Hiking and Canyoning Adventure in Madeira

Madeira is spectacular, and our guide led us on beautiful adventures that were fun and appropriate given the weather and fitness level of the group. Her knowledge of the history of the island, the flora and fauna, the hiking trails was incredible. There was no question that went unanswered.

Really lovely few days exploring Madeira with our guide Yulia. Our itinerary had to change a few times due to weather and fires but it didn’t detract from the trip at all- trust the guides, everywhere they took us was stunning and exceeded all my expectations!

Amazing trip, brilliantly paced and varied activities in crazy beautiful landscapes. Every new view was WOW! Totally hassle free, seamless transitions and fantastic local hosting. Julia the local host tweaked itineraries based on wildfires early in the year that closed off some areas and a weather warning. It meant we got the best every day could offer on this wonderful island - probably the greatest benefit of a guided holiday. Julia herself was super knowledgeable, generous with her time and her energy and expertise elevated the trip. The group were a great crowd and we had fun times out, clever itinerary design meant it was easy to dip in and out as desired. All activities were through top quality local teams. Would thoroughly recommend. Don’t forget to add a little time at the start or end to explore Funchal and surrounds as it’s great! WOW WOW WOW!

Madeira provided a variety of activities that were all enjoyable.

Our guide (Yulia) knew the island like the back of her hand, and proactively adjusted routes to give us the best weather possible, and the safest conditions. Transfers between activities, hotels, etc were timely, we never lacked for food, and nothing ever felt rushed.

The guides for the canyoning day were very competent and made me feel safe at all times despite my fear of heights (and the equipment made my dislike of cold water a non-issue).

The difficulty rating felt accurate: I am not an experienced hiker and had never been canyoning before, but got through the whole week without too much trouble.

Madeira, itself, was a unique experience, with incredible views, delicious food, and great weather.

I was very satisfied with the trip and will certainly book another adventure, in the Azores next time (and I wish we could take Yulia with us).

One piece of advice: planning to arrive a day early may help buffer against travel delays. We were glad to have the extra time in Funchal.

This was our first trip with much better adventures and our first visit to Madeira. The trip is only 5 days long but really allowed us to get a feel for the contrasts you find in this beautiful island. We enjoyed the cooler, wetter north: walking along levadas in lush forests, swimming in natural rock pools on the rugged North Atlantic coast and exploring an ancient misty laurel forest. Special mention to the day canyoning, undoubtedly the best day of that activity I’ve ever done. The we basked in the warmer drier south: seeing sperm whales and dolphins, and hiking over the Sao Lourenco peninsula. The people of Madeira are welcoming and charming, the food is great (and huge portions!) but the number one highlight of the trip was our guide, Yulia. She is full of knowledge about Madeira, and is always happy to share it. She knows the trails and routes really well and will adjust the pace to allow you to speed up or take your time to enjoy the views. We could just relax and enjoy the breathtaking scenery knowing that she was taking care of the details. Some walks were changed from the original itinerary due to bad weather. Yulia’s local knowledge meant that she knew some routes were inaccessible on the day we had planned to go and this meant we didn’t waste time driving along the (very winding) Madeiran roads only to have to turn back. I particularly enjoyed the “matrimonial path” walk which showcased the transition in climate and vegetation from north to south along the route. It has some of the most stunning coastal views I’ve ever seen. I’d definitely return to Madeira, this has been a brilliant introduction.

I had a fantastic trip!! Yulia was the best guide I have had the pleasure of traveling with. She did an amazing job of adjusting the schedule when we had some unexpected weather. She managed to keep the group together and on a schedule all with a smile and sense of humor. The Canyoneering, Lavada hikes, and Fanal forest were my favorite activities. Thank you, Yulia ❤️❤️

Really enjoyed this trip and is my second with MBA. Loved the variety within the trip and my highlight was the sunrise hike which was stunning. The day we were canyoning was very cold as it was March 2024 so we did have to work as a team to laugh our way through but the canyoning activities were really amazing with abseiling, zip lining and jumping! Some confusion with vegetarian options but we made it work and it was the first trip being ran so am sure it will be sorted for future trips. The lunches themselves were really great quality and loved the Pastel De Natas making a regular appearance! Really recommend this trip - Madeira is a stunning country, offering all sorts of terrain and you can mix up the order of activities depending on the weather which is always changing on the island. Pedro was brilliant at giving us the history of the island and personal/cultural things about growing up in Madeira.

Just back from a week in Madeira (we had an extra night in Funchal at either end) and it was so, so good. Our guide Yulia was exceptional- she knows everything about Madeira and clearly loves the island. Our group was the best and I met some amazing people. Hiking the Levadas, jumping off 20ft waterfalls and whale watching were some highlights. Everyday was different and challenging but achievable- I would recommend this trip to everyone. Bravery is contagious!

This trip is a great way to discover Madeira as you see so much of the island and learn so much about it along the way. The mix of activities is great, and our guide Yulia was simply amazing - so organised, and able to adapt the activities to any conditions on the day (including an unexpected disturbed bees nest on one of the hike routes, which we had to avoid due to an allergy of someone in the group, but Yulia adapted our route and found a great alternative) Her knowledge of the island, landscape and trail routes etc was first class. I honestly can't pick a favourite activity - but possibly experiencing pilot whales all around our boat, calmly surfacing then diving was the best experience I've had anywhere. September felt the perfect time to visit, I think summer for me would be too hot for the hiking, but it depends what you like and can manage. All in all, a thoroughly brilliant trip - you'll be well looked after if you decide to do it...

Just back from an incredible 5-day trip to Madeira with Much Better Adventures, and it truly lived up to its name! The island is stunning, and the itinerary was packed with amazing adventures, from swimming with dolphins to challenging hikes and heart-pounding canyoning. But what really made the trip special was our guide, Yulia. She was the perfect blend of fun and knowledgeable, keeping the group safe and entertained throughout. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and she made sure everyone had a chance to experience the best of Madeira. Highly recommend Much Better Adventures and especially Yulia if you're looking for an unforgettable adventure holiday!"

This trip absolutely blew me away. Firstly our guide, Yulia, was brilliant, professional and fun. She really made the week one to remember. We enjoyed days of hiking incredible scenery; from coastal paths with glistening ocean views, lush forests along levada channels and breathtaking sunrise peaks. The day of canyoning was just the right level of adrenaline (abseiling down 25m waterfalls did get the heart racing). The canyoning guides were extremely professional and I felt incredibly safe and supported at all times. We were also lucky enough to see pilot whales and dolphins on our boat day. The marine biologist that accompanied us allowed us to swim with some of the dolphin species whilst making sure they were protected. It was really special! The food was delicious all week and hotels really lovely The group dynamic on the trip was brilliant. We got on so well we have already started to plan another much better adventures trip together!

The trip was amazing. Made even better by Yulia. Her knowledge and expertise made the experience feel very smooth. She took us to some amazing places where there wasn't loads of other tourists. I especially liked the touch of who ever was last to the bus had to buy the round of ponchas. Thank you for an unforgettable trip.

We had such an amazing trip with the best guide - Yulia! She planned everything so that we were able to see the least touristy parts of the island. Exploring trail, tunnels and mountains. The canyoning and the boat trip were a particular highlight, we were extremely lucky and swam with dolphins. Such a great trip, lovely hotel, transfers and meals out all booked for us! We absolutely loved Yulia and her knowledge of the island.

Had a wonderful trip with great hiking and canyoning guides. Well organised, professional but just as important good fun!

Andre the guide was fantastic! He made everyone feel welcome and we all enjoyed his company, was in awe of his knowledge and he made the whole trip fun and run smoothly. Jorge was also amazing and ensured everyone had all the information needed and even came early to pick me up at the airport.

The hikes were lovely, much shorter than I was expecting and relatively easy given the terrain. The views were amazing and it was good to see the variety the island had to offer! Even with thick fog on the 'sunrise hike' plans were quickly changed so we could experience it fully!

The canyoning day was the best! The guides/instructors were fab and made sure everyone felt safe and secure. Just a note- you don't need to take shoes as they provide them and cannot take your phone- they took amazing photos of us.

No whales or dolphins for us unfortunately, but the boat trip was enjoyable! Make sure you take full waterproofs!

Hotels and transfers were beyond expectation and you had alot of downtime to enjoy the region you were in. Make the effort to go to local restaurants- the food was delicious and reasonably priced.

All in all, a wonderful trip. I'd have preferred longer hikes or an option to do more activities (unfortunately the kayaking had been cancelled).

A truly amazing trip, with the best guide on the island (Nuno). The landscape, particularly in the North of Madeira is spectacular. The hiking was hard but lots of fun and the canyoning was something I never thought I would do but will definately be doing again.

It was my first experience with much better adventures and it was great. I loved the program, it was a very active program. I did hiking and canyoning for the first time in my life and I fell in love with both. Thank you very much to Nunu and Jorge for the whole organization. I have always felt their endless support in every matter. Also, many thanks to our guides Phipe and Gonzalo, who made us go canyoning, for giving us a very safe canyoning experience. It's definitely a route you won't regret. The hotels we stayed in were very comfortable, and there are many options for quality food on the island.

Such an amazing experience, my first solo trip so I was a bit apprehensive but this absolutely convinced me; it was fantastic to be in such a stunning, adventure-friendly place with likeminded people. Would recommend ten times over, and am already booking my next MBA holiday!

The trip was really well organized. The hikes and the landscape were amazing, same as the guides Jorge and Nuno, who told as a lot about the plants and history of Madeira. My expectations of this trip were more than fulfilled and the country and scenery are beautiful. I really loved the canyoning as it was a great group spirit and everyone took care of each other. My highlight was the whale watching. Altough we could not see any whales, we had the possiblity to go into the water and swim with dolphines, which was incredible.

I can only recommend much better adventures to everyone who is open minded and loves nature, traveling and adventures.

Amazing trip with MBA! This is the second holiday I've booked with this company, and I've been impressed! Our guides, Nuno and Jorge were fantastic; both very friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable. The landscape is incredible, breathtaking views all around the island. I didn't know what to expect with the canyoning, but I loved it! The guides we had for this experience were top notch and went above and beyond to make each person in the group feel safe and created a fun vibe! The food and accommodation was great! I really enjoyed the tempo of the holiday, nothing too strenuous but still active each day and with varied activities. We had a great group and got lucky with the weather. All in all, I'm very happy with this trip!

Great trip with a great group of people! We thoroughly enjoyed the itinerary and the variety of activities. Jorge and Nina are very good guides. The hiking routes were varied and brought us to some beautiful scenery. The sunrise hike was amazing! We enjoyed the mix in of whale watching and canyoning. We saw so many sperm whales! The companies they used for those activities were excellent. The hotels were comfortable and in good locations. One improvement to the itinerary would be on day 4. After spending the whole day hiking it would have been nice to enjoy more time at the natural pools at Porto Moniz. We felt very rushed and only got to spend 30 minutes there. Madeira is a beautiful island and we enjoyed our vacation there.

Excellent group holiday. Our guide Nina was excellent and incredibly knowledgeable. The country it’s spectacular and the activities and hikes we went on were brilliant. The group were very welcoming to me as a solo female traveller.

Overall excellent- maderia, the guides , Jorge,Nina where all top!!’ Improvement ideas:

• dont have the first night dinner in a restaurant where music is playing so loud you cant hear each other which is important on first meet
• have dinner on last night earlier as everyone tired and have wider choice
• offer some lunch choice - i only like plain sandwiches so couldnt eat any of them

AMAZING Trip. As a solo female traveler I always consider safety to be my top priority when choosing tour companies and adventures. Pedro was a fantastic and super knowledgeable guide and kept the group safe through the ever changing weather, beautiful scenery and amazing hikes! This was definitely the trip of a lifetime, SUPER FUN and well organized. It also really helps when you have an amazing group of people traveling with ya!! I will definitely be a returning customer.

I didn’t have too many expectations going to Madeira but this trip left me feeling so grateful to have had such a good varied time. The canyoning and different hikes and areas across Madeira were well considered, the food was amazing and everything was well planned. Pedro is a really experienced and considerate guide and lead the group really well. Loved the canyoning mix, dinners, sea pools and hike variance. Particularly loved the hotel on the coast which had a hot tub and felt like a piece of seaside paradise and relaxation after a busy day. Such a good week! Amazing people!

Loved this trip around Madeira. Pedro was a fantastic guide. Canyoning was amazing even if the water was freezing that day. Highly recommend the trip, especially the walk to the sea water pools. That hike was beautiful. Always helps when your group is fabulous too. Loved everything this island and this trip offered.

Well organised and fun tour.

Best holiday ever! This truly was an unforgettable experience.

The range of activities were brilliant, which meant that no day was the same.

At first I thought "we're packing again" when we were transferring to our second hotel, but I soon got into the swing of things and actually loved that we stayed in different places around the island, because we got to experience more of it. Like you do when traveling, instead of just being on a holiday.

Jorge (host) and Pedro were brilliant guides and great at looking after us. Everything was seamless.

The highlight of the trip was canyoning - Felipe and Gonzalez made us feel incredibly safe and were lots of fun and full of energy. We had options to abseil or jump, which meant if you weren't feeling brave you could still enjoy the experience. They also took amazing videos and pictures of us.

Thank you Jorge and co. It was the best!

Madeira is a great place to enjoy some winter sun and this trip gives you a chance to do some fun, active stuff whilst you are there. Hiking - the trek up to the highest peak on the final morning was superb, Kayaking - great scenery, a chance to swim in the seawater and canyoning (which I sadly missed, but the rest of the group loved it!)

The pictures from the trip itself were enough to convince friends to add Madeira to their wish list. Jorge and his team were fantastic hosts and made sure that we had a varied and fun filled Madeira experience which I would highly recommend.