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Funchal & the Island of Madeira

Discover an extraordinary island
Funchal | Stay in or near Madeira’s appealing capital.
Subtropical landscape | Discover peninsulas, jungle, laurel forests, and wild beaches.
Year-round warmth | Madeira is an ideal destination in any month.
Distinctive accommodation | Choose between three typically Madeiran hotels.
Rewarding routes | Walk lesser-known paths and explore Madeira’s main sights.
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 3 dinners
    7 breakfasts
  • route notes
  • GPS navigation
  • 7 days' category C car hire
  • Funchal & the Island of Madeira
    Discover an extraordinary island
  • Levada do Rei
  • Funchal
  • Funchal local market
  • Funchal town
  • Funchal wine
  • Ponta do Pargo
  • Portela
  • Porto Moniz
  • Pride of Madeira Echium Fastuosum
  • Fontes circuit
  • Seixal
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 3 dinners
    7 breakfasts
  • route notes
  • GPS navigation
  • 7 days' category C car hire

Holiday information

An easy walking holiday on Madeira

Madeira’s abundance and contrasts of subtropical landscapes are a magnetic pull for walkers, nature enthusiasts, and those keen to explore an island of jaw-dropping beauty at any time of the year. It’s an island where nature reigns supreme, and on this single-centre holiday, you can choose from classic and lesser-known routes, including its levada walks, an ancient network of waterways carved through misty forests, jungle, and UNESCO-listed laurel forest.


Your base is in or near Funchal, the island’s captivating capital, which exudes the feel of mainland Portugal and where you have a choice of three different, distinctively Madeiran hotels: a traditional quinta, a historic hotel, or a former hunting lodge turned five-star hotel. From here, you’re free to explore its remote, suspended-in-time mountain villages, wild beaches, and waterfall-laden routes as well as to discover the vast array of thriving, exotic flora brought in from across the globe by explorers.

The island’s a mere 35 miles long and 14 miles wide, but packed within is a landscape of startling contrasts, which, thanks to your included hire car, you can discover with walks for all levels and plenty of sightseeing opportunities. Everything is enhanced by a delightful climate, the chance to dip into traditional wine lodges, and to sample a cuisine that reflects the island’s rich heritage.



Walking & more

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights. There's no fixed itinerary, so take your pick of our suggested walking routes, sightseeing, and driving tours as the mood takes you. With your hire car, the possibilities are endless, so you can get to know the quieter, western side of Madeira as well as some of the island’s better-known attractions, including the colourful markets and lush botanical gardens of the spirited capital.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    As you explore this Atlantic island’s coast, interior and mountains – all of which have their own microclimate – you should be prepared for variations of temperature, and for rain – Madeira has high levels of humidity. There are flowers all year, but April, May and June are particularly colourful.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 15 15 16 16 18 20 22 23 23 21 18 16
    mm 112 93 75 49 30 18 9 12 38 82 110 108
  • Choice of routes: 8km to 12.5km
    Camacha to Funchal (grade 1-2): 11.5km, 4hrs; ascent 180m/descent 300m
    From Camacha, join the Levada da Serra do Faial where you walk through woodland of pine and eucalyptus to reach the historic village of Monte. You are rewarded with fine sea views, but the best is saved until last: at the cable car station you can gaze across the Bay of Funchal before descending into the capital (pay locally).

    Levada do Barreiro (grade 2): 8km, 3.5hrs; ascent/descent 400m
    Leaving your car at the Parque Ecológico do Funchal interpretation centre and café, head across the hillside to join the Levada do Barreiro, and follow the exhilarating path alongside it up a deep valley, reaching a viewpoint over the Salto do Patagarro waterfall at the top. Unlike most levadas, this one is rarely level, instead carrying water rapidly down from the high mountains towards Funchal, so there is a mix of flatter sections and steps, making it more challenging than most levada walks, but you can turn around at any point; on the return you see Funchal emerge below you as you descend.

    Circuit above Fontes (grade 2): 8.5km, 3.5hrs; ascent/descent 405m
    From the village of Fontes in the centre-south of the island, above the Ribeira Brava valley, this circuit heads up through eucalyptus forests past the Trompica forestry post, to emerge on high moorland with views opening up over the high central mountains with their deep valleys, as well as the Paúl da Serra massif and plateau to the west. Enjoy the changing panorama as the track swings round to descend back to Fontes, with the south coast ahead of you.

    Levada Nova: 12.5km (grade 1-2), 4.5hrs; ascent/descent 265m
    This is a delightful circuit from the village of Santo da Serra, descending to join the Levada Nova as it heads out along the forested valley towards the coast, where views open up right down to the sea and the Desertas Islands in the distance, before the levada ends at the Capela dos Cardais. Follow roads for 3km back up to Santo da Serra, perhaps stopping off at the golf club for a drink with a fabulous view over the east of the island.

    São Lourenço Peninsula (grade 2): 7.5km, 3hrs; ascent/descent 450m
    This route takes in the breathtaking scenery of the São Lourenço Peninsula, revealing rocks of astonishing shapes and colours, as well as fossilised coral and seashells, as you explore the island's treeless easternmost tip.

    Levada do Rei (grade 1): 10.5km, 3.5hrs; ascent/descent 50m
    Follow the Levada do Rei – the King’s Levada – as it winds into a deep valley on the north side of the island, introducing you to classic levada walking with sweeping views, steep forested slopes, a very short tunnel, and a waterfall cascading over the levada path. Adventurous souls take a dip in the stream when they reach the source of the levada!

    Ponta do Pargo circuit (grade 1-2): 12.5km, 5hrs; ascent/descent 345m
    Explore the island's westernmost tip on a circular walk that follows a combination of panoramic country lanes and a levada. Starting at Ponta do Pargo, you ascend to the Levada Nova to walk along passing through copses of date palm and eucalyptus, then descend past a solitary white chapel set high above the sea. Nearby, a short stroll will take you to a cliff-top viewpoint for more astonishing views. Shady pine forests and small hamlets of traditional Madeiran houses line the hillsides as you return to your car. Afterwards, we recommend that you drive to the nearby lighthouse sited at the island's westernmost point, where there is a small exhibition and a wonderful viewpoint. Ask politely, and you may even be allowed to climb the tower to watch the seabirds soaring above the waves.
    Camacha to Funchal: 11.5km
    Camacha to Funchal
    Levada do Barreiro: 8km
    Levada do Barreiro
    Circuit above Fontes: 8.5km
    Circuit above Fontes
    Levada Nova: 12.5km
    Levada Nova
    São Lourenço Peninsula: 7.5km
    São Lourenço Peninsula
    Levada do Rei: 10.5km
    Levada do Rei
    Ponta do Pargo circuit: 12.5km
    Ponta do Pargo circuit
  • Tour the capital or explore with your hire car


    Funchal
    It is well worth spending a day amid the old colonial houses of the capital, Funchal. Here, you have an array of intriguing places to visit, and we provide notes for a walking tour to make sure you get the best out of your visit, including a trip to the Mercado dos Lavradores, the town’s colourful and lively fruit and vegetable market. Other places not to be missed are the Zona Velha (Old Quarter), with its many bustling shops and welcoming cafés; the unassuming cathedral of 1485; the Museum of Art; and, of course, Blandy’s wine lodge (closed Sundays) to learn about the history of the island’s world-famous fortified wine before savouring a sample or two from the leading producer.

    Visit Monte and its botanical gardens. The best – and most thrilling – way to return to Funchal is via the famous Monte wicker toboggan run, whose white-flannelled drivers will take you (quite quickly!) down to the outskirts of the town – the perfect way to complete your exploration of this astonishing island.
     

    Seixal Beach & Porto Moniz
    Madeira’s black-sand beach is made all the more idyllic with its backdrop of greenery-topped mountains and crystalline waters lapping the shores. Nearby, you’ll find the natural pools at Porto Moniz, formed by volcanic rocks that allow salt water to run in and out.
     

    Further afield
    Head up to the hillside towards Monte, former retreat for the wealthy islanders, from where it’s easy to get up to the central mountain region.

    Descend towards the north coast where you head to the far eastern tip, the São Lourenço Peninsula, which is unlike any other part of the island with its multi- coloured cliffs.

    You can visit Machico, the first capital of the island, Santo da Serra and Camacha, the centre of the wicker industry on the island where the traditional craftsmanship is still very much alive today.

Accommodation

We offer a choice of three different hotels, each rooted in Madeira’s history and heritage, from a traditional quinta to a converted fish market.
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter

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  • Quinta de la Casa Branca, 7 nights: 01 January 2026 - 31 December 2026

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price *
    1 - 28 Feb 2026 from £1458
    1 - 31 Mar 2026 from £1503
    1 - 30 Apr 2026 from £1558
    1 - 31 May 2026 from £2105
    1 - 30 Jun 2026 from £1760
    1 - 31 Jul 2026 from £1995
    1 - 31 Aug 2026 from £2005
    1 - 30 Sep 2026 from £1900
    1 - 31 Oct 2026 from £1795
    1 - 30 Nov 2026 from £1465
    1 - 24 Dec 2026 from £1465

    * Final price is subject to change due to the customisable nature of our holidays and is dependent on accommodation availability for the dates selected. We will contact you to confirm the final price. Single supplements are applicable on many of our holidays. Please contact us for full details.

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Price includes: 7 days' category C car hire (eg VW Polo or similar with manual transmission and a 1.2L or 1.4L engine, depending on vehicle)

    Driving time between airport and hotel: 0h25

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • 7 nights staying at Casa Velha do Palheiro: 01 January 2026 - 31 December 2026

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price
    1 - 28 Feb 2026 from £1438
    1 - 31 Mar 2026 from £1648
    1 - 30 Apr 2026 from £1743
    1 - 31 May 2026 from £1883
    1 - 30 Jun 2026 from £1898
    1 - 31 Jul 2026 from £2063
    1 - 31 Aug 2026 from £1863
    1 - 30 Sep 2026 from £1898
    1 - 31 Oct 2026 from £1793
    1 - 30 Nov 2026 from £1518
    1 - 24 Dec 2026 from £1598

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Price includes: 7 days' category C car hire (eg VW Polo or similar with manual transmission and a 1.2L or 1.4L engine, depending on vehicle)

    Driving time between airport and hotel: 0h25

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • 7 nights staying at Pestana Churchill Bay: 01 January 2026 - 31 December 2026

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price
    1 - 31 Jan 2026 from £900
    1 - 28 Feb 2026 from £918
    1 - 31 Mar 2026 from £1160
    1 - 30 Apr 2026 from £1305
    1 - 31 May 2026 from £1375
    1 - 30 Jun 2026 from £1375
    1 - 31 Jul 2026 from £1750
    1 - 31 Aug 2026 from £1595
    1 - 30 Sep 2026 from £1465
    1 - 31 Oct 2026 from £1175
    1 - 30 Nov 2026 from £905
    1 Nov - 24 Dec 2026 from £1020
    1 - 24 Dec 2026 from £915

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Price includes: 7 days' category C car hire (eg VW Polo or similar with manual transmission and a 1.2L or 1.4L engine, depending on vehicle)

    Driving time between airport and hotel: 0h25

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):

    Funchal

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Lisbon. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Belfast Intl. - Funchal jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Funchal jet2,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Funchal easyJet,  jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Nottingham East Midlands - Funchal jet2,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Funchal easyJet,  jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Funchal jet2,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Funchal jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Funchal jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Funchal British Airways,  easyJet,  TUI 
    Gatwick - Funchal (via Lisbon) TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Funchal British Airways 
    Heathrow - Funchal (via Lisbon) TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Funchal Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Funchal jet2,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Funchal easyJet,  jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Manchester - Funchal (via Lisbon) TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Funchal jet2,  TUI 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Lisbon. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Portugal, Madeira and the Azores, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is Portuguese. The currency is the Euro. Portuguese time is the same as GMT/UTC. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on the same time as BST.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Funchal & the Island of Madeira
7 nights
Price from £1,458pp
Funchal & the Island of Madeira
7 nights
Single-centre walking with car
Grade: Easy-to-moderate
Price from £1,458pp
Last fetch time is : 3/13/2026 7:49:38 PM

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