Coast to Coast Traverse of Madeira

Fantastic week with a great and varied bunch of people. Loved the walking and talking! Some of the trails were a bit monotonous in the forests, but I gather we weren't able to do the normal route due to the trail closures. The cliff hugging levadas are really something to behold.

Personally I preferred the coastal and high mountain paths that gave us plenty of photo opps, and the night in the refuge was probably our best night, although the Hotel Encumeada is also an incredible location.

Our guide Isabelle was great, and did her best to manage the varying fitness levels in our group and make sure everyone was happy with the pace and food.

You get plenty of chance to socialise in the evenings and chat. Overall, it was a really fun way to spend a week walking in amazing scenery without having to stress over organising it yourself.

If you've never been to Madeira and like walking, IMHO this is the best way to discover the island.

Highly recommended!

What an amazing week of hiking in beautiful Madeira. Our guide Isabel was wonderful and we had 5 fantastic days of walking. Two things that keep this from being 5 stars from me- with the trail closures it isn't really a coast to coast traverse, more some awesome Madeira highlights with a fair amount of driving to transfer to accommodation some days. Hopefully that will change soon with trails apparently beginning to reopen soon. And one hotel we stayed at 2 nights was very unwelcoming which was a bit of a shame- maybe worth finding somewhere else @mba as this seemed to be a well known issue. On the other hand the mountain hut night was a massive highlight including sunrise over mountains and by far the best food of the week.

We had the very best time on this hike. The people and our guide (Isabel) made it, of course, but the trip overall was brilliant. Although we had to change the original route (through no fault of MBA) it took little from our experience. Madeira was beautiful and varied. I was a little wary of the accommodation at "the hut" before I left but that turned out to be the best accommodation of all. I can't recommend this trip enough x

Firstly, our guide Isobel was superb. She tried to allow everyone to walk at their own pace as much as possible and kept us informed of the plan for each day. Our drivers were great and surprised us with some homemade poncha on the last day, you know you’re in for a treat when someone whips out a sprite bottle of unknown liquid and some shot glasses.

The second hotel was fine but the owner is a bit prickly, this we’re told is going to be addressed in future. The other accommodations are all fine, don’t expect luxury and you won’t be disappointed. The “mountain hut” was a surprise, Diogo the manager is a gem and the food there was excellent.

Most importantly though the walking was great. If you’re a serious hiker/trail runner take a look at the distances and elevation changes as you may not be entirely satiated. For someone like me who enjoys a moderate days hiking followed by a cold beer in good company it was perfect. The terrain was very varied, we got a good taste of what the island has to offer, and we saw some truly spectacular and unique landscapes.

The icing on the cake was a fantastic diverse group of people. Plenty of good conversation and laughter.

We had an amazing week with a really special group of people. The trip covers the best parts of the island in a short time, and our guide Isabel was able to teach us a lot about the local flora and fauna along the way. I was really impressed with the daily packed lunches and MBA took any feedback about accommodation seriously in real time. Overall, really well organised, and a great way to spend a week in Madeira.

I had a great first experience and would highly recommend to anyone! Our guide Isabel was amazing - she was incredibly knowledgeable and made the trip more fun! The views were amazing and she gave us great local recommendations as well. I have very severe food allergies and celiac disease and all along the way I felt like everyone was very helpful in making sure I had plenty of safe food to eat.

So well organised, beautiful locations, fun hikes. Puedro was a great guide!

I just finished the 6-night Coast to Coast Traverse of Madeira trip and loved it. This was my first Much Better Adventures trip, so I was a bit nervous how it would go. It certainly exceeded my expectations and was a great value for the money.

The group size was perfect (12 plus our guide), a great range of ages and a lovely group of people. We were all about the same level and a good mix of single travelers and two friends traveling together. I believe many of us will stay in touch long-term.

Pedro, our guide, was wonderful. A native of Madeira, he knows everything! He led us safely and at a great pace, taught us about the natural features, history and culture of the island, and was a joy to spend time with. He gave us helpful tips on what to pack and what to expect each day.

I am looking forward to signing up for another adventure soon!

This was my first MBA trip and I will definately book with them again. Everything was well planned and organised, the guide was fantastic, the accommodation was great (except for one night in a hotel that could do with an upgrade) and food was plentiful!

This is my 4th trip with MBA. This one was amazing! We were fortunate to have great weather, no rain, other than mist while in the clouds. Our tour guide, Nuno, was amazing! Super helpful, knowledgeable, and a bit of a comedian. The views are something else. The lunches provided were the best lunches I’ve had out of all the trips I’ve done. Good was also good overall. The accommodation was also pretty comfy. Highly recommend!

We had such a great experience! Our group and our guide, Nuno, were the best!

Our coast-to-coast trek of Madeira was a wonderful experience! We were fortunate to have good weather most days, with almost no rain and moderate temperatures. The accommodations were good, the food was good and plentiful, and our transportation was on time and efficient. The hiking was at times difficult with the climbs and descents, but we were expecting this and were able to accomplish with nothing more than a few aches and pains.

The best part of the trek though, was the people! Our group was diverse, from different countries and parts of the world, and our tour guide was fantastic! All the people in our group of 12 were like-minded hikers/trekkers and it was enjoyable getting to know them all. Our guide Nuno was excellent, and has extensive knowledge of Madeira and its history, geology, zoology, and biology. Every day we learned many new things while we were trekking. Unfortunately not all the trails were open so there were some work-arounds, but that is nothing that Much Better Adventures has any control over. Would definitely recommend this trek!

Overall I was happy with the trip. I would book much better adventures again. Some accomodations were really nice, a few were not. The food was excellent including the lunch boxes were nice. The guide was great but I would have wished for more structured communication/announcements of schedules and plans.

The scenery is truly stunning…. . as long as you have the weather to view it and we were particularly lucky as the forecast just before was dire!!! As I am a solo traveler and with little idea of direction, having a guided hiking holiday was so easy. And it is hiking not sauntering around 😀 im a keen walker at home but nowhere in my local area is practice for the steep trails of Madeira. Our guides , Joao and Marianna were brilliant. Not only are they so knowledgeable and bilingual but they also had great sense of humour. The hotel accommodation was clean and practical. Im happy to recommend this trip.

A lovely trip, awesome routes, even when cloudy (see the video!). The accommodation was great (except for the Valley View hotel), and we were well fed.

An unforgettable adventure on the Coast to Coast Madeira trek with Much Better Adventures. João and Mariana were brilliant guides, the weather was glorious sunshine throughout, and the group was wonderfully friendly with great camaraderie. The mountain lodge stay and sunrise were real highlights, and the food was excellent, especially the packed lunches.

I had a fabulous time in Madeira. The scenery is stunning and changes all the time, along with the weather. Puedro was a great guide and the group were really fun. The trip was very well organised too.

I had a great time in Madeira. Unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side, so we spent much of the week cold and wet, but the group were a fun and interesting bunch of people, who kept spirits high. The island was lovely and I feel that had the weather of been better, it would have only amplified its beauty. Puedro was a really good guide, too.

A lovely week away. The weather was very challenging which meant some highlights of the itinerary were missed; not a fault of MBA and our guide managed to accommodate us as best as possible given route and road closures. Views and routes are amazing from what we did see, and the accommodation was generally good too.

Beautiful and great hiking, not-so-great weather. Would have liked to know to expect wind, rain, cold and mud so that I packed better. You can’t get good weather forecasts for the places you hike so even if it’s sunny in Funchal you may be freezing where you hike. This information should be more explicit. Tour guide was great and really had our backs.

Many memories were made during this trip with my friend in beautiful Madeira! My goal was to re-set, learn something new, look after my body and soul, meet new people and laugh. All these were achieved despite disappointing weather conditions that are atypical to this season. The company worked hard and managed to adapt the routes and to keep them as adequate as possible in distance and difficulty. I managed to do some sketching in the rain:) Lunch was the best meal of the day with a local bakery catering healthy nutritious packed lunches. My choice of fish for dinner was always excellent! I loved moving around the island exploring new places and staying in various hotels. Those were clean although my back was not accustomed to a few hard mattresses. Everyone from the team was kind and knowledgable. I definitely learnt a lot about Madeira and it was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday.

I attended the Madeira coast to coast trip in mid March. I wasn’t sure what to expect as this was my first trip with Much better adventures. We ended up being a group of women which turned out great fun. Some were super fit and the rest just normal. The weather wasn’t on our side & it rained a lot, even snowed at the very top. Lots of our planned trails got closed which was disappointing but luckily our guide managed to find alternative hikes which were still challenging & very spectacular. Thank you! The packed lunches were amazing and very tasty. Accommodation was mostly good - warm & clean with a hot shower. The drivers taking us to the start of each hike & picking us at the end of the day were really nice with a big smile & a helping hand. All in all, I really enjoyed the trip & would happily book again.

Fantastic trip! Our guide, Puedro, the walks, the diversity of views, new friends. . . . everything was excellent! I'd do it all again in a heartbeat!

Our family had such fun hiking with Puedro and the rest of our group across Madeira. Every day had something unique to see and experience—the levadas, waterfalls, coastlines, cloud covered peaks. It was a bit cold and rainy, but the weather nor the trail closures could get in the way of having had a great adventure with our new trail friends.

Beautiful island, superb guide, great teammates, and well organized. I left with great memories of Madeira and with many new friends.

I was lucky enough to recently experience the Coast to Coast Traverse of Madeira and I am so glad I did- this trip has been epic. A week of hiking through the most amazing scenery. The may have been rain on occasion but the weather was warm so this did not impact us at all as we had the brilliant Andre to lead, guide and accommodate us at every step. Every day was a highlight but I have to say I really loved the mountain lodge, getting our sunrise view and then climbing up to the ridge to get some spectacular views. I was in a group of ten and was so lucky to be teamed with the most fabulous people who were so much fun. We all the best time. Everything about the trip was incredible- the organisation, the team leader Andre, the intinerary. I cannot praise Andre and Much Better Adventure enough. Thank you for giving us the most epic adventure!!!! The is my fourth MBA trip and can’t wait to get booked for my next trip!!!

Cannot speak highly enough of my experience in Madeira with MBA last week. The group of ten felt like the perfect size (full of wonderful, welcoming humans who got along well and supported each other the whole way), the accommodations/food were lovely, and our guide, Andre, was a true delight every step of the way. He was excellent at improvising routes based on weather changes, kept us laughing the entire week, and enriched us with the island's history throughout. Our local host, Jorge, was also extremely kind, accommodating, and went the extra mile to ensue things ran smoothly the entire trip.

We had some substantial rain early on, but our group didn't feel it detracted from the trip whatsoever and actually allowed for some less-crowded routes. It also made the days of sun feel that much more rewarding!! I've seen some previous less positive reviews with complaints for route changes based on weather and the recent wildfires--I would encourage anyone looking to book the trip to access the information readily available on the booking page. I think my entire group felt fully informed coming into the trip and felt any adjustments made for just as lovely of a hike.

As a fairly experienced hiker having never trekked with poles before I was dubious of the need, but will fully admit they came in great handy for the days with steep ascents and descents (of which there are multiple). For those with a fair level of fitness/hiking experience I would say most of the hikes were moderate to challenging, though the weather, steep descents, and/or less experience would definitely push some of them into the fairly challenging category. I believe the longest hike had us out for a total of ~7-8 hours, with the shortest being 5-6h. Andre was also great at adjusting to allow those with faster paces to walk ahead while making sure no one was left behind.

All in all I cannot say enough positive things about this trip. I believe a positive, flexible group attitude and our excellent guide only enhanced every single aspect of the experience. This was my first trip with MBA, but certainly will not be my last.

My son Sonny and I had the absolute privilege of joining the Coast to Coast Traverse of Madeira with Much Better Adventures — and what an incredible experience it was from beginning to end. It was everything you could hope for in an adventure: challenging, beautiful, deeply rewarding, and full of moments we’ll remember forever.

From the very first day, it was clear that this trip was something special. The organisation, communication, and attention to detail from Much Better Adventures were first-class. Every transfer, meal, and accommodation was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to focus entirely on soaking up the magic of Madeira. And what a place Madeira is! The island is breathtaking in every sense — an ever-changing tapestry of lush forests, dramatic ridgelines, and sweeping ocean views. One moment you’re hiking through ancient laurel forests wrapped in mist, the next you’re cresting volcanic peaks with the Atlantic stretching endlessly on both sides. The variety of landscapes is astonishing, and the warmth of the local people makes it all the more special. Every village felt welcoming, every view somehow more spectacular than the last.

Our guide, Andrei, deserves special mention — he was simply outstanding. His knowledge of the island’s geography, history, and wildlife brought every step of the journey to life. He struck the perfect balance between professionalism and fun, always ensuring we were safe, well-informed, and inspired. His patience, positivity, and genuine love for Madeira made the trip flow effortlessly. He had that rare ability to make every member of the group feel supported, whatever their hiking pace or experience level.

And then there were our fellow travellers — what an amazing group of people. Adventurous, kind, funny, and full of good spirit. They turned this trip from a great hike into a truly memorable shared experience. There were countless moments of laughter on the trail, encouragement during the steeper climbs, and that wonderful sense of camaraderie that only forms when you’ve achieved something meaningful together. By the end of the week, it felt like we’d all known each other for years.

For Sonny and me, this was more than just a walking holiday — it was a real adventure and a special father-son experience we’ll cherish for a long time. From sunrise on Pico do Arieiro to the final descent toward the ocean, every day brought something extraordinary. I can’t recommend this trip highly enough — for the beauty of Madeira, the care and professionalism of Much Better Adventures, and the warmth and expertise of Andrei and the whole team. If you’re looking for a journey that will challenge, inspire, and stay with you long after you return home, the Coast to Coast Traverse of Madeira is it.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made it unforgettable — Andrei, our wonderful hiking group, and of course, the magnificent island of Madeira itself. We left with tired legs, full hearts, and a promise to return.

What an awesome week! The hikes were challenging but so beautiful! We got to see so many different parts of the island. Our group was fantastic, Isabel was an amazing tour guide, and everything was so well organized. Highly recommend!

Have just returned from an incredible week in Maderia. Everything, even the rain which was warm, was perfect. Andre, our guide, was fantastic who shared his infectious passion and incredible knowledge of the island. He was considerate to all our needs with a brilliant sense of humour. Our safety was paramount and I have no doubt that the weather conditions gave him cause for concern through the week. The group size of ten was perfect and we all bonded and worked together well. There were so many highlights on this trek from the brilliant group to lush valleys, bubbling levadas and epic hikes. However, the sunrise on Pico Ruivo and the mountain lodge were stunning. Accomodation And food were all fantastic and we never went hungry. If you are thinking of booking, think no more. . . just do it. You will not regret it.