Madeira · SELF-GUIDED TOURS
13 reviewed
The island is fifty-seven kilometres end to end, so a self-guided tours here can cover more ground than the map suggests. These 13 are the ones to look at first, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits.
Sunrise hike over Madeira’s highest peaks with door-to-door transfer from Funchal and Caniço, self-guided trail with instructions.
“Such a beautiful way to start the morning!! Detailed instructions given before pickup, and on the day so you feel safe and ready for the hike!! Fantastic driver with loads of information about the hike, Funchal and Madeira, would highly recommend”
Self-guided hike from Funchal to Rabacal Park, combining 25 Fontes and Risco Levada with a transfer designed to beat crowds.
“Excellent experience in all ways. Communication, pickup, driver was engaging and provided safe trip with excellent driving skills on the Madeira curvy roads in addition to great tips on trails. GO ON THE EARLY TRIP - worth avoiding the crowds!”
Shuttle to Queimadas Natural Park for a self-guided Levada hike in Madeira’s Laurissilva forest with waterfalls and tunnels.
“Very convenient shuttle to/from the trailhead, guides gave great tips on where to eat/drink after the hike!”
Sunrise hike on Madeira with pickup in Funchal, small shared transfer, and self-guided PR1 timing on Pico do Arieiro.
“Great pick up at hotel and trailhead. We were well informed on what to expect, shown maps, and felt very prepared.”
Self-guided PR6 and PR6.1 hikes in Madeira with pickup and a guided-style briefing, plus time to enjoy 25 Fontes and Risco.
“Such a lovely day! The weather was absolutely perfect, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The 25 Fontes and Risco hike is a nice, easy trail that offers incredible views along the way. The waterfalls are beautiful and definitely worth the walk. I highly recommend coming early to beat the rush, as it can get quite busy later in the day. If you have spare time (and energy!), you can easily add another hike. Overall, a peaceful and scenic adventure!”
Self-guided hike from Queimadas to Pico das Pedras via Caldeirão Verde, with A/C transfers from Funchal and waterfall views.
“Diogo was a fantastic driver and had an excellent playlist throughout the drive. The hike was quite easy and the views of the waterfall at the end were breathtaking. I feel the time allotted for the hike was at least an hour too long as all our group was at the meeting point at least 30-45 minutes early. Overall, the experience was great and we enjoyed the transfer to the hike.”
Self-guided PR1 hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo area with included AC transfer, trail tips, and easy timing from Funchal.
“The trips was really good organized and we had plenty of time to do the hike. It was great and i woud recommend to do it”
Drive a Spinach electric car through Funchal at your pace, with GPS help and voice narration, from markets to sea views in 2 hours.
“What a great way to travel’. A tablet with GPS is supplied so no worries on getting lost. Vehicle is easy to drive So helpful explaining everything and so friendly”
Self-guided GPS audio walk along Funchal’s waterfront to markets and parks, with stories in English or German for cruise days.
“Just a recording on an app. Totally not worth it”
Self-guided VoiceMap audio walk through Funchal’s Old Town from CR7 Museum to Palácio de São Lourenço, with offline maps in English.
“Excellent informative audio guide. I did have to check the navigation map a couple of times due to gps lag but the audio navigation prompts otherwise worked well. Recommended.”
Self-guided audio walk through Funchal’s historic center, from Quinta Vigia to Mercado dos Lavradores, with English narration for $8.99.
“Insightful, fun, and enthusiastic, this tour is a great option for getting the real feel of Funchal. The app is also quite effective. Five stars!”
Self-guided e-bike ride from Ponta de São Lourenço to Funchal with GPS, hotel pickup, and optional Cristo Rei viewpoint stop.
“Beautiful bike ride on excellent bikes and good roads, which is excellent to do. A lot of freedom along the way to deviate from the programmed route to visit viewpoints, interesting places and villages along the route; the GPS automatically leads you back to the original route. Excellently organised.”
Ride a self-guided e-bike loop from Funchal to Garajau with Garmin navigation, steep-hill help, and a Cristo Rei photo stop for $55.
“We were met by Oscar who bought a selection of bike sizes to make sure we had the right ones. The bikes were like new and so smooth. The battery was phenomenal getting us easily up the hills despite them being so steep. The helmets were new and clean and the Garmin showed the route clearly. Although we were on roads they were generally quiet and we had no issues with traffic. We had a great morning and can’t rate MAD cycles high enough. If in doubt - book it and enjoy!”
