Aussichtspunkte
Wanderungen und Levadas
Offizielle PR-Wanderwege
"PR" steht für Pequena Rota — kurze, gelb-rot markierte Routen. PR1, PR6 und PR9 sind die berühmten drei; die übrigen sind ruhiger und oft interessanter.
Vereda do Larano
Coastal cliff walk from Porto da Cruz toward Larano with sweeping Atlantic views, narrow ledges and a long tunnel near the end.
Machico
Pico Grande
Steep ridge ascent to one of Madeira's most striking peaks, with 360° views over Curral das Freiras.
Câmara de Lobos
Pico do Areeiro nach Pico Ruivo
Die ikonische Gratwanderung der Madeira zwischen den beiden höchsten Gipfeln.
Santana / Funchal
Vereda do Pico Ruivo (Achada do Teixeira)
Shortest route to Madeira's highest summit (1862 m) starting from Achada do Teixeira — paved path, accessible to most fit walkers.
Santana
Vereda da Encumeada
Long, demanding traverse from Encumeada to Pico Ruivo — exposed ridges, no shelter, requires good weather.
São Vicente
Vereda do Urzal
Steep descent from the central plateau to the north-coast hamlet of Boaventura through laurel forest and old farming terraces.
Boaventura
Levada do Barreiro
Quiet high-altitude levada walk on the southern slopes of the central massif, with views over Funchal.
Funchal
Vereda das Funduras
Forest loop above Machico through the Funduras protected area — quiet, easy and rarely busy.
Machico
Levada das 25 Fontes
Walk through Rabaçal's laurisilva to a lagoon fed by 25 springs. One of the most popular routes — go early.
Calheta
Levada do Risco
Short, easy walk from Rabaçal to the Risco waterfall through laurel forest. Often combined with PR6 25 Fontes.
Calheta
Levada do Alecrim
Loop from Rabaçal along the rosemary-lined Levada do Alecrim with a steep descent to the Lagoa do Vento waterfall and lagoon — quieter alternative to the 25 Fontes crowds.
Calheta
Vereda da Lagoa do Vento
Quiet branch off the 25 Fontes route descending steeply to a hidden waterfall and lagoon — slippery, not signposted.
Calheta
Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova
Two-levada loop above Ponta do Sol linking Levada Nova and Levada do Moinho — banana terraces, two waterfalls you can walk under, and a short head-torch tunnel. Mostly flat concrete edge-path with steep drops; easy underfoot but exposed.
Ponta do Sol
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
The arid eastern peninsula. Volcanic colours, dramatic sea cliffs, almost no shade. A complete contrast to the green interior.
Machico
Ponta de São Lourenço Extended
Extended version of PR8 including the descent to Casa do Sardinha — extra 2 km of dramatic cliff exposure.
Machico
Levada do Caldeirão Verde
The PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde is a 17.4 km out-and-back walk from Queimadas Forest Park above Santana, following an 18th-century laurisilva levada to a 100 m waterfall dropping into a green rock amphitheatre. Almost flat, four unlit tunnels, moderate exposure — one of the two most famous levada walks on the island.
Santana
Levada do Caldeirão do Inferno
Extension of Caldeirão Verde reaching a wilder, deeper amphitheatre — long, exposed sections, several tunnels.
Santana
Levada do Furado
Classic point-to-point levada from Ribeiro Frio to Portela through dense laurisilva — one of Madeira's most popular all-day walks.
Santana
Vereda dos Balcões
Short, mostly flat levada walk from Ribeiro Frio to the Balcões viewpoint — panoramic balcony over the central massif.
Santana
Caminho Real da Encumeada
Historic royal road across the central mountain pass linking Boca da Corrida to Encumeada, with views into Curral das Freiras.
Câmara de Lobos
Vereda do Fanal
Short walk through the otherworldly Fanal laurel forest — best in fog. Often photographed for its ancient til trees.
Porto Moniz
Levada dos Cedros
Atmospheric levada from Fanal to Curral Falso through ancient laurel forest, often shrouded in mist.
Porto Moniz
Levada da Ribeira da Janela
Long, wild levada through dense laurisilva on the north-west plateau. Multiple tunnels — headlamp required.
Porto Moniz
Levada Fajã do Rodrigues
Short, dramatic levada from Ginjas (São Vicente) ending at a cliff-pierced tunnel above a green ravine.
São Vicente
Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal
Wild north-facing levada from Encumeada through tunnels to a hidden laurel forest — one of the lushest walks on the island.
São Vicente
Levada do Rei
Quiet 10.6 km out-and-back levada walk from São Jorge on Madeira's north coast to the spring of Ribeiro Bonito. Deep laurel forest, one short unlit tunnel, and a fraction of the crowds of 25 Fontes for a very similar green-wall payoff.
São Jorge
Levada dos Cedros + Vereda do Fanal
Loop link-up combining PR14 Levada dos Cedros and PR13 Vereda do Fanal — a full circuit through the ancient Fanal laurel forest, often wrapped in mist.
Porto Moniz
Weitere klassische Wanderungen
Caminho das Cascatas da Levada Nova
Short waterfall walk above Ponta do Sol following the Levada Nova past several cascades — including the iconic shower-through-the-waterfall section.
Ponta do Sol
Vereda do Pico Castelo (Porto Santo)
Forested loop up Porto Santo's iconic conical hill — easy, family-friendly, with island-wide views.
Porto Santo
Levada do Paul
Wide, easy levada across the Paul da Serra plateau — open moorland with endemic flowers and panoramic skies.
Calheta
Levada do Caniçal
Easy, low-altitude levada from Maroços to Caniçal across the dry eastern foothills, mostly in open sun.
Machico
Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha)
Long, almost-flat unclassified levada walk linking Monte and Camacha above Funchal, passing the famous Hortensia and Jasmin tea houses. Free to walk — no IFCN booking.
Funchal
Levada da Serra do Faial
Long, gently sloping levada around the eastern flank of the central massif. Many entry points — good for half-day walks.
Santo da Serra
Vereda da Boca do Risco
Cliff-edge coastal walk from Maroços above the north coast to Porto da Cruz — windy, panoramic, exposed.
Machico
Vereda do Chão da Ribeira
Forested valley walk through Seixal's Chão da Ribeira — known for chestnut groves and the January 'Cozido nas Caldeiras' festival.
Seixal
Levada do Norte
One of Madeira's longest levadas — 60 km total, most walked between Cabo Girão and Boa Morte through banana and vine country.
Câmara de Lobos
Vereda do Folhadal
Branch of PR17 reaching one of Madeira's densest laurel forests — moss-covered til trees, constant drip from the canopy.
São Vicente
Vereda do Pico Branco (Porto Santo)
Climb Porto Santo's highest peak (450 m) through the only patch of indigenous forest left on the island.
Porto Santo
Parque Ecológico do Funchal — Ribeiro Frio Trail
Network of reforested mountain trails in Funchal's municipal ecological park above Monte. Unclassified — free entry, no Simplifica ticket required.
Funchal
Garajau to Caniço de Baixo Coastal Walk
Cliff-edge coastal walk past the Cristo Rei statue at Ponta do Garajau down to Caniço de Baixo. Mostly paved, big Atlantic views, no booking required.
Caniço
Pico do Facho Viewpoint Walk
Short, steep walk from Machico marina up to the 322 m Pico do Facho viewpoint, with views over Ponta de São Lourenço. Unclassified, free, no ticket.
Machico
Ponta do Pargo Coastal Walk (Boa Morte to the Lighthouse)
Unclassified clifftop walk along Madeira's western tip from Boa Morte viewpoint down to the Farol da Ponta do Pargo lighthouse. Big skies, terraced pasture, no IFCN ticket required.
Calheta
Pico das Torres
Off-trail scramble to Madeira's second-highest peak — only for experienced mountaineers; no marked path.
Santana
Vereda da Penha de Águia
Steep, demanding climb up the iconic 'Eagle Rock' between Faial and Porto da Cruz — short distance, brutal gradient.
Faial
Levada da Central da Ribeira da Janela
Tunnel-heavy levada along the wild Ribeira da Janela valley — five long tunnels, requires a headlamp and waterproofs.
Porto Moniz
Vereda da Achadas da Cruz
Short, very steep descent (or cable-car) to a tiny farming fajã on Madeira's western tip, 450 m below the cliff.
Porto Moniz
Vereda do Trompica
Forgotten footpath linking Curral das Freiras to Boaventura over the central ridge — wild, faint trail for experienced walkers.
Câmara de Lobos
Pico do Areeiro to Pico das Torres
Short out-and-back from PR1 to a side-summit of the central massif — same exposed ridges, fewer hikers.
Funchal
Für den ersten Tag
- Seilbahn nach Monte, zu Fuß oder mit dem Korbschlitten zurück
- Mercado dos Lavradores früh am Morgen, bevor die Kreuzfahrtschiffe kommen
- Sonnenuntergang in Câmara de Lobos mit einem Glas Poncha
Natur und Wandern
Die Klassiker sind Levada dos Balcões (leicht, 1,5 h), Levada do Caldeirão Verde (mittel, 5–6 h) und die Gratwanderung Pico do Arieiro – Pico Ruivo (schwer, 7 h).
Der Fanal-Lorbeerwald ist bei Nebel spektakulär, die Ponta de São Lourenço dagegen kahl, windig und ohne Schatten.
Wasser
Die Naturbecken von Porto Moniz und Seixal sind vulkanisch geformt und werden vom Atlantik gefüllt. Zum Baden mit Sand fährt man nach Machico, Calheta oder Porto Santo.
Wal- und Delfintouren starten ganzjährig aus Funchal und Calheta; die Sichtungsquote liegt hoch.
Häufige Fragen
Was lohnt sich bei Regen?
Was ist mit Kindern machbar?
Mehr in Essenziell
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