day. Madeira's most famous — and most demanding — trail: a knife-edge ridge walk between the island's third- and first-highest peaks, through hand-cut rock tunnels, steep stone staircases, and exposed sections with cable handrails above the cloud line. Van shuttle drops the group at Pico do Areeiro before dawn to catch clear morning skies before afternoon cloud rolls in. Finishes at the Pico Ruivo shelter for a packed lunch with 360° island views.

📝
Permit required: Free online booking via IFCN (Madeira's forest service) is mandatory for PR1 — reserve exact date/headcount as soon as trip is confirmed, capacity is limited daily.
⚠️
Exposure: Narrow ridge sections with steep drop-offs and cable handholds — not appropriate in high wind or rain. Have a bad-weather bailout day in reserve.
🔦
Tunnels: Several unlit rock tunnels along the route — headlamps required even midday.
High Point
Pico Ruivo · 6,109 ft
Elevation Range
4,900 → 6,109 ft
Terrain
Exposed volcanic ridge

Day 3: Levada do Caldeirão Verde (extended to Caldeirão do Inferno)

~10 mi round trip · +1,600 ft
Start Queimadas Forestry Park
Route PR9 — laurel forest levada, waterfall tunnel
Finish Caldeirão Verde waterfall

A gentler recovery day, but a long one. This levada (irrigation channel) trail winds through Madeira's UNESCO-listed laurisilva (laurel) forest — some of the last old-growth laurel forest left in the world — following a centuries-old water channel cut into cliff faces, through a hand-dug tunnel, to the waterfall pool at Caldeirão Verde. Strong groups continue an extra stretch to the second waterfall at Caldeirão do Inferno for the full 10-mile day. Flat, easy grade by Madeira standards, but a full day out and back.

🌳
Laurisilva: UNESCO World Heritage forest — ancient laurel species found almost nowhere else on Earth.
💧
Levada edge: Trail runs directly alongside the water channel, sometimes unguarded — stay single file, mind footing.
🏊
Swim stop: Cold-water pool at the waterfall — optional dip for anyone willing.
Elevation Range
2,300 → 3,600 ft
Terrain
Levada path · laurel forest
Highlight
Caldeirão Verde waterfall

Day 4: Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço

~6 mi round trip · Rolling, exposed coast
Start Baía d'Abra trailhead
Route PR8 — volcanic peninsula, sea cliffs both sides
Finish Ponta do Furado overlook

A total change of scenery from the forested interior — the island's easternmost tip is dry, treeless, and volcanic, a narrow ridge trail with the Atlantic dropping away on both sides. Constant wind and long sightlines make this one of the most photogenic days of the trip. Return via the same trail; a short drive from Funchal each way.

💨
Wind: Consistently strong and gusty on this exposed ridge — secure hats, watch footing near the edges.
☀️
Sun exposure: No shade anywhere on this trail — sun protection and extra water essential.
🌋
Geology: Layered red-and-black volcanic strata visible in the cliffs — a good spot for a geology talk.
Elevation Range
Sea level → 650 ft
Terrain
Volcanic coastal ridge
Highlight
Ponta do Furado sea cliffs

Day 5: Levada do Risco & 25 Fontes

~7.5 mi round trip · Gentle grade
Start Rabaçal parking area
Route PR6 — twin levada loop
Highlight 25 Fontes — "25 Springs" waterfall pool

Two classic levadas combined into one loop from the Rabaçal trailhead: Levada do Risco to a tall single-drop waterfall, and Levada das 25 Fontes to a natural amphitheater where dozens of small springs feed a clear pool. Both trails are relatively flat and shaded, following the water channels through mossy forest — a good day to rest legs after the ridge and coastal days while still covering real mileage.

🚐
Access: Rabaçal parking is restricted — shuttle van or early arrival needed to park at the trailhead itself.
💦
25 Fontes: Can be crowded midday — an early or late loop timing helps.
🌿
Shade: Mostly forested and cool — a welcome change from Day 4's exposed coast.
Elevation Range
3,300 → 2,800 ft
Terrain
Levada path · shaded forest
Highlight
25 Fontes pool

Day 6: Ribeiro Frio to Portela

~6 mi one-way · Gentle descent
Start Ribeiro Frio trout farm
Route PR10 — Levada do Furado
Finish Portela viewpoint

A quieter, less-touristed levada through dense laurel forest — one of the most beautiful stretches on the island by most accounts, with fewer crowds than 25 Fontes. Passes the Balcões viewpoint early on for a wide view of the central peaks (including Pico Ruivo, from a very different angle than Day 2). Gentle net descent all the way to Portela.

🐟
Ribeiro Frio: Historic trout farm at the trailhead — good rest stop before starting.
🔭
Balcões viewpoint: Short detour early in the hike for a panoramic look back at Pico Ruivo and the central massif.
🚐
Shuttle: Van pickup at Portela — arrange return transport in advance since this is a one-way trail.
Elevation Range
3,400 → 2,600 ft
Terrain
Levada path · dense laurisilva
Highlight
Balcões viewpoint

Day 7: Fanal Ancient Forest & Paúl da Serra Plateau

~13 mi · Rolling plateau terrain
Start Fanal Forest
Route High plateau, ancient wind-sculpted til trees
Finish Paúl da Serra, back to Funchal

The longest single day of the trip and a complete change of landscape again — misty highland plateau, home to centuries-old, wind-twisted laurel (til) trees that look almost bonsai-scale despite being hundreds of years old. Open, rolling terrain with no real technical difficulty but real distance; strongest day of the trip for total mileage. Closes out the trail days before a final rest day in Funchal.

🌫️
Fog: Fanal is famous for its mist — atmospheric but reduces visibility; stay grouped, use whistles if fog rolls in thick.
🌳
Til trees: Some of the oldest trees on the island — stay on marked paths, no climbing/carving.
🦵
Distance: Longest mileage day — pace and hydration matter more than technical skill here.
Elevation Range
4,300 → 5,100 ft
Terrain
High plateau · ancient forest
Highlight
Fanal's ancient til trees

Day 8: Monte Toboggan Run & Departure

~3 mi walking · Easy, half day
Morning Monte cable car + wicker toboggan run
Optional Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Depart Funchal (FNC), afternoon/evening flight

A light, celebratory last morning — cable car up to Monte for the classic (and slightly ridiculous) wicker toboggan ride back down the hillside streets, steered by two "carreiros" in straw hats. Time for the botanical garden or last souvenir shopping in Funchal before heading to the airport. Trip's reward lap after seven straight days on trail.

🛷
Toboggan run: Book the Monte-to-Livramento basket sled in advance — a Funchal institution and a fun group photo op.
🌺
Garden: Monte Palace Tropical Garden is a relaxed, low-mileage option if legs need a true rest.
✈️
Flight: Confirm checkout time buffer against departure — FNC is a small airport but security lines vary by season.
Terrain
City streets · cable car
Elevation
Sea level → 1,800 ft (cable car)
Finish
Depart Funchal

Essential Trip Info

Permits & Regulations

📝
PR1 / PR1.2 Booking (required): The Areeiro–Ruivo trails require free advance registration through Madeira's IFCN forest service due to overcrowding and safety limits — book as soon as trip dates are confirmed, ideally 60+ days out.
🚫
No US passport visa needed: Madeira is Portuguese territory (EU/Schengen) — US passport holders enter visa-free for stays under 90 days, but confirm passport validity (6+ months beyond travel dates).
🌦️
Weather: Microclimates are extreme and change fast — sun at sea level, fog/wind/rain possible on the peaks the same day. Layers and a rain shell every day, regardless of forecast.
🥾
Trail difficulty: No altitude concerns (max ~6,100 ft) but PR1 has real exposure — narrow ridgeline with drop-offs. Not a beginner trail; scouts should have prior exposed-terrain experience.
💧
Water: Levada water is not potable (irrigation channels) — carry and treat/filter water from designated sources or refill at cafés/shelters along the route.
🚐
Transport: Most trailheads are 30–60 min from Funchal by van — a rental van or private transfer service is needed daily since trails are point-to-point, not loops.
📅
Why Jun 21–28, 2027: Same start date as the troop's Salkantey Trek proposal — right after Sequoia Union HS District's last day of school (Jun 3, 2027), no missed class time. Late June is peak dry season in Madeira (May–Sep), giving the clearest chance at unobstructed views on PR1's exposed ridge, which is frequently clouded out in wetter months.

Budget Planning

Cost Estimate (Per Person)

Rough 2027 planning numbers — international trip, prices swing with season, group size, and airfare timing. Confirm with outfitter/airline quotes once dates lock.

✈️ Round-trip flight, SFO ↔ Funchal (1–2 stops via Lisbon, sample fare Jun 19–29) ~$950
🛏️ Funchal lodging (7 nights, budget hotel/guesthouse, shared rooms) $400 – $650
🚐 Daily van/shuttle transport to trailheads (7 hiking days) $150 – $250
🥾 Local guide (recommended for PR1 ridge day and Fanal) $80 – $150
🚡 Monte cable car + wicker toboggan run $35 – $45
🌺 Monte Palace Tropical Garden entry (optional) $13
🍽️ Meals not included in lodging (7 days) $180 – $280
🩺 Travel insurance (incl. medical/evac) $55 – $110
🎒 Gear rental (rain shell, poles) if not owned $40 – $90
🚕 Airport transfers, incidentals, local transit $60 – $120
Estimated Total Per Scout $1,900 – $2,650

Excludes: passport fees, personal spending money, souvenirs, and any troop fundraising offsets. Adult leaders should budget similarly. Lower than the Salkantey estimate mainly on airfare and lodging cost — no wilderness camping gear or porter/mule costs on this trip since it's hotel-based each night.

Contact & Info

Madeira Tourism Office — Funchal

Phone: +351 291 211 900
Website: visitmadeira.com
Note: Confirm local guide contact, embassy info, and travel insurance details once trip dates and lodging are finalized.