Best Activities in Madeira: snorkel, canyoning, hiking, scuba diving...

The archipelago of Madeira is an ideal paradise destination for a holiday in nature. To begin with, it is important to know that the archipelago is composed of two main inhabited islands: the island of Madeira and the island of Porto Santo.

Visitors tend to spend most of their time on the former, also known as Pérola do Atlântico because of all the things to see and do on Madeira. In this article I will mainly talk about the activities you shouldn't miss out on by compiling the most interesting and varied adventures this small island has to offer.

If you are a lover of hiking and you like to be in nature, you should know that Madeira Island offers a unique opportunity to enjoy this activity. Considered as one of the best Madeira tours from Funchal, you will find in the city numerous local companies offering this kind of experience.

The destination, duration and many other details will depend on the company you hire. However, many local companies offer excursions to places such as Pico Ariero or Pico Ruivo, the highest peaks in Madeira and from where you get the most incredible views imaginable.

Keep in mind that the hikes to Pico Ruivo or Pico Ariero are classified as moderate, so you need to have a certain level of fitness to do them. If you are looking for easier hikes, consider booking a trip to destinations such as the Rabaçal area or similar.

All those wishing to go hiking or mountaineering in Madeira should bear in mind the essential tips for safe hiking. At the same time, and regardless of your level of experience, it is highly recommended that you hire an organised excursion to do the activity with expert guides

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Canyoning is another outdoor activity for which Madeira is the perfect destination. Canyoning enthusiasts will discover incredible landscapes with routes and descents designed for different levels of difficulty.

If you can combine canyoning with someof the Jeep safaris from Funchal you are sure to enjoy a perfect day of adventure on the island.

Madeira is an island with a rugged terrain, which translates into numerous high mountains and canyons with impressive waterfalls. Cañoning in Madeira involves exploring areas of the island such as Porto Moniz - Rabaçal and San Vicente, all of which are famous for their impressive waterfalls.

Regardless of your level of experience, I recommend taking this adventure on an organised tour so that you can be assisted by an expert guide and have transport to and from Funchal and the exploration area.

As with many of the other activities on this list, I recommend that my fellow travellers be very cautious and follow general safety advice when canyoning in Madeira.

Bookings should be made in advance so that you can secure your place for the day you want to go on the adventure.

This recommendation is especially important if you are travelling to Madeira with friends or family and everyone wants to join in the adventure.

Madeira's beauty and appeal as a tourist destination goes beyond its mountainous landscapes and includes the entire coastline, a series of beautiful beaches and stunning marine wildlife.

Consequently, enjoying a boat trip in Madeira is another activity that I recommend putting at the top of your list of priorities.

In Funchal and other major cities in Madeira you will find numerous local companies offering this type of experience in different times, formats and styles.

Boat trips are also one of the best ways to see dolphins and whales in Madeira, an activity that is often combined with organised excursions.

If you go to Madeira during the summer you will find that it is possible to snorkel in the area and swim in the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean surrounded by these beautiful creatures.

Although the specifics of the excursion may vary depending on the company you hire for the experience, in most cases the tours usually take between 3 to 4 hours to complete. This means that you will easily be able to combine this tour with other listed activities, even if you are travelling to the island for a short holiday.

Whether you are a cycling enthusiast or a professional, it is good to know that Madeira is a cycling destination in almost any season of the year you choose to travel.

Even during the winter months of December to February, the mild temperatures allow you to enjoy your cycling holiday.

In addition to the good weather, variety is another factor that makes Madeira the perfect cycling destination. If this is your choice, you are sure to have the opportunity to cycle many different routes, including both road and mountain biking.

You will find asphalt trails with routes that offer spectacular views of the city and mountain trails that are divided according to the level of difficulty.

For example, the Ruta dos Picos is a trail of more than 17 kilometres recommended for experienced users; the route from Arriero to Ruivo is of moderate difficulty, equally recommended for experienced users; while the Ruta de Ribera da Janela, although long at 9.3 kilometres in length, is easier to ride, despite being quite long.

Organising a cycling tour in Madeira is quite easy, as you can find local companies in Funchal that offer bike rental services to travellers, as well as companies that organise organised tours.

If you decide to go it alone, some popular options for bike hire in Madeira are:

• Happy Bikes
• E-Bike Madeira
• Freeride

Another experience that is totally worthwhile is a guided tour of Funchal. Located on the south coast of Madeira Island, this city is the capital not only of the small island but of the whole archipelago.

Funchal is a wonderfully balanced system where you can experience some of the island's plant life, stunning scenery, architecture and people.

Guided tours of Funchal are offered by several local companies and come in different formats to suit every style of traveller. I recommend studying the different options and booking in advance the ones that appeal to you the most. Some of the organised tours you can find in Funchal include:

• Walking tours through the old town of Funchal, an experience designed to explore the medieval centre of the city and get to know the most emblematic old buildings.

• Gastronomic tours, which combine a walking tour through the old town with a tasting of local products in different establishments.

• Basket cart tours, the basket cart rides in Funchal, a traditional Madeiran activity enjoyed by tourists and locals alike, can be done during your trip to the city.

The best part is that most of these tours are short excursions that you can easily combine with other activities on the list; for a more complete holiday and to enjoy your stay in Madeira to the fullest.

The archipelago of Madeira is the ideal place for all kinds of water activities such as surfing, scuba diving and snorkelling. Its privileged location in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean gives the place a rich biodiversity and an average temperature of 21 degrees Celsius.

In addition to this, it offers excellent visibility due to its crystal clear waters... Diving activities in Funchal are, therefore, one of the most demanded by tourists visiting the island for the first time.

You will find several local companies offering diving experiences off the coast of Madeira that include both expert guiding and the necessary preparation equipment.

While I always recommend my travelling friends to book these excursions, some tourists who know the island and visit it on a regular basis decide to go on a diving trip on their own. If this is your case and you have enough experience some of the best dive sites in Madeira are:

• Porto Santo: the second most important island of the archipelago has an excellent visibility of approximately 40 metres deep, you will also find the wreck of the Madeirense, a ship sunk in 2001.
• Garajau Nature Reserve: The reserve attracts divers from all over the world and covers some 7km of coastline. The grouper fish that inhabit these waters are so accustomed to the presence of divers that they will let you get close.
• Reis Magos: Located on Madeira Island this dive site is famous for its abundant marine life including numerous toadfish and seahorses. Night dives are very common in this area of Madeira.
• Ponta de São Lourenço: The Sao Laurenco Reserve is worth a visit for the geological richness of the area. If you want to see the famous black corals up close, swim among barracuda fish and octopus include it on your list.
• Baixa da Agulha: located in the Desertas Islands Nature Reserve, you will have to take a boat trip from Funchal to get to this part of the archipelago but the trip is totally worth it.

Known as the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, Madeira's impressive botanical garden is located in the town of Monte, situated on one of the high hills that border the ancient city.

The best way to get to this spot on the island is by taking the Madeira cable car, whose station drops you off very close to the entrance to the Garden.

You will have the opportunity to fly over the city at an altitude of 560 metres for a straight line of approximately 3,200 metres. You will be able to observe Madeira from the skies on a journey that takes about 20 minutes on average.

The Madeira cable car operates every day of the year from 09h00 until a final boarding at 17:45. Tickets cost approximately €18 for a return trip.

Although the trip itself is an exciting adventure, the botanical tour will be a different way to discover the hidden beauty of Madeira in a 100% controlled environment that prioritises the proper conservation of the island's plant species.

It is also an excellent family activity to do if you are going to Madeira with children, as the place is characterised by its impressive botanical collection resulting in a visit that is educational, didactic and fun in equal proportions.

Madeira is the name by which the archipelago of several islands is known. Therefore, travellers looking for a more complete experience should consider a trip to the Ilhas Desertas from Madeira in their travel plans.

The Desertas Islands of Madeira are a group of small inhabited islands where the local flora and fauna can be seen at their wildest. The small islands together form a nature reserve where the exploitation of the flora and fauna is strictly forbidden.

Travel to the islands to see the exotic local vegetation, and spot birds of different species that you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the world, so get some good binoculars.

However, if you're a photography enthusiast, make sure you bring your camera, as this area of Madeira is famous for being one of the few places in the world where you can see the monk seal.

There are a number of local companies in town that offer this type of experience, with boat transport to and from Funchal. If your trip is going to last several days, for example 7 days in Madeira or more, don't hesitate to book a day for this fun excursion.

Canoeing or kayaking on Madeira Island is exciting and fun. However, unlike other locations, canoeing on Madeira Island is not done in the river but rather in the blue sea waters surrounding the island.

Hiring an organised excursion is the best way to undertake this type of experience, as the organising company provides the traveller with everything needed for the adventure including safety equipment and canoes, transport to and from the island, and an expert guide accompanies the group throughout the trip.

The most positive point is that these are short excursions, considered among the best tours in Funchal. You can easily combine the canoe trip with other types of experiences included in this list. Food and beverages are not usually included.

Finally, while it is true that the location may change depending on the company you hire for the experience, the most popular locations include the following destinations: Ponta de São Lourenço, Cabo Girão Nature Reserve and Garajau Nature Reserve.

Paragliding is a fun and interesting activity that is on the bucket list of many travellers. If you are going to Madeira on your next holiday, you should know that there are several local companies on the island that offer this type of experience.

The companies in charge will give you a short talk where they explain in detail what the experience will be like and provide you with all the necessary safety equipment: helmet, goggles and others. On the day of your adventure, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, such as sports shoes or boots and comfortable trousers that are not too baggy.

You will be able to experience Madeira from the sky accompanied by an expert guide on a short flight. Please note that many details of the experience may vary depending on the company you hire and you should also consider that the starting point of the flights may change depending on the season and the prevailing weather.

Paragliding on Madeira Island is a short adventure that usually takes about 2 hours to complete.

Most companies offer direct pick-up from hotels in Funchal so you don't have to worry about transport either. This alternative is ideal for combining your air adventure on the island with many of the other integrated activities featured in this list.