PORTO DA CRUZ
You will be met at Funchal airport and transferred to the small coastal village of Porto da Cruz, in the north-east of the island, where you will stay for 2 nights. Overnight stay + breakfast in a *** residence overlooking the ocean.
Variant: In summer, the village of Porto da Cruz offers a municipal seawater swimming pool, while the rest of the year, a few surfers take to the waves at the foot of the cliffs. A traditional rum factory can still be found here.

MACHICO - SENTIER DE LA CÔTE NORD - PORTO DA CRUZ
Public bus to Machico, a small coastal town in the south-east, where you can do some shopping and pack a picnic lunch. A short day to warm up and acclimatise: from the beach and the São João Batista fort, climb to Pico do Facho (322 m) along a path, then a short stretch of road to join the Levada do Caniçal, which runs into the Ribeira Seca. Climb up to the Boca do Risco pass, where there is a magnificent panoramic view of the north coast, the Pointe de São Lourenço and the island of Porto Santo in the distance. An incredible coastal path cut into the cliffs and overhanging the sea by more than 200 m. leads back to Porto da Cruz via the farming hamlet of Larano. Overnight on a half-board basis in a *** hotel facing the ocean.
17km / Elevation: +/- 580m
 

PORTO DA CRUZ - PORTELA - LEVADA DO FURADO - RIBEIRO FRIO - CRUZINHAS - SANTANA
Climb through narrow streets and cobbled paths to the Portela pass, 600 m above sea level. A good path starts here, bordering the Levada do Furado, which flows swiftly and clearly eastwards. The views from this route are increasingly sumptuous. The high peaks of the island are opposite and the path, which is wide at first, becomes narrower and then runs alongside deep ravines. Well protected by tree heathers and a few fences, the path penetrates the laurisilva with a touch of adventure. At Ribeiro Frio, there's a short round trip to Balcœs, an extraordinary balcony overlooking the Faja de Nogueiras and the island's great peaks, then a descent to Cruzinhas. Short climb to Lombo do Galego and arrival in Santana, at the heart of the island's agricultural life. Overnight on a half-board basis in a hotel **** with indoor pool and jacuzzi.
32km / Elevation: + 1410m - 1005m

RIDGE TRAVERSE : PICO DO ARIEIRO - PICO RUIVO - ENCUMEADA
Morning transfer by taxi or minibus from Santana to Pico do Arieiro (50 min), or on request to Achada do Terceira (30 min). Discover the island's most beautiful peaks, from Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) to Pico Ruivo (1,862 m, the island's highest point) via Pico das Torres (1,851 m) and Miradouro Ninho da Manta (1,798 m). Steps and paths cut into the rock, galleries and tunnels! A magical journey along the sharp, multi-coloured ridges that often emerge from the sea of clouds. Arrive at Pico Ruivo (1,862 m) before setting off on the long ridge that bisects Madeira from east to west as far as Encumeada (1,000 m), at the gateway to the Paul da Serra plateau. The trail wanders along a ridge line, between passes and peaks, passing Pico das Eirinhas (1,649 m), Pico Casado (1,725 m), Pico Jorge (1,691 m) and finally the Col das Torrinhas (1,400 m). Overnight on a half-board basis in a three-star hotel in Encumeada, in the heart of the mountains, right in the centre of the island.
19 km / Elevation: + 1060 m - 860 m

Variant: This walk can be shortened by a morning transfer to Achada do Teixeira (instead of Pico do Arieiro). You then begin a short ascent to Pico Ruivo. The route to Encumeada is the same as above.
14 km / Elevation: + 560 m - 920 m

RABAÇAL - LAGOA DO VENTO - CASCADES DE RISCO ET 25 FONTES - ARCO DE CALHETA
Transfer early in the day by minibus (30 mins) across the Paul da Serra plateau to the Rabaçal car park. From the Rabaçal car park, on the western edge of the Paul da Serra plateau, follow the levadas first along the edge of the plateau, among the grasses, then into the heart of the laurel forest and its majestic tree heathers. You first climb up to the source of the Levada do Alecrim and its waterfall before reaching the small lake of Lagoa do Vento. Descend to the Rabaçal forest house, and continue back along the levada do Risco and the 25 fountains to see the waterfalls (this easily accessible area is very busy, but the heather forest is very beautiful). You escape the area by following the levada of the 25 fountains through the riders' tunnel (800 m long), to reach the southern slopes and descend via the Rocha Vermelha and Calheta irrigation channels to the hamlet of Loreto. At the end of the hike in Loreto, transfer by taxi or minibus (20 mins) to the coastal village of Jardim do Mar. Overnight in a family-run inn on a half-board basis.
22.5 km / Elevation: + 180m - 1090m 

Optional: in the evening, the village of Jardim do Mar is a little paradise where cars cannot enter. All you can hear here are the waves and birdsong.

JARDIM DO MAR - PRAZÈRES - PAUL DO MAR - THE SUD-WEST COAST
Discover the island's south-west coast and its villages. From Jardim do Mar, climb steeply to the village of Prazères, from where you can follow the Levada Nova to the villages of Raposeira and Fajà da Ovelha. A descent along a cobbled path through Alœs and Agaves leads to Paul do Mar. Here, small white fishermen's cottages seem to be wedged between the pebble beach and banana plantations. It is then possible to reach Jardim do Mar via the coarse pebble beach (at low tide) for a "short" version. The bravest will climb back up the cliffs along a paved path to the Jardim Atlantico lookout before returning down the path to Jardim do Mar. Overnight in a family-run inn on a half-board basis.
20 to 25 km / Elevation: +/- 650m to +/- 1200m

FONTES - CHAO DOS TERREIROS - BOCA DO CERRO - PICO GRANDE - CURRAL DAS FREIRAS - FUNCHAL
Early in the day, transfer by taxi or minibus (40 mins) along the south coast to Fontes (drop-off at Boca da Corrida available on request). From the village of Fontes, at an altitude of 950 m, wide paths lead up to the Chão dos Terreiros (1,436 m). A path then leads down to the Boca da Corrida pass and on to the ridges leading to Pico Grande (1,654 m). At Boca do Cerro, facing the highest ridges on the island, the return climb to the summit of Pico Grande is optional and requires sure footing, but offers incomparable panoramic views. The day ends with a descent into the caldera of Curral das Freiras, a village nestling at the bottom of a steep mountain cirque. Take the local bus to the capital (1 hour) and check into a hotel in the city centre for a pleasant evening. Night and breakfast in a *** hotel. 
16 to 22 km / Elevation: + 700 to + 1320 m and - 1000 to - 1640 m

END OF STAY 
Depending on flight times, free time to explore the capital: market, old town, wine-tasting cellars, marina, tropical gardens, Monte cable car, etc. Transfer by taxi or minibus to the airport (20 min).

The programme has been drawn up according to the latest information available at the time of writing; unforeseen circumstances are always possible and situations beyond our control may alter the programme.