Walking the Island of Madeira

Customer Reviews

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  Robin

  · October 14th, 2019
  Beautiful island, interesting walking and good meals. Great company and caring guiding.
  Trip date: October 2019
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  Kirsten Burghardt

  · April 17th, 2013
  Fantastic holiday
  Trip date: April 2013
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  Pauline Woodward

  · March 13th, 2012
  A great tripWill remember 'two ones' and smile every time!!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Watching the sunrise at the top of the mountainThe variety of the landscape in different walksFeeling of peace and tranquility high in the mountainsSpectacular coastal viewsWhat did you think of your group leader?Our leader Andre was very knowlegeable about his country, flora and fauna. He was attentive to all members of the group and we all enjoyed friendly banter and encouragement when things got tough! He was aware of the groups safety at all times. We could not have a better guide.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Some spectacular walks in the mountains - I personally felt on top of the world but this trip is not for you if you suffer from vertigo or are afraid of heights. A reasonable level of fitness is also required as some days were quite tough - I found coming downhill the most difficult
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  Trip date: March 2012
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  Marilyn Willwohl

  · February 5th, 2012
  A most enjoyable walking holiday on a very beautiful island. The holiday was enhanced by good weather and an excellent group of like minded people. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Standing above the clouds on Pico Ruivo and watching them tumble over peaks and ridges. Enjoying a cold drink after successfully completing in beautiful weather the most strenuous walk of the week. Watching the firework display from the roof of our hotel on New Years Eve.What did you think of your group leader?Andre was a good and most able leader on the walks. He was very concerned for our well being and safety. He knew the routes very well and shared his local knowledge and knowledge of flora with us. Andre came across as kind and considerate. He was very friendly and easy to get along with. His skills as a leader overall need to be developed. He could improve by giving daily information to the group, making sure that when he did everyone heard it.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?If you read other reviews, people’s views on the level of difficult vary, understandably as everyone’s ability varies. The following might be helpful, nb mileages are approximate. Walk 1 Ponta De San Lourenco, 5-6 miles manmade path several short ascents and descents. Walk 2, Levada Machico 9 miles almost all on level concrete path by Levada, one ascent and descent to cliffs on north coast. Walk 3, Caldera Verde 8 miles mainly on the level by Levada, with a slippery descent, steep in places at the end. Walk 4, Pico Ruivo 7½ miles, many ascents and descents lots of steps. Walk 5, Boca da Corida, 8 miles mostly uphill. I would say the walks were done at a steady pace with only a few stops.Is there anything else you would like to add?Madeira is a beautiful island and if you enjoy walking this is one way to see a small part of the island. Four of the five walks go to areas with different terrain and vistas, so each one varies considerably from the other. Funchal is interesting with enough to see and do and makes for a good place to end the trip. It's old town has lots of street art and a good choice of restaurants. The hotel Exodus uses is in a very central position. If you go at New Year as I did you get a fantastic 360 degree view of one of the best firework displays in the world from the hotel roof.
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  Trip date: February 2012
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  Anne West

  · October 4th, 2011
  This trip was more than I was hoping for as I was a complete novice at walking holidays. Fantastic way to see such interesting places, people, wildlife and geology.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?As a complete novice at walking holidays, I amazed myself by the fifth day when I climbed Pico Ruivo (1,862 mts high).   I stood on a mountain surrounded by clouds and "up with the Gods".  Fantastic moment for me.What did you think of your group leader?My Guide was called Andre.   It was just me and him for the whole 7 days.   What a mind of knowledge that young man has.   I learnt Maderian history, geology, fauna, wildlife, customs, politics, and bad jokes!!  I really hope Exodus continues to use his services.  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Just go for it!  Even if you're a solo traveller and walking novice like me, you have to start somewhere and why not try walking the levadas in Maderia.Is there anything else you would like to add?The only down side of the trip was the quality of the holiday accommodation for day 1 and 2.   The hotel Ecumeada is a little outdated and needs a bit of tlc.   Make sure you do take a mac as the weather can change at a moments notice, but even on a cloudy day the views from the mountains or levadas are pretty spectacular.    Funchal is a very interesting town, but be sure to follow Maderian's who take you off the main streets into tiny little classic alleys, with hidden treasures of artwork, fantastic architecture, food and hospitality.   I have only praise for the whole experience and Andre my guide is an absolute genius!  
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  Trip date: October 2011
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  Caroline Campbell

  · September 18th, 2011
  A very enjoyable week's holiday and a good way to see Madeira. I enjoyed the variety of the scenery and the walking as well as sampling various Madeiran wines with dinner over the course of the week.What did you think of your group leader?Bruno is a very experienced group leader and did a good job of looking after us. There was a wide range of walking experience in our group but he managed this very well.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?My walking poles wouldn't fit in my suitcase but they would have been useful for the descents which are quite steep in places.Is there anything else you would like to add?Of the 7 nights, you spend 2 nights in the same hotel except for one night, the Wednesday, which is good. I was pleasantly surprised by the accommodation. The only minor disappointment was the buffet on the Wednesday evening. However, the company of my fellow walkers was a great distraction!
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  Trip date: September 2011
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  Anne Chivers

  · September 13th, 2011
  The walks were verging on the most difficult. Some group members needed a lot of help which meant that other members were left to walk most of the walk without the leader. A bit more information about the terrain would help people decide if it is suitable. It would be nice if you could highlight the number of changes of accommodation as don't like too many moves. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Friday spent in FunchalWhat did you think of your group leader?Bruno was funny, experienced, knowledgable and helpful.  He had a lot of responsibility looking after people who hadn't ever walked in the moutains before.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Please read the details of the walks carefully and decide if it is suitable for you.  Remember to take into consideration the temperatures.  Don't forget to take a fruit knife as you nearly always take a pack lunch.  If you don't like changing accommodation every other day read the details carefully.
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  Trip date: September 2011
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  Helen Watkins

  · June 9th, 2011
  Madeira is a beautiful island, with a profusion of wonderful plant life and we had the benefit of a Madeiran leader who was passionate about his home country. The walks were probably on the A/B grade, rather than B, being a little short and not as strenuous as expected following a grade B holiday the previous year (unless I was just fitter!)What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Walking along the levada, albeit on a rainy day, was a definite highlight. The feat of engineering, creating the irrigation channels and paths on the side of near-vertical mountain slopes, was impressive. Add to that the abundant and lush greenery and it was a visual feast. The farmers' market in Funchal was another stunning visual feast - the sight of the produce and also the fine architecture. We were offered tasters of six different kinds of passion fruit.What did you think of your group leader?Bruno was an enthusiastic and careful leader, so we all felt well cared for and included in the group. He obviously loves his work.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Be prepared for a variety of weather - as the trek notes say, mountains really do make their own weather.Is there anything else you would like to add?Three slight quibbles.  On the first day, our leader misread the bus timetable, so we arrivedhalf an hour late for the start of the walk. We had to rush back early to catch the 2pm bus as there was no other one until 5pm. It would have been better if a minbus or other private transport had been used, thus allowing greater flexiblilty and a more relaxing time on the beach and walk. First, the trek notes have not been adequately updated to show the adaptations necessary following the storms in 2010. It is not now possible safely to walk from Encumeada on the fifth day, so an extra minibus trip is required. The walk is still lovely, but may not be what walkers were expecting. The leader explained this to us, and we understood and are not aggrieved, but it should not have been left up to him to do this.The hotel at Encumeada has possibly the best views, rooms and breakfast, but the supper (buffet) was extremely poor and there is no alternative place to eat.   
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  Trip date: June 2011
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  Sue Bishop

  · May 31st, 2011
  One of the best and most surprising things about Madeira was the amazing variety of the walks - each day was different. Windswept coasts, laurel and eucalyptus forests, waterfalls, open moorland, and of course the flower-lined levadas. All lovely!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Difficult to pick out just one, because it was the contrast of all the different days that made the trip so much fun.  And a really great group of people definitely helped!  The dinner on the last evening at a fish restaurant, eating outside and watching the sun set over the sea, was pretty good too...!What did you think of your group leader?Joe was an excellent leader, always calm and cheerful and very well organised, as well as knowledgeable about the flora and fauna.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take clothing for all eventualities - we had a mix of wind, rain and sun on most days.
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  Trip date: May 2011
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  Nick Duggan

  · May 9th, 2011
  The walking was quite tame and due to weather conditions we were unable to walk out along the headland with the guide . on another one of the walks the path had been damaged and the fire damage on the centre of the island which happened last year along with the weather prevented us going up the mountain .The company of others in the group was excellent as was our guide who was knowledgeable about the island and its Flors and FaunaWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip?walking under a waterfall on the last day .What did you think of your group leader?good local knowledgeDo you have any advice for potential travellers?Not challenging  walking ,
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  Trip date: May 2011