Place: Madeira Levadas

A week in Madeira, based in Funchal, provided the perfect mix of Levadas, mountain hikes, coastal scenery, and cultural exploration.

• Saturday – Evening arrival with just enough time for dinner, no sightseeing.
• Sunday – Full day in Funchal, exploring the historic center, Sé Cathedral, and the promenade. Took the cable car to Monte, visited the Palace Tropical Gardens, then another cable car to the Botanic Gardens before walking down to Zona Velha for dinner.
• Monday – Took a public bus to Ribeiro Frio for a scenic Balcões viewpoint hike, then followed Levada do Furado and Levada da Portela to Portela. On the way back, stopped in Machico for an hour of exploration.
• Tuesday – Rented a car for a full island roundtrip, stopping at Cabo Girão, Mudas Museum, Ponta do Pargo, Porto Moniz, Seixal Beach, Santana’s A-frame houses, and Guindaste Lookout, finishing with a hike to Ponta de São Lourenço from Baía d’Abra.
• Wednesday – Guided Levada walk in Rabaçal Valley along Levada das 25 Fontes to the waterfalls. In the afternoon, took a coastal walk from Lido along the beaches.
• Thursday – Public bus trip to the mountains. Morning hike from Eira do Serrado to Curral das Freiras, then afternoon at Pico do Arieiro, where the main ridge track was mostly closed due to repairs. Instead, hiked PR3 and PR3.1 down to Monte through cloud-covered scenery.
• Friday – A roundtrip hike combining Levada Nova and Levada do Moinho from Lombada (Ponta do Sol), with a scenic bus ride there and a brief stop in Ribeira Brava on the way back. In Funchal, visited Casa Museu Frederic de Freitas and Blandy’s Wine Lodge.
• Saturday – Final morning in Funchal with visits to Museu de Arte Sacra, Igreja de São João Evangelista, and Convento de Santa Clara (as Quinta das Cruzes was closed). A scenic walk from Pico dos Barcelos down to Reid’s Hotel before the return flight.

What I missed – A trip to Porto Santo, as ferries were not operating and flights weren’t practical.

Despite that, the week in Madeira delivered a perfect mix of mountains, Levadas, cultural sights, and dramatic coastlines, making it a fantastic hiking and sightseeing destination.