Madeira Island

All Year

Madeira is blessed with a sub-tropical climate – meaning that most parts of the island have the eternal spring vibe. 

There is a rule here on Maderia: if it is raining on one part of the island, there is usually some sun to be found on the other side. 

Madeira is notorious for having interchangeable weather. It might be raining buckets on what part of the island, misty in the mountains, and totally sunny on the other coast. 

Generally temperatures are mild since Madeira is a subtropical island. They grow bananas here, but also the high mountains get the occasional dusting of snow in the winter. 

January – February are the rainy months when on occasion some of the high peaks get snowfall. Summers (June – August) are typically hotter and busier. 

We will be staying at a locally owned hotel in a small village near the sea. The hotel has an in house restaurant, gym, and a pool among other comfortable amenities. Each room has a private bathroom, balcony, air conditioning, and wifi. 

Trip prices are based on twin sharing rooms. Single rooms are available upon request (with an extra charge of $500). 

In most of the places we visit, the locals speak English.

Even if you think you know some Portuguese, the local dialects can be difficult to understand. People from Lisbon have a hard time understanding the Madeiran language!

Learning a few words of Portuguese will always be appreciated by local folks. 

Madeira Island is blessed in the sense that there are no wild animals that are going to kill you, and crime rates are among the lowest in all of Europe. 

The biggest danger on the island is its natural features. The ocean is notoriously powerful and every year a few people are swept out to sea. 

The mountains and rivers present their own inherent dangers as well – which is why we plan our hikes to places we know well and that are relatively safe for most hiking skill levels. 

Madeiran food is amazing and getting the chance to try many different local dishes is one of the best parts of this expedition. 

If you are a foodie, you are absolutely going to love Madeira. 

The food on Madeira is seasonal, but expect to eat lots of fresh fruit (including tropical fruits like passion fruit and banana), local seafood, tasty salads, shellfish, barbecue, and of course, the famous drink from the Island; Poncha. 

Fresh fish and shellfish are standard classics. Fresh fruit and vegetables are also abundant given the sub tropical climate of Madeira. 

Other classic dishes include various regional meat dishes and local twists on classic Portuguese fare. 

Madeira Island is in Portugal and is also part of the European Union (EU). 

Free visas on arrival are standard for most western nationalities including the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and every other country in the EU. 

As a member of the EU, Madeira uses the euro as its currency.

ATM machines are present all over the island.

If they’d like to do so and have ample time, guests can choose to stay in Madeira either before or after the tour begins.

Check out our Madeira Day Hikes page if you’re looking for some additional activities.