Best of Madeira's North Coast
Wild, mossy, dramatic — Porto Moniz, Seixal, São Vicente and Santana.
Selection: Entities in the four north-coast municipalities: Porto Moniz, Seixal, São Vicente, Santana.
The north coast is the green, wet, dramatic side of Madeira: vertical cliffs draped in moss, waterfalls cutting straight to the sea, and pocket-sized fishing villages reached via old coastal tunnels. The new VE1 motorway gets you there from Funchal in 50 minutes, but the original ER101 coast road — narrow, slow, magnificent — is part of the experience.
Plan at least one full day for the north loop. Most visitors do Porto Moniz pools in the morning, lunch in Seixal or São Vicente and Santana's A-frame houses in the afternoon. If you can stay overnight, the night sky from Achadas da Cruz or above São Vicente is excellent.
The list (30)
1.Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo
TrailsMadeira's most iconic ridge hike, connecting the island's second and highest peaks across exposed ridges, stairs and tunnels.
7 km590 m gain~4 hhard2.Levada do Caldeirão Verde
TrailsA classic laurel-forest levada walk from Queimadas to a tall waterfall in a green amphitheatre. Mostly flat with several tunnels — bring a headlamp.
13 km150 m gain~5 hmoderate3.Vereda do Fanal
TrailsShort walk through the otherworldly Fanal laurel forest — best in fog. Often photographed for its ancient til trees.
10.8 km200 m gain~4 heasy4.Porto Moniz Natural Pools
BeachesVolcanic-rock pools naturally filled by the Atlantic on Madeira's north-west tip. The signature swimming spot of the island.
natural poolsLifeguardBlue Flag5.Praia do Seixal
BeachesNatural black volcanic-sand beach on the dramatic north coast, framed by green cliffs.
volcanicLifeguard6.Véu da Noiva
ViewpointsRoadside viewpoint on the old north road overlooking the 'Bridal Veil' waterfall.
7.Levada da Ribeira da Janela
TrailsLong, wild levada through dense laurisilva on the north-west plateau. Multiple tunnels — headlamp required.
17 km300 m gain~6 hhard8.Vereda do Pico Ruivo (Achada do Teixeira)
TrailsShortest route to Madeira's highest summit (1862 m) starting from Achada do Teixeira — paved path, accessible to most fit walkers.
5.6 km290 m gain~3 heasy9.Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova
TrailsTwo-levada loop above Ribeira da Janela passing waterfalls, banana terraces and dripping tunnels.
11.5 km loop320 m gain~4 hmoderate10.Fanal Forest
ViewpointsUNESCO laurisilva plateau famous for its ancient til trees, otherworldly when fog rolls in.
1150 m11.Pico Ruivo
ViewpointsMadeira's highest peak at 1862 m. Above the trade-wind cloud layer most mornings.
1862 m12.Levada do Furado
TrailsClassic point-to-point levada from Ribeiro Frio to Portela through dense laurisilva — one of Madeira's most popular all-day walks.
11 km300 m gain~4 hmoderate13.Levada do Caldeirão do Inferno
TrailsExtension of Caldeirão Verde reaching a wilder, deeper amphitheatre — long, exposed sections, several tunnels.
18 km300 m gain~7 hhard14.Vereda dos Balcões
TrailsShort, mostly flat levada walk from Ribeiro Frio to the Balcões viewpoint — panoramic balcony over the central massif.
3 km50 m gain~1.5 heasy15.Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal
TrailsWild north-facing levada from Encumeada through tunnels to a hidden laurel forest — one of the lushest walks on the island.
11 km250 m gain~4 hmoderate16.Levada dos Cedros
TrailsAtmospheric levada from Fanal to Curral Falso through ancient laurel forest, often shrouded in mist.
7.2 km180 m gain~3 hmoderate17.Levada Fajã do Rodrigues
TrailsShort, dramatic levada from Ginjas (São Vicente) ending at a cliff-pierced tunnel above a green ravine.
8.4 km200 m gain~3 hmoderate18.Vereda do Chão da Ribeira
TrailsForested valley walk through Seixal's Chão da Ribeira — known for chestnut groves and the January 'Cozido nas Caldeiras' festival.
6.5 km250 m gain~2.5 hmoderate19.Vereda do Castelejo
TrailsLess-walked descent from Achada Grande through laurisilva down to the coast at Faial.
8 km700 m gain~4 hhard20.Pico das Torres
TrailsOff-trail scramble to Madeira's second-highest peak — only for experienced mountaineers; no marked path.
5 km500 m gain~4 hhard21.Vereda da Encumeada
TrailsLong, demanding traverse from Encumeada to Pico Ruivo — exposed ridges, no shelter, requires good weather.
11.4 km1050 m gain~6 hhard22.Piscinas Naturais de São Vicente
BeachesLava-rock saltwater pools on the wild north coast at São Vicente — calm even when the sea is rough.
natural poolsLifeguard23.Miradouro da Encumeada
ViewpointsPass viewpoint at 1007 m linking the north and south coasts — on clear days you can see both seas at once.
1007 m24.Achada do Teixeira
ViewpointsHigh-altitude trailhead and viewpoint at 1592 m — gateway to Pico Ruivo and home to the 'Homem em Pé' rock formation.
1592 m25.Miradouro do Paredão (Santana)
ViewpointsCliff-edge platform looking back at Santana's traditional houses and the green Faial coastline.
420 m26.Bica da Cana
ViewpointsSub-alpine plateau at 1620 m on the Paul da Serra, often used as an alternative to Pico do Areeiro for sunrise above clouds.
1620 m27.Levada da Central da Ribeira da Janela
TrailsTunnel-heavy levada along the wild Ribeira da Janela valley — five long tunnels, requires a headlamp and waterproofs.
15 km300 m gain~5 hhard28.Vereda do Folhadal
TrailsBranch of PR17 reaching one of Madeira's densest laurel forests — moss-covered til trees, constant drip from the canopy.
7 km200 m gain~3 hmoderate29.Vereda da Achadas da Cruz
TrailsShort, very steep descent (or cable-car) to a tiny farming fajã on Madeira's western tip, 450 m below the cliff.
2 km450 m gain~2 hhard30.Poças do Gomes (Seixal)
BeachesNatural saltwater pools at the western edge of Seixal village, a quieter alternative to Porto Moniz.
natural poolsLifeguard
Practical notes
- The VE1 toll-free motorway is the fast option; ER101 is the scenic one. Mix the two.
- Watch the weather — the north can be cloudy when the south is sunny, and vice versa.
- Fuel up before crossing — the central mountain stations are limited.
- Seixal and São Vicente both have small free car parks at the town entrance.
Frequently asked
- Is the north coast of Madeira worth visiting?
- Yes — it's the most scenically dramatic part of the island. Porto Moniz pools, the Seixal black-sand beach and Santana's thatched houses are the headline stops, but the drive itself is the attraction.
- How long to spend on the north coast?
- One full day for the highlights, two if you want to add hikes at Fanal or Caldeirão Verde. Many visitors stay one night in São Vicente or Porto Moniz to split the drive.