One island that was calling us to visit again. Four days to explore. Sweet memories to reminisce about and infinite new possibilities to make new ones. Madeira!
Three years ago, we visited Madeira for the first time – and we kept it mostly to ourselves. We didn’t share much back then, just a few social media stories and the article with our favorite places on the island. It was very tough to choose just a handful.
This time, we returned with a mission: to revisit the places we fell in love with and to discover new corners of the island that had slipped past us the first time. It’s safe to say Madeira continues to surprise and inspire.
Here’s a look at how we spent our second round of island wandering – our itinerary day by day, photo by photo.
Day 1 on Madeira: Coastal vibes & mountain views
Santa Cruz
A peaceful seaside town with authentic charm. This time, we stayed there so we could explore different views and the cobblestone streets at different times of the day. Arriving later in the evening, the town didn’t disappoint us, and we were well fed in one of the local restaurants.
Santa Cruz is home to one of Madeira’s oldest churches, built in the 16th century!
Cristo Rei
Madeira’s own Christ the King statue, arms wide open above Garajau. We stopped the car at the nearby parking and walked down the stairs for dramatic views of the statue and the ocean.
It was actually built before the one in Rio de Janeiro!
PR11 Levada dos Balcões & Ribeiro Frio
This is a short levada walk through lush forest leading to sweeping mountain views.
You might spot the rare birds if you’re lucky! The best part is that this is one of the most accessible hikes, offering amazing views nonetheless. Beware of the occasional slippery, muddy spots.
Praia do Faial
We couldn’t resist but to visit this beach again. A quiet, dramatic pebble beach. Although it is known for great surfing on breezy days, we didn’t meet anyone besides a few cats.
Porto da Cruz
Porto da Cruz is a cozy village framed by volcanic cliffs. Last time we were playing brave with the waves splashing all over the public natural pools, but this time we indulged in drinking lemonades with ocean views. Many people visit the town because of the sugarcane rum distillery, which is one of the last steam-powered ones in Europe.
Miradouro do Caniçal
One of the best things about having a car on Madeira is that you can stop in as many picturesque viewpoints as you like. Miradouro do Caniçal is an awe-inspiring view over golden cliffs and turquoise sea. We stayed here longer than planned – it’s hard to leave a view like that.
Day 2: Wind, hikes & west coast wonders
Pico do Arieiro
Today we were lucky with the weather, the fog and clouds from the last day were gone, and we finally got to Pico do Arieiro. It is one of the island’s highest peaks and the starting point for the famous PR1 trail, leading to Madeira’s highest Pico Ruivo.
At 1,818 m, it often sits above the clouds – surreal doesn’t even begin to cover it. We hiked the 1.2 km open section despite wild winds trying to stop us at every step. It was definitely quite the adventure and also a highlight.
Miradouro do Ninho da Manta
One of the most dramatic viewpoints on PR1, layered with mountain ridges and swirling clouds.
Don’t forget to bring a jacket – it gets chilly! It was heaven to make hyperlapses there – clouds crawling on rugged peaks, flying high near the sun, and diving straight into valleys. Those views and the feelings they gave us are hard to forget.
Pedra Rija Viewpoint (on PR1)
Another viewpoint with stunning landscape and panoramic views from the trail. Nature’s drama at its best.
Miradouro de Arco de São Jorge
Cliffs, ocean, and endless blue. Does it get any better than the postcard-worthy photos? Of course, when you have an improvised picnic with those views!
Boaventura
We found this quiet hillside village on the map by accident, it seemed far from the tourist buzz. It felt like we stumbled into a secret.
Miradouro de São Cristóvão
We drove downhill to a lesser-known viewpoint with a local restaurant and a cafe nearby. We’d go back just for the views, but next time we might even try a drink and a bite.
Porto Moniz
Back again for golden hour at the lava pools. Now we will be staying here for 2 nights, absorbing the magic of this town. Our salty smiles can be seen from the balcony.
Day 3: Forest magic & reflections
This day brought a wave of nostalgia. On our first trip, Madeira felt like a secret. Now it’s more popular – and while we’re happy others are discovering its beauty, some places have definitely gotten busier.
Fanal Forest
A mystical laurel forest often shrouded in fog. Today, it didn’t disappoint either, and even with the fog that often got thicker, we met many more visitors enjoying the forest. The place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that probably inspired many movies.
Rabaçal Viewpoint
On our way back from the forest, the clouds cleared up, and we saw many cars stopped at what seemed to be the beginning of a hike. We stopped and looked around – we were high on a hill, overlooking deep valleys and lush levadas. We breathed in and out the wind and felt so grateful for views like that and the freedom of endless meadows, valleys, and zero people in sight.
Gato Legal (Ponta do Pargo)
A cozy little café, recommended by a friend. It was the perfect brunch (and time to warm up from the cold wind) stop. Despite the name, it’s not cat-themed – but it does serve delicious vegan burgers!
Achadas da Cruz
This was one of our favorite places on our first visit to Madeira. We took the teleferico downhill and enjoyed the sea promenade and the dramatic cliffs, walking almost alone.
Today, our plans to enjoy Achadas da Cruz again were interrupted. The weather and some maintenance works had closed the road leading to the teleferico’s upper station. Even with that, there were so many cars parked more than a kilometer away from it. We decided to walk a bit and enjoyed some cloudy views, but soon realized that going back up would be harder, so why not do it before it started raining.
Porto Moniz
We went back to our base to enjoy some views from above on the road, some sweet delights on our terrace, and the picturesque walks. It felt a bit cold to try the natural lava pools.
Day 4: Bananas, bridges & beautiful goodbyes
Our last full day was all about sunshine, scenic strolls, and tropical vibes.
Jardim do Mar
We couldn’t skip walking the cobble streets and stairs of the dreamy seaside village with so much charm. The weather this time made it one of the sunniest corners of the island.
Paul do Mar
The place we stayed on our last visit was still laid-back and full of character. We walked around the colorful houses and took a slow morning that turned into lunch at a restaurant with a sunny terrace by the sea.
Rota da Banana
Rota do Banana is exactly as it sounds – you get the chance to wander among banana plantations on a scenic trail. It’s a short route but definitely magical. Madeira’s bananas are smaller, sweeter, and – dare we say – better.
Madalena do Mar
A beautiful discovery of the day was the village of Madalena do Mar – a lush, tropical village framed by cliffs and plantations. Offering bananas and beauty at every corner, as well as some paragliders skillfully landing on the beach in front.
Ponta do Sol
The “sun point” of Madeira proved it deserved its name. It’s very easy to fall in love with that place – charming architecture, a pier with great views, and a big tunnel that takes you to an old bridge and magical views.
A hidden waterfall (Cascata do Mito) that you can access through the rocky beach or see from above after a short hike from the tunnel. The sound of falling water is relaxing, and they say sunsets there are pure magic!
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Where we stayed on Madeira
To experience Madeira from different angles, we split our stay between two fantastic locations.
Santa Cruz (2 nights)
A charming coastal town near the airport – perfect for easing into island life. We loved the ocean promenade and the calm, sleepy vibe of early mornings. We stayed at Residencial Santo António.
Porto Moniz (2 nights)
Tucked into the dramatic northwest coast, this town is famous for its natural volcanic pools. Staying here gave us front-row seats to crashing waves and golden sunsets. Our accommodation was Pérola Views Inn.
Thinking of booking an ‘alojamento local’?
It may seem like a tempting and sometimes even budget-friendly option – but it also comes with a set of complications, especially related to sustainability and its impact on local communities. We wrote more about this in our article for the Sustainable for the Future Foundation. Worth reading if you’re planning your own visit!
Getting around Madeira
Renting a car was one of the best decisions we made for this trip. We booked ours through DiscoverCars and couldn’t have been happier with both the car and the service.
Madeira’s magic is scattered all over the island, and public transport can’t always take you to the quiet, off-the-beaten-path places that make it special. Having our own car gave us total freedom to explore tiny villages, remote viewpoints, and last-minute detours.
Highly recommend it if you want to make the most of your time!
Until next time, Madeira…
We came back to Madeira because it felt like a little secret we once held close. It’s no longer secret, but it’s still ours – and maybe now, it can be a little bit yours too.
Obrigado!
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