GuardTrailsPortugal · July
Off the beaten track
The Wild & Secluded Outposts
Less-visited places, with one or two classics all the same.
A journey into Madeira's hidden corners, from the dramatic terraced cliffs of Jardim do Mar to the rugged northern landscapes of Porto da Cruz.
- days7
- bases3
- stages6
- nights6
- transfer days2
- stage to stage≈ 178 km
- at the wheel, day by day≈ 4 h 27
includes legs from an approximate position
Who this itinerary is for
This itinerary suits a traveller looking for: a trip in July, days of walking, a day hike and a village stroll.
The area
the secluded western cliffs and the deep volcanic valleys
The map
Loading the map…
The days at a glance
One line per day: where you sleep, what the day is, the road, and how its time is split.
| Day | Evening base | The day | Road | Time of the day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day1 | Evening base : Funchal | ArrivalFunchal, arrival | Road 20 min | |
| Day2 | Evening base : Funchal | Day excursionPorto da Cruz | Road ≈ 58 min | |
| Day3 | Evening base : Funchal | Day on siteFunchal, arrival | — | |
| Day4 | Evening base : Curral das Freiras | TransferCurral das Freiras Valley | Road ≈ 22 min | |
| Day5 | Evening base : Ponta do Pargo | TransferPonta do Pargo | Road 1 h 01 | |
| Day6 | Evening base : Ponta do Pargo | Day excursionJardim do Mar Terraced Village | Road 36 min | |
| Day7 | — | DepartureFunchal, departure | Road 1 h 10 |
- programme
- road
- free time
12.0 h usable every day
Good to know
What it leaves aside
Skips the famous Rabaçal levadas and the crowded sunrise at Pico do Arieiro.
Places it did not keep
Pico do Arieiro · Rabaçal
Getting there
Fly to Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC), 20 min by road from the start.
Where you sleep
The area offers a variety of accommodations including hotels, guesthouses, and mountain lodges, and it is highly recommended to book well in advance during the peak tourist season.
Safety
Portugal: no warning from the UK authorities (FCDO). Advice of 2026-08-11 · Official advice
Check before booking and before taking out insurance: the advice may have changed since.
Why this version, the cost in detail and the sources are on the method page. Read the method →
When, and for how long
How long?
- You ask for
- 7days
- The area needs, at least
- 6days
- Days kept
- 7days
Travelling in July.
The climate — July
- Daily high, 1 day in 4 is hotter
- 27 °C
- Daily high, 1 day in 20 is hotter
- 29 °C
- Unfavourable day
- 0%
- Windy day
- 3%
Rain, wind and temperature are measured over the 8 h in the middle of the day, on a historical baseline of 40 observations (Open-Meteo). It is a measuring window, not the length of your day: each day of the programme counts 12 h of usable time.
The itinerary, day by day
6 stages over 7 days, in the order of the days. A stage appears on the day you first reach it: you sleep several nights at some, and a day trip leaves from your base and brings you back to it. Each day has its own page.
Every day of this trip has 12 h of usable time. Room to breathe — we have not padded these days to fill them: the free time left is part of the trip.
- Day 1ARRIVALFunchal, arrival · night in Funchal3 h planned · 20 min on the roadSee the day →
Stage 2 · Porto da Cruz
Porto da Cruz
≈ approximate position — the place itself was not found: placed at the expected location
Day trip from Funchal · no night here · climate favourable
- Day 2EXCURSIONfrom Funchal → Porto da Cruz9 h planned · ≈ 58 min on the road from an approximate positionSee the day →
- Day 3AT BASEFunchal, arrival · night in Funchal2 h 30 plannedSee the day →
Stage 3 · Curral das Freiras
Curral das Freiras Valley
1 night · climate favourable
- Day 4Curral das Freiras Valley · night in Curral das Freiras8 h planned · ≈ 22 min on the road from an approximate positionSee the day →
- Day 5Ponta do Pargo · night in Ponta do Pargo9 h planned · 1 h 01 on the roadSee the day →
Stage 5 · Jardim do Mar
Jardim do Mar Terraced Village
Day trip from Ponta do Pargo · no night here · climate favourable
- Day 6EXCURSIONfrom Ponta do Pargo → Jardim do Mar Terraced Village8 h planned · 36 min on the roadSee the day →
- Day 7DEPARTUREFunchal, departure · end of the trip3 h planned · 1 h 10 on the roadSee the day →
What it costs, roughly
€574 to €899 per person
€82 to €128 per day
Based on: 2 people.
The cost estimate and the availability of accommodation, transport and activities are as of 6 November 2026: prices and availability change over time.
Where the money goes, and how this figure is obtained →To check
1 point to look at before booking.
D5Cable car with limited hours: check the timetable before you go — Ponta do Pargo → Achadas da Cruz
cable with limited departures — the timetable is not checked here: look it up before booking
What the review flagged
Our automatic checks flag these points to verify before booking.
- Days 4 and 5: the programme review flags a point to check (bothersome).
The method
Why this version, what sets it apart from the others, the cost in detail, the interest of the places, the automatic review and the sources.
Read the method →