34 things to do in Madeira, in four levels.
Sorted by what it takes to get in: time, planning, money or luck, never how hard it is. What you've done becomes a stamp in your passport, and what's left is the next trip.
Being written now by one person who lives in Madeira. Their name goes on it.
35 stamps: one for arriving, and 34 to earn. How the levels and titles work.
Set foot on Madeira
The one that's given. It's dated the day you land, and it's the only stamp nobody earns.
Visitor
What you can do on foot on a first trip, with no planning at all. Order it, walk it, taste it.
9 stamps
- PonchaDrink a ponchasugarcane spirit, honey, citrus
- LapasEat lapaslimpets, grilled in the shell
- B. do cacoBolo do caco with garlic butterflat sweet-potato bread
- EspetadaEspetada on a laurel skewer
- EspadaPeixe-espada com bananascabbardfish with fried banana
- MercadoMercado dos Lavradores
- MonteMonte cable car and toboggan
- WineMadeira wine tasting
- DoorsZona Velha painted doors
Explorer
The rest of the place. A bus or a car, a day planned around it, and sometimes something booked ahead.
16 stamps
- C. GirãoCabo Girão skywalk
- C. de LobosCâmara de Lobos harbour
- LevadaA short levada walkan irrigation channel through the forest
- ArieiroPico do Arieiro viewpoint
- PoolsPorto Moniz or Seixal natural pools
- SantanaSantana triangular houses
- RuivoPico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo
- 25 FontesA long levada
- S. LourençoPonta de São Lourenço hike
- WhalesWhale and dolphin watching
- CanyonCanyoning or coasteering
- FanalFanal at dawnbefore 9 a.m.
- ArraialAn arraialJune to Septembera village saint's festival
- CurralCurral das FreirasNovember for chestnutsthe Nuns' Valley
- FajãFajã dos Padreslimited hoursa cable car down to a cliff-foot vineyard
- SunriseSunrise above the cloudsa 5 a.m. start
Regular
Specific dates, permits, and a fair bit of luck. Most visitors never get here. That's rather the point.
5 stamps
- P. SantoPorto Santo, two nights or moretwo nights by ferry
- DesertasLand on the Desertasweather permitting
- NYENew Year's Eve in Funchal31 December
- Ruivo ☾Pico Ruivo on foot, by nighta torch and a clear night
- LevadasEvery levada walked
Half-local
The things you only do if someone who lives there brings you. No booking page, no ticket. You have to know a person.
4 stamps
- LevadeiroWalk a levada with the levadeiroby invitation, at his hours
- VindimaHelp bring in a family's grapesSeptember, if you're asked
- QuintaEspetada at a family house, not a restaurantsomeone has to invite you
- SelvagensSet foot on Ilhas Selvagens280 km south, permits, a multi-day sail
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