Jamie Paddock, from Jamie Chance Travels, is a mid-30s lawyer with a passion for travel blogging and photography. Based in Durham, Jamie enjoys spending his days with his wife, daughter and lively cockapoo whether exploring the North East or further afield.

Funchal, the capital of Madeira, is a city that could keep you entertained throughout your visit, however, it’s when you travel deeper into the heart of the island that you can really experience just how beautiful it really is. From hikes over the tallest peaks and along manmade irrigation systems to ethereal landscapes and adventurous activities, these are the best day trips from Funchal.

LEVADA WALKS

One of the must-do day trips from Funchal is, without doubt, experiencing a hike along one of Madeira’s levadas. ‘Levada’ in Portuguese means ‘to carry’ and that’s exactly what these man-made channels do; carry water from the north to the south of the island. Given the location of many levadas through the mountainous heart of Madeira, you can expect stunning views and some of the best hikes within Europe. There are over 2,000kms of levadas across the island and the walks alongside them range from being suitable for beginners to some with paths only inches wide on the edge of the mountains.

Two great introductions to levada walks, suitable for most, are PR11 Levada Dos Balcoes and PR18 Levada do Rei. The first is relatively short with the hike really opening up after around 45 minutes, with quite possibly some of the best views in Madeira. The viewpoint at Miradouro dos Balcões allows you to gaze up at the three tallest peaks on the island and, if you’re lucky, a chance to get acquainted with local birdlife. The latter is an accessible and flat 12km out and back hike through mountainous landscape. You can enjoy walking under tumbling waterfalls (yes, you may well get a little wet), through indigenous Madeiran rainforest, stopping every few minutes to admire the views across the valley.

CANYONING AT RIBERIO FRIO

Madeira is well known for having an adventurous side and for those that like to immerse themselves in nature with a dose of adrenaline, canyoning is one activity that has to be experienced. Canyoning at Riberio Frio, which translates to ‘Cold River’, is suitable for beginners and kicks off with an abseil down a waterfall, before diving in and out of the aptly named water and scrambling across rocks for a good few hours. There are canyoning experiences across Madeira for those just getting started and all the way up to those probably reserved for seasoned professionals.

SANTANA

On the wild northern coast of Madeira is Santana. It’s worth visiting to step back in time and admire traditional Madeiran houses. The multi-coloured, triangular-shaped houses date back to the 15th century and were made of wood with thatched roofs. In Santana, a few of these houses remain and between 9am and 7pm, you can experience just what it was like to live here. You can pick up some quirky souvenirs too. While you’re in the area, lunch at Quinta do Furao is highly recommended as it has, as everywhere seemingly does in Madeira, exceptional views across the sea stacks at Ponta de Catarina Pires.

FANAL FOREST

The Fanal Forest, in the north-west of Madeira, is a mystical place where centuries old Til trees are often shrouded in fog, creating an ethereal experience. If you’re into your photography, you can almost guarantee that you’ll come away with some brilliant photos from here. Even with better weather, you can still relax and picnic in the reserve and walk along several trails through the forest.

SAO LOURENCO PENINSULA

The São Lourenço Peninsula is the eastern tip of Madeira and is unlike any other area on the island. The landscape has a semi-arid climate and, thanks to the strong northern winds, there are no trees and a distinct lack of vegetation. The Ponta do Rosta viewpoint offers a unique look across to both the northern and southern coasts at the same time. With steep cliffs, don’t stand too close to the edge, as despite the great views, the winds really do pick up pace here!

HIKE PR1 PICO DO AREEIRO TO PICO RUIVO

This hike, across the three tallest peaks on the island, is probably the most popular and exhilarating thing to do in Madeira. This 7km trail takes in Pico do Areeiro (1818m), Pico das Torres (1851m) and Pico Ruivo (1862km) and includes a walk up the ‘staircase to heaven’ that is truly beautiful. The hike is of moderate difficulty and takes, ordinarily, between 3-4 hours. This is one day trip that makes sense to book through a tour guide as you’ll be dropped off at the start of the route and picked up at the end before you and your weary legs are escorted back to your accommodation for a well-deserved rest.

THE BLACK SANDS OF SEIXAL

Wherever you visit during your time in Madeira, it’s not hard to see why the island is called the ‘Hawaii of Europe’ but it’s the black-sand beaches at Seixal that really make you feel as though you have been transported to the Pacific Ocean. The volcanic black sands at Seixal are worth a visit both for spending a day relaxing in this unique environment as well as for the excellent photographic opportunities with dense greenery cascading down the mountains contrasting perfectly with the dark sand.

That wraps up this list of the most wonderful day trips from Funchal and wherever you decide to visit, you’ll almost certainly fall in love with this island.