Part 1
northern part of the island: Santana & São Jorge
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Day 1 - Arriving in Madeira & Bus trip towards Santana
Time of the year: June
Landing on the Santa Catarina Airport (officially Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) in Funchal is an experience itself. Sorrounded by mountains on one side and the Atlantic ocean on the other, landing at this airport requires precise skills. In addition to this high winds might influence the smoothness of a landing. Although ranked ninth most dangerous airport in the world and third most dangerous airport in Europe, the pilots undergo special training and the amounts of incidents is extremely low.
view after the landing of the city of Santa Cruz
view from the bus station right next to the airport
The bus trip from the airport until Santana takes someone through some amazing landscape since the bus doesn't go on the highway. This makes the trip a little bit longer, some one and a half hour (one way), but it gives a great first impression of the island's landscape and natural diversity. The bus station near the airport is not marked but it is situated right across from the airport, in front of the Cemitério de Santa Cruz, on the emergency lane of the highway. The tickets can be bought from the bus driver.
First stop: Santana, which is a municipality on the north coast of the Portuguese island of Madeira. It’s known for its Casas Típicas de Santana, traditional stone houses with steep, triangular-shaped thatched roofs.
Day 2 - Hiking route: PR1 Pico do Areeiro und Pico Ruivo
Time of the year: June
Distance: ca. 11,00 km
Altitude loss / gain: +790 m / -790 m
Lowest point: ca. 1550 m
Highest point: ca. 1810 m
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Difficulty: 🟥🟥
Parking:
free parking: here. Alternatively a taxi can be taken rom Santana until the starting point
PR1 Vereda do Areeiro is a trail connecting three iconic spots in Madeira, the highest peaks of the island.
It begins at Pico Ruivo (1862 m), crosses Pico das Torres (1851 m) and ends at Pico do Areeiro.
the route from the parking lot until Pico Ruivo
Pico Ruivo completeley covered in fog
the route further to Pico de Areeiro
expect fast changing conditions; even if rain is to come, it's not the traditional, continental rain, but rather short and sometimes heavy downpours
one has to imagine that the view on the versant is spectacular:)
in high season large flow of tourists are to be expected on the paths
in some portions the fog started to clear, offering the first real glimpses of the island's landscape
Second attempt of the Pico Ruivo on the way back; still foggy
The route was extended going down from Pico Ruivo, from Encumeada Baixa through the route S2 until Pico das Pedras. From there a taxi can be called until Santana (price in 2022 around 10€).
The famous Madeira's levada is an irrigation channel specific for this region build first in the 16th century to carry water from the high, wet regions to the agricultural fields in the south of the island.
Day 3 - Hiking route: PR1.3 Vereda da Encumeada - Pico Ruivo until Encumeada
Time of the year: June
Update: At the time of the stroll, June 2022 the route PR1.3 was still open. At the timeline of May 2025 is it not possible to calculate this route in komoot anymore. That means most probable that due to natural consequences and possible safety reasons the hike was temporarly closed.
The official website also confirms that the path is for the time being closed.
Distance: ca. 11,20 km
Altitude loss / gain: -600 m
Lowest point: ca. 1700 m
Highest point: ca. 1010 m
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Difficulty: 🟦🟦
The route started as in the first day from the parking place at the Achada do Teixeira.
first glimpses of the villages of Vargem (close) and Sao Vicente (probably, in the background) towards the end of the hike. The Atlantic ocean follows closely behind
The route led until Snack Bar Boca da Encumeada. From here is it possible to call a taxi that will bring you back to the acommodation.
glimpse from the taxi ride of the vineyards near Sao Vicente
Day 4 - Hiking trip: Ponta Delgada - Arco de São Jorge
Time of the year: June
The route is not a really known route; at the beginning follow from the streets of Ponta Delgada the Caminho de Vigia and Caminho da Escaleira
the path in the beginning didn't look very well taken care of and there wasn't high hopes for an easy or spectaculage stroll. Little did i know...
last glimpses of Ponta Delgada
the dispersed houses on the outskirts of Boaventura. The villagers, mostly farmers, have a great view of the Atlanctic and are mostly untroubled by tourist flow
The village of São Jorge decorated for festivities
from Restaurant Cabo Aéreo Café there is a path going down to the coast
from São Jorge a trail path to Santana is visible, but hasn't been tried (yet😒)
on the coast one can find the remains of a former tourist resort. Now semi-abandoned
overview of Santana
Last day
Time of the year: June
In the last day it was decided to spent again some 3 hours in bus ( going and returning) to visit again Santana rather than staying in Funchal.
From Santana Cable Car (Teleferico da Rocha do Navio) there is a path going down to the coast. The road is in some places quite loose and in some places not secured. The advantage is although that you have the strip of coast almost for yourself
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