Trekking in Madeira: Lost World of Europe

Today is the day all the fun begins! Arrival in Madeira and check into the hotel in the afternoon. We then have our first team meeting and briefing and go over the finer details of our week ahead. 

We will then take you around Santa Cruz village so you can get your bearings of the place where we will be staying for the next week. 

For dinner, we are taking you guys somewhere really special in the mountains – here we will taste some delicious local food and wine while getting to know the other members of your group.  

We will aim have an early night tonight; tomorrow is a busy day!

Following breakfast, we set off to explore one of the most beautiful parts of Madeira; the North Coast and mountains. 

The exact hike we will do depends on the weather and conditions but generally speaking the hike today takes 5-6 hours and has plenty of up and down, hilly terrain. 

This hikes we offer on this day are routes that very few people on the island know about and involves some truly spectacular views, waterfalls, and a few epic surprises. 

After the hike, it is time to try some more delicious Madeiran cusine at one of our all-time favorite spots for lunch. 

After lunch, it is time to learn about one of the most important aspects of Madeiran culture: Poncha. (There is a reason that Madeira used to be called the rum island.)

To get the real experience of what Poncha is about, we will head to a small, local establishment on the North Coast to get a first hand lesson on the history and process of making Poncha. 

Folks are free for dinner on their own tonight.  We can provide a plethora of good recommendations depending on what you want to eat. 

Today, you will experience a totally different side of Madeira. 

The south coast is the land of banana farms, passion fruit groves, subtropical forests, and plenty of sun all year round. 

After a walk around one of the most picturesque villages on the whole island, and where surfing in Madeira was born. Then it is time for a few shots of espresso, we will head to a different part of the south coast for an epic hike flanked by dramatic coastal cliffs, with the goal being a sunset finish.

We will grab dinner together as a group nearby village at one of the island’s premier seafood restaurants. 

Shifting our focus to the Central Mountains of Madeira today, the landscapes and views will be dramatic and noticeably different from what we have experienced so far. Welcome to the “Himalayas of Madeira”. 

We will depart the hotel after breakfast and set off on of our favorite mountain trails on the whole island before descending into one of the most beautiful valleys in the Central Mountain range. There might be an option to climb one of Madeira’s most iconic peaks as a bonus, weather dependent of course

The afternoon is dedicated to feasting on traditional Madeiran meat cooked on fire called Espetada at a local taberna. This is where traditional home cooking, locally sourced products, and hungry hikers come together for an unforgettable meal. The evening is free time with dinner on your own. 

Time to get wet! Into the canyons we go.

Canyoneering in Madeira is a special experience for many reasons. We will get to explore deep canyons and river systems while descending massive waterfalls few others get to see due to their inaccessibility without ropes and the proper equipment, etc.

You do not need to have experience canyoneering to take part in the activities. Our expert staff will give every member safety and best practices training before we start.

Because the water in the river and waterfalls is cold, we will don thick wetsuits, helmets, and other safety gear before heading off into this wild side of Madeira. All gear is provided including a helmet, harness, river shoes, and the wetsuit.

Our last day in Madeira together is going to be a special one. 

Our hike today again takes us to a coastal area we have not yet explored for one last round of beautiful views, away from the crowds. 

After the morning hike, we will return to the hotel to grab a quick shower, rest. and change before our final dinner. 

In the evening, we have something truly special in store for our final feast. 

Think fine dining meets home cooking, mountain vistas, and wine tasting. Very few locals even know about this place; we are STOKED to bring you here to experience it. 

Following our final group dinner, the group heads back to our accommodation to get a good night’s sleep before the time comes to catch flights home the following day. 

Alas – our Epic week together has come to an end!

We say a final round of goodbyes as the group goes their separate ways for their international flights home. 

A final breakfast is included at our accommodation. 

Room check-out is around 11 am on this day. You can choose to stay at the same hotel if you are not flying home right away or move to the city of Funchal, though any additional nights at the hotel are not covered by Epic.