Trekking on Madeira is wild & adventurous: The fascinating island of Madeira attracts with breathtaking landscapes and a network of impressive campsites and trekking tours that inspire trekking enthusiasts from all over the world. In this article you will find all campsites on Madeira and I will introduce you to all four madeira trekking routes with useful information. You are sure to find your next trekking adventure here!
Contents
1. Arrival
2. Map of all trekking sites
3. Accommodation
4. Weather and best travel time
5. The most beautiful trekking tours
6. Further information
7. Travel guides and hiking maps
8. Packing list
9. Conclusion
Madeira Trekking
Trekking in Madeira is a great way to explore the island, but few people know about the 20 or so trekking camps that exist there. Since wild camping is strictly prohibited in Madeira, it is not often searched for. But these trekking camps offer an ideal solution for overnight camping. In this article you will find all the important information about these campsites and tips on registering.
As always, I recommend the video of my trekking tour:
Madeira trek: Arrival
Flight: The best way to get there is to take a flight to Funchal, to Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC) .
Taxi: Taxis work wonderfully in Madeira. There is UBER and BOLT!
Bus: Almost every larger town is easily accessible by public transport. I had no problems taking the bus.
Gas cartridge: If you need food or a gas cartridge, I can recommend the supermarket "Modelo Continente Machico" in (Sitio da Queimada de Baixo, 9200-017 Machico, Portugal). Please check before you start your tour whether a gas cartridge is in stock. There are also supposed to be some outdoor shops in Funchal.
Campsites on Madeira
On the map below I have marked all the campsites, the mountain hut at Pico Ruivo and other bookable accommodations (Booking.com and Airbnb). Alternatively, you can also visit the official website for campsites on Madeira . I have listed the campsites in detail with some additional information below.
Here you can find all campsites on Madeira
Fonte do Bispo – Calheta
Madeira Trekking: Accommodation
Registration for the campsites: The island offers a number of campsites that can be used free of charge by adventurers. All but a few of the trekking campsites on Madeira are free of charge. However, for your trekking adventure you must register once using the link below and reserve a spot. You will then receive a PDF document for your reservation. In rare cases, rangers come by and check the trekking campers.
Warning: If you have changed the language, you may not recognize the names of the trekking camps as they are also translated. It is therefore better to leave everything in Portuguese.
Equipment at the trekking camps: The sites are all equipped differently. On the official website you will find signs and information about what is available at the sites and in their surroundings.
Booking.com and Airbnb: You can book a hotel or apartment in every city. This works best with "Booking" or "Airbnb". This means you can also halve stages if they are too long.
Mountain hut at Pico Ruivo: At "Pico Ruivo" there is a mountain hut and a small campsite available for you to spend the night. The hut is called "Casa de Abrigo Pico Ruivo" and can be found at the following link: https://picoruivo.com/pt/ . Tip: The sunrise and sunset at "Pico Ruivo" were an incredible sensation. Goosebumps!
Please don't forget to take an emergency bivouac with you. It consists of an emergency blanket that is cold-resistant, a whistle and a mini compass. It should be in your backpack on every hike anyway.
As the old Scottish proverb goes, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!"
Look at the following pictures in the slider:
Camping on Madeira: Weather and best time to travel
In Madeira there is often a mix of sun, wind and clouds. The temperatures are actually always between 18 and 30 degrees. The least rainfall occurs in July and August. The months of April, May and June are also ideal for hiking. In general, you can do the tours all year round, but in winter there could be snow on the mountains. So find out before you start your tour.
Proverb from Madeira. Come into my garden. I want my roses to know you. Richard B. Sheridan 1751 - 1816.
Madeira trekking routes
Madeira Island Crossing (my recommendation)
Length: 105km
Duration: min 5 days
Difficulty level: medium
Accommodation: tent or cabin/hotel/apartment
GPX: Find it here!
Best time to travel: Basically possible all year round!
Information: Everything you need to know can be found here!
Video: Find it here!
MIUT - Ultra Trail
Length: 120km
Duration: min 6 days
Difficulty level: medium
Accommodation: tent or cabin/hotel/apartment
GPX: Find it here!
Best time to travel: Basically possible all year round!
Caminho Real 23 - circumnavigation of the island
Length: 172km
Duration: min 5 days
Difficulty level: medium
Accommodation: tent or cabin/hotel/apartment
GPX: Find it here!
Best time to travel: Basically possible all year round!
Madeira Island Crossing (alternative)
Length: 100km
Duration: min 5 days
Difficulty level: medium
Accommodation: tent or cabin/hotel/apartment
GPX: Find it here!
Best time to travel: Basically possible all year round!
Due to the long distance and the sweaty altitude, I would like to recommend my ultra-light hiking gear:
I would also like to recommend my beloved Salewa trekking shoes because of the mountain and jungle landscape and the challenging mountain trails:
• Salewa MS Raven 3 GTX (Available for men and women)
"Give your woman the right shoes and she can conquer the world." Quote by Marilyn Monroe
Trekking madeira island: More information
Money: ATMs and credit cards are available in many places. However, you should still take cash with you on your trip.
Water: Unfortunately, you won't always find it. Make sure your water container is always full. I usually had around 2.5 liters with me. You should only drink the water from the lavedas in an absolute emergency. This is water used for agriculture. I drank it, but I put it through a water filter first. There are also waterfall pools or fountains along the way. You should definitely use a water filter, though. No matter how clear the water is, it can still contain impurities, such as animal excrement or dead animals. You can also boil the water.
Water at the campsites: You won't find any water at the trekking camps themselves. However, on my trekking tour, I never had any real problems getting water. In the mountains, you could fill up at waterfalls (note: use a filter anyway!). Otherwise, there is a well or local supply in every larger village. Sometimes there is also a water tap at houses. Thanks to the friendly residents, I was able to fill up my water supply. Nevertheless, I always used a water filter to be on the safe side.
Food: There are local supplies in every major town and at the hut on Pico Ruivo.
Animals or vermin: There are practically no vermin on the island and it is free of dangerous insects and beetles. Be careful when setting up your tent, though. I found a really big spider in the undergrowth. It was a bit of a scary moment.
Madeira Trekking: Travel Guides and Hiking Maps
To prepare for your trip, I would also recommend a travel guide as a useful aid. The travel guide contains descriptions of many small side hikes that you can use to further enhance your tour.
Trekking madeira island packing list
Here I recommend the most important hiking equipment that I own, have tested and bought myself. I pay a lot of attention to the weight and especially the quality of my equipment. The equipment should simply feel good on longer tours and also be light. I can recommend the equipment for women because my wife uses it and it is basically the same as the one for men.
Attention: Please remember that the packing list is general and you must therefore adapt it depending on the season and your needs!
Advertising notice: These product links are affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, I receive a small commission without you having to pay anything more. This helps to maintain my blog and you support me in my project, for which I am very, very grateful. Thank you very much!
Clothes
Hiking boots
Hiking shorts
Long hiking pants
Functional shirt
Hybridjacket
Fleece-jacket
Rain jacket
Functional underwear
Hiking socks
Other hiking equipment:
• Sun cap
Hiking backback (approx. 60 litres or as required)
by EXPED - unfortunately not available on Amazon.
• Backback - Ospray (was my old one and is also good)
Technology and orientation:
• Compass
• Headlamp
• GPS device or GPS watch if necessary
• Binoculars if necessary
Catering:
• Sweets to keep up morale :)
Health & first Aid:
• First Aid (small and light)
• Tape
• Bivouac
• Toilet paper
Other:
• Passport/Insurance certificate
• cash
• Gas cartridge
Film equipment:
• Camera
• Drone
• Tripod
• Clip
Long-distance hiking trails Europe: 90 routes, all countries
safety instructions
Conclusion on madeira trekking
In conclusion, Trekking Madeira Island is a breathtaking experience, offering diverse landscapes from lush forests to rugged peaks. A Madeira trek takes you through stunning scenery, whether along coastal cliffs or through the Laurisilva jungle. With well-marked Madeira trekking routes, both beginners and experienced hikers can find the perfect adventure. For anyone who loves nature, Madeira trekking is an unforgettable journey.
As always, I would be very happy to receive feedback via one of my channels.
You are also welcome to leave me a comment here.
A warm hello, I am Christian, chief globetrotter of this site and enthusiastic adventurer, hiker and filmmaker. I love exploring new paths and inspiring people with them, and I like to share my acquired hiking knowledge with you! You can also find my videos on YouTube! On my blog you will find tips for beginners and professionals on the biggest and most beautiful hiking tours there are. I want to encourage people to explore the world as hikers, whether in the countryside, through the forest or in the mountains. True to the motto: If you don't hike, you haven't seen the world yet.
On my blog I also write about hiking gear, proper summit training and nature conservation as well as tips and information on hiking.
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