Activities

For athletes who love nature it is almost obligatory to go Trail Running in Madeira, on paths and mountain trails of varied, irregular or slippery surfaces. For athletes who are simultaneously nature lovers and run for pleasure, Trail Running in Madeira is the ideal activity. Trail Running is a technical course, on paths and mountain trails of varied, irregular or slippery surfaces. The trail competitions have different lengths and can be very demanding, therefore this activity is only for participants that are aware of their capabilities, and with the suitable physical and psychological abilities for the proposed routes. Every year Madeira hosts the MIUT - Madeira Island Ultra Trail, a mountain race that consists of different routes and challenge levels, with excellent participation from domestic and foreign athletes.

Doing Ropeslide in the Madeira Islands allows you to glide among the most beautiful mountains while enjoying all the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Sliding between the fantastic mountains of Madeira is a breathtaking experience. Madeira's rugged mountainous relief and the middle mountain landscapes, allow the use of paths of rare beauty and provide the enjoyment of a profound contact with nature through Ropeslide. Come to Madeira Archipelago to live this unique experience!

Madeira's relief invites you to an exciting rappelling adventure. Come practice this sport with the help of local professionals. It will be unforgettable! Madeira has excellent morphologic conditions so that your rappelling experience in this archipelago will be unforgettable. The favoured areas for this sport are the central mountain range, the northern cliffs and the sea cliffs. You can also count on the help of professionals from local companies that provide services for rappelling.

Discover the majestic landscape of Madeira through a 4x4 vehicle ride. We guarantee a unique motorized adventure that will be both exciting and memorable. And for fans of motorized alternatives, there are incredible routes for all-terrain vehicles. Discovering Madeira Island in a 4x4 vehicle, shows you know how to enjoy a different kind of adventure between cliffs and mountains in the middle of a rich and dense forest. The excitement of getting over natural obstacles to reach deserted, out-of-the-way spots will forever remain in the memory of all those who set out for adventure!

Walking along a levada is one of the most exciting experiences to have on the island. There are more than 3,000 km of irrigation channels that guide you through the most beautiful landscapes of the island! Coming to Madeira and not going for a walk alongside a "levada” or on a mountain trail, is missing one of the most exciting experiences that a hiker can have! Cultural and environmental factors have made walking along levadas one of Madeira’s most traditional and popular outdoor activities. The levadas are highly sought after throughout the year, both by residents and by visitors, who access the heart of the island this way. Usually open and on the ground, some levadas are “torn” into the rocks in abysses which are hundreds of feet deep, while others cross mountains from north to south, through tunnels that are hundreds of meters long. In these levadas you can enjoy the best views and benefit from genuine symbiosis between humans and Nature. There are more than 200 “levadas” surrounding the valleys and mountains, with a total of 3,000 km in the combined protected areas, including the Madeira Natural Park and the Funchal Ecological Park.

In Madeira and Porto Santo there are riding centres where you can enjoy this sport. You can also enjoy a relaxing horse ride accompanied by a guide. Horses are beautiful animals that fascinate both children and adults and provide memorable moments. During your stay in Madeira Archipelago, go horse riding in the equestrian centres of Madeira and Porto Santo, found in various localities and with experienced professionals. You can also enjoy a horse ride accompanied by an instructor. Some places where you can practice this activity are Caminho dos Pretos in Funchal, Santo da Serra and Estreito de Câmara de Lobos.

Paintball in Madeira offers you an adventure that involves fun, strategy, decision-making abilities, expertise and a great team spirit, in beautiful Madeiran scenery. Looking for an adventure sport that involves fun, strategy, decision-making capacity, expertise and a great team spirit? So come Paintball in Madeira! You will find a number of companies in Madeira that arrange paintball sessions, provide equipment and organize the entire competition. All you have to do is enjoy this fun adventure in the beautiful Madeiran landscape.

The Madeira Archipelago, with its large forest areas and mild temperatures, is the ideal setting for those who want to go orienteering. Come to Madeira to develop your sense of direction! For those who want to develop and refine their sense of direction, we invite you to do so on the Madeira Islands. Large forest areas and mild temperatures make this archipelago the ideal scenery for the practice of Orienteering. Here you will find a number of associations that promote and organize events throughout the year.

Don't miss a birdwatching tour of Madeira and admire sublime sea and land birds. Wherever you go, you will be well accompanied by birds as beautiful as they are rare. If you like to admire all kinds of birds, not only for its physical beauty but for its abilities and ingenuity, come to Madeira to take a birdwatching tour! In the Madeira Archipelago there are several areas classified as Biogenetic Reserve and Natural World Heritage, which generate numerous possibilities of observation of terrestrial or marine birds, some of them rare in the world. The variety and specificity of its ecosystem makes it an excellent spot for nesting and migrating birds, such as: The Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs madeirensis), Bis bis (Regulus ignicapillus madeirensis), The Papinho (Erithacus rubecula rubecula), The Lavandeira (Motacilla cinerea schmitzi), The Nun of Madeira (Pterodroma Madeira).

Feel all the adrenaline that the fast and technical track in Faial offers you. The fantastic landscape that surrounds the track completes this unique experience. Are you hooked on karting? Then do it on an ingenious racetrack, surrounded by a beautiful landscape in a cove on the northern coast of Madeira island. The Karting Track of Faial has a 1,040-metre track, which provides good doses of adrenaline along its fast and technical circuit. Several competitions related to karting and other sports are organized at this Karting Track. The competitions are properly regulated and can be arranged among groups of friends, companies, organizations. And for an even better finish, these competitions are awarded with trophies and certificates of attendance.

The Madeira Archipelago has excellent courses that allow you to play golf in scenery that looks like paradise, painted with the green of the mountains and the blue of the sea that stretches to the horizon. Do you dream of playing golf in scenery that looks like paradise, filled by the green of the mountains and the blue of the sea that stretches to the horizon? The Madeira Islands let you make this dream come true! On Madeira Island you can play on two different courses, Palheiro Golf and the Santo da Serra Golf Club, with 18 and 27 holes respectively, both renowned for their beautiful scenery. The neighbouring island of Porto Santo, 40km off Madeira, with a magnificent golden beach, offers a golf course with 18 holes, designed by Severiano Ballesteros.

Go geocaching in Madeira, going through the fantastic trails and enjoying the amazing landscape that the archipelago has to offer! For treasure hunting fans, geocaching in Madeira is almost a dream come true. All you need for this activity is a GPS or a Smartphone to go in search of the "geocaches" on the Madeira archipelago. Alone or with a group of friends, venture into the Madeira Islands to find the geocaches and on the way enjoy the beautiful scenery that these islands have to offer!

Take a bus tour in Madeira and let yourself be guided by professionals in a calm and relaxing ride in search of the most beautiful landscapes of the archipelago. Opt for a day tour guided by professionals, so you can visit different typical locations on the island in a comfortable way.
Go on a bus tour in Madeira. Don’t worry about driving and let yourself go on a calm and relaxing tour to discover the beautiful landscapes of Madeira.
There are several companies in Madeira that organize excursions, providing you with a relaxing ride in the hands of professionals.

For the adventurous who do not suffer from vertigo, we suggest you go climbing on the amazing cliffs of the Madeira Islands. The walls are solid due to the basaltic rock. In Madeira there are vast areas to explore by climbing. If you do classic climbing, venture out and open up new paths. The walls are very solid due to the basaltic rock all across Madeira Island. If you are a beginner you can always practice this sport with the help local professionals.

A bus ride with a 360 degree panoramic view is the ideal means of transport to get to know the historical part of the City of Funchal up to the City of Câmara de Lobos. On Madeira Island there are tourist buses that allow you to enjoy excellent city sightseeing tours. These double-decker buses give you the opportunity to enjoy the landscape with a 360 degree view. The tours are between the cities of Funchal and Câmara de Lobos and are accompanied by an audio-guide in several languages, explaining the history of the places and monuments as you pass. If you want, you can hop off at one of the stops to better enjoy the location and hop back on another of these buses simply by showing your ticket.

Feel an incredible dose of adrenaline while exploring a stream and overcoming its obstacles using different techniques. When canyoning in Madeira you will experience an incredible wave of adrenaline. This activity is an exciting challenge: to explore a stream or a steep watercourse. Vertical and amphibious obstacles are surmounted through various techniques like climbing, jumping, rappelling and swimming. Going down the streams, very abundant in the region, is a way to see undiscovered and untouched parts of the island. During summer the northern streams are the most appropriate, as the flows are high. During winter, however, we recommend the streams to the south, with gentler levels and quieter flows.

If you're the kind of person who enjoys life on wheels, we invite you to discover Madeira in this way - literally! Discover the pleasure of driving an all-terrain bike or motorcycle, along levadas, unpaved roads and obstacles in the forest of the island! You can rent a bicycle or motorcycle on Madeira and Porto Santo islands and discover the pleasure of riding over the rugged dirt tracks. The Downtown Funchal competition is held annually in the city centre, and is very exciting to watch.

The Madeira Islands provide the ideal conditions for Windsurfing: calm waters that provide beaches with better access to the sea, reduced waves and constant wind force. If you are a Windsurfing enthusiast, come to Madeira on your next vacation and enjoy all the conditions that the archipelago has to offer, including schools and clubs that will help you with equipment and practical lessons. Here you will find the ideal conditions for Windsurfing: calm sea on the south coast of the island that provides beaches with better access to the sea, reduced waves and constant wind force. Madeiran olympic windsurfer João Rodrigues is a live proof of the potentialities of Madeira as a windsurfing destination by winning, since 1995, several gold medals in the European Championship and World Championship.

Practice sailing on one of the several Nature Reserves of the Madeira Archipelago, and benefit not only from a wonderful experience, but also from all the advantages that this sport offers. Sailing is one of the most stimulating nautical activities you can find in the Archipelago of Madeira. Considered more a hobby rather than a sport, sailing brings countless benefits on both physical and psychological levels, when practiced in a natural environment. The good news is that during your stay in Madeira, you will not only find several unique places to practice this sport, but also clubs that will assist you on this adventure. We recommend you to do it in the Marine Protected Areas of Porto Santo or along the coast of Madeira Island.

Known as the Hawaii of the Atlantic, the Madeira Islands meet all the necessary conditions for an adrenaline rush while surfing its excellent waves! The amazing waves of Madeira have led many to consider it the Hawaii of the Atlantic. Here you will find all the conditions necessary for surfing and we recommend that you be careful, especially if you're a beginner. The Madeira Islands are fortunate to get swells from the North Atlantic and all kinds of waves, from point breaks to reef breaks. These excellent waves are also generated by the rugged and steep coast and the rocks on the seabed, causing great water outflows. The coasts of Jardim do Mar, Paul do Mar, Porto da Cruz and São Vicente offer challenging waves that call for a day of surfing. In some of these locations there are schools that will ease first timers into this sport.

Come to Madeira and experience the sensation of "walking on water", practicing Stand Up Paddle along the coast of the islands. What if you could have the experience of “walking on water" in a heavenly destination? In Madeira Archipelago, Stand Up Paddle (also known as SUP) gives you the opportunity to have a similar experience! This sport, that is done standing, with a board and a paddle, allows you to have a relaxing nautical experience while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the islands of this archipelago. This peaceful sport is great for the whole family. There are several schools in Madeira Archipelago providing lessons for beginners and equipment for the experienced in this sport.

Come beat your personal record of sport fishing in the beautiful waters of the Atlantic, where in addition to migratory routes, you will find several tuna species. Are you a sport fishing enthusiast who wants to experience your sport in places where records are broken? Then come to Madeira. Just 5 minutes from the pier, there are magnificent fishing zones where the water depth reaches 1,000 meters. From the months of June to September, the Madeiran waters are favoured by migratory routes of many species, such as the blue marlin and the bigeye tuna.. In these waters you can also find white tuna, albacore, bluefin tuna, blue shark, hammerhead shark, barracuda, skipjack and swordfish. To help you, there are experienced teams and boats that are very well equipped for sport fishing in the Atlantic, which can be found in the Region’s marinas.

Take a boat trip in the Madeira Archipelago and enjoy the beautiful landscape of these islands. On this trip you can watch various marine species and spend a relaxing day at the beach. If you love the sea, the Madeira Archipelago will offer you an unforgettable experience on the Atlantic Ocean. You can take boat trips on the coast line of Madeira and Porto Santo, where you may enjoy the entire landscape of the islands from the sea. During the trip you can also watch various marine species. On board a boat you can also relax and spend a day at the beach in the middle of the ocean. How about a trip between Madeira and Porto Santo? Or maybe even to Desertas Islands? In this corner of the Atlantic there is, literally, a sea of opportunities to choose from and explore.

Come to Madeira for a close encounter with some of the 28 species of cetaceans that inhabit or visit these waters. Who knows? You might have the chance to swim with dolphins! During your visit to Madeira it is practically required that you take a boat ride at sea for cetacean observation. Its excellent location allows viewing of these species throughout the year. Experience a close encounter with some of the 28 species of cetaceans that inhabit or visit the waters of Madeira Islands. During a boat ride, it is very common to find: The common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) The spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis) The Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truincatu) The Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) The Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) The Bryde's Whale (Balaenoptera edeni) Among the turtle family, the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) is the most common.

Madeira is one of the best locations in Europe for diving. Here you will find several schools and businesses that will help you have an unforgettable underwater experience. Enjoy your stay at Madeira Islands and practice diving in one of the best locations in Europe for this sport. The temperate, crystal clear waters of Madeira, allow you to dive in its natural reserves and observe cnidarians such as anemones, black corals, fish such as groupers, morays, mantas and even monk seals, the rarest seal in the world. In addition to diving in Caniço, Garajau, Machico, Caniçal and Santa Cruz, we recommend you go to Madalena do Mar where you will find, between 21 and 30 metres deep, 180 metres from the coast, the "Bowbelle", a ship that sank there a few years ago and is now an artificial reef.

Coasteering combines rappel, climbing and jumping into the sea, in a single activity that allows you to find the cliffs overlooking the bays, the caves and the hidden nooks with translucent water that exist in the island. Who says you can't combine rappel, climbing and jumping into the sea into a single activity? We present to you Coastering, a recent outdoor activity in Madeira Island, that combines these three activities in a route along the coast line. This is a unique way to enjoy the steep cliffs overlooking the bays, the caves and the hidden nooks with translucent water that exist on the island. We suggest you to check out the Nature Reserve of Ponta de São Lourenço and enjoy your Coasteering journey, allowing you to see the natural beauties of Baía d'Abra.

Madeira island offers excellent locations along its coastline that offer great conditions for the practice of this sport activity, combined with the excellent weather, atmospheric and oceanographic conditions (an extensive coastline and frequent ripples), characteristic of the island. In general terms, there are several locations suitable for the practice of Bodyboarding all year long, most of which are located next to low density coastal areas, which provide good accesses and support infrastructures. There are currently a few surfing/bodyboarding schools in the island which provide good services to all lovers of this sport activity, whether amateurs or professionals.

In the Archipelago of Madeira you can rent a boat and enjoy a maritime experience, personalized to your tastes. In the Archipelago of Madeira you can rent a boat and enjoy a maritime experience, personalized to your preferences. Have the freedom to choose from the available boats and rent, with or without a crew.
Madeira is the ideal choice for nautical activities lovers. These islands provide very diverse maritime attractions that will make your trip an unforgettable experience.

If you have an adventurous soul and for you the sky is the limit, dare to discover Madeira from above while hang gliding and paragliding! Hang gliding and paragliding are among the most appealing activities of Madeira Island due to its morphological features. From the sky you can enjoy a fantastic air view of both the central mountainous massif and the maritime coast of Madeira island. Throughout the island there are great places to engage in these activities, such as Pico da Cruz, Madalena do Mar viewpoint and the areas of Porto da Cruz and Prazeres. If you lack experience, you may choose to jump in tandem – accompanied by a pilot who ensures that you enjoy all the adrenaline in perfect safety.

Doing Ropeslide in the Madeira Islands allows you to glide among the most beautiful mountains while enjoying all the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Sliding between the fantastic mountains of Madeira is a breathtaking experience. Madeira's rugged mountainous relief and the middle mountain landscapes, allow the use of paths of rare beauty and provide the enjoyment of a profound contact with nature through Ropeslide. Come to Madeira Archipelago to live this unique experience!