Madeira

Wondering whether Madeira is a good destination for a cycling holiday? Absolutely! While the island is famous as a walking paradise, Madeira also offers an unforgettable cycling experience, combining spectacular scenery, year-round mild weather and fascinating Portuguese culture.

A cycling holiday in Madeira is the perfect way to explore the island’s diverse landscapes. Ride along scenic, panoramic roads with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, dramatic cliffs and peaceful coastal bays. Where the terrain becomes too steep or mountainous, convenient transfers make it easy to continue your journey and enjoy more of the island without tackling every challenging climb.

Madeira’s year-round mild climate makes it an appealing destination for cycling holidays in almost every season. As you cycle through the island, you’ll discover lush exotic flora, beautiful gardens and parks, tranquil bays and spectacular coastal scenery. The changing landscapes make every day on your bike a memorable part of your Madeira cycling adventure.

There’s plenty to discover beyond the scenery, too. Madeira has a fascinating cultural heritage dating back to its settlement in the 15th century, with impressive historic quintas, monumental fortresses and traditions shaped by centuries of maritime history.

Spend a week cycling in Madeira and experience this beautiful Atlantic island from a completely different perspective. From its UNESCO-recognised landscapes and old sailor traditions to the welcoming hospitality of the Madeiran people, a Madeira cycling holiday combines active adventure, natural beauty and culture in one unforgettable trip.

Ready to discover Madeira by bike? Explore the island on a cycling holiday and experience its spectacular landscapes, fascinating history and unique character at your own pace.

£70 per person off all September and October dates OR £100 OFF ELECTRIC BIKE RENTALS!

8 days

Difficulty: Challenging

From £1179 P/P

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Itinerary

Route overview

What’s included

Photos

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Itinerary

Once you arrive, you have a day to enjoy all the fantastic facilities the hotel has to offer. This hotel is also located right by the sea, and you can opt for the beach should you want to. In the evening, you will be welcomed by your tour representative.

The day will start with a transfer to Camacha, where you will have your bikes fitted. This village is well-known for its basket-making, and, of course, these can be purchased directly from the producers. As you head to the East Coast of the island, you will find yourself on a beautiful high road, which, of course, will give you fantastic views until you get to the little fishing village of Porto da Cruz. To note here is a beach made of volcanic sand and one of the last working sugar cane mills.

The day will start with a transfer by bus, which will take you up a very steep hill. This will take you to Santana, where the day’s cycling will start. However, before going here, we recommend a visit to an excellent Madeiran landmark – the traditional, thatched farmhouses which have been restored with much love and care. Once on your bike, head through small, enchanting villages whilst following the coast. Your route will take you to São Vicente, a beautiful town located by the sea and named after Saint Vincent. One of the highlights here is the 400,000-year-old grottoes.

Firstly, a transfer will take you to the plateau Paúl da Serra, from this point the cycling will begin on a high road passing cows and sheep, from where you will then have a large downhill to the West Coast of the island. Your location for the day will be Porto Moniz, home to a truly breathtaking view. This area is also known for its natural swimming pools, some of which are small, and some are large. These are frequented by both tourists and locals.

It’s time to explore the West Coast and the area’s UNESCO World Heritage site. Head through aromatic forests and quaint villages, always being accompanied by incredible views of the sea from high. Each turn in the road uncovers a new view. Your stop for the night will be Calhta, where you can see the beautiful rebuilt harbour. There is also an artificial beach here, the sand for which was brought in from Morocco. This village was once a place of sugar cane production and is now a place for locals to hang out.

For the first section of today, you will be cycling along the waterside in the direction of the capital. Once you get past Ribeira Brava, you will start heading uphill inland towards an amazing viewpoint, Cabo Girao. This is a see-through platform that sits at 580m above sea level, and the view down over Europe’s highest cliffs is breathtaking. From here, the only way is down, head back to the coast and into the centre of Funchal. The capital is a truly vibrant and colourful location.

On the last day, you will leave your bike behind and will begin on a cable car ride, which will take you to Monte. This popular location was once a noble health resort with grand quintas and is truly a great place to spend a day. Pay a visit to the pilgrimage church “Nossa Senhora do Monte” and the tropical garden “Jardim Tropical Monte Palace”. Another option is taking a walk on the well-known waterway “Levadas”. Take a magnificent hike on one of the amazing wicker sledges in the valley.

Departure from Funchal or spend extra nights in the city or the surrounding region.

Arrival: Canico

Departure: Funchal

Nearest arrival airport(s): Funchal

Nearest departure airport(s): Funchal

Please do not book travel until an official invoice confirms the cycling holiday.

Route overview

Starting point: Canico

End point: Funchal

Total distance cycled: 195 km

Difficulty: Challenging

Very quiet roads will lead you around this island. You will only cycle on busier roads for very short sections. The steepest and longest ascents will be bridged with transfers. Nevertheless, there are several longer ascents to deal with each day. Due to the topography and also the longer and sometimes steep hills, we recommend that you should have good fitness and good confidence on a bike.

Bike hire options

This cycling holiday benefits from high-quality bike hire options that have been carefully selected for the tour. Each well-maintained bike has modern V-brakes, aluminium wheels and puncture-proof tyres based around a KTM frame. Dynamo lights, small panniers, repair accessories, a handlebar bag and a comfortable saddle ensure that you have everything you need for an enjoyable cycle tour. Rental bike insurance is included in every booking.

Standard Unisex Bike 21/24-gears
Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 43 cm (heights approx. 148 cm to 190 cm)

Standard Men’s Bike 21-gears with crossbar
Sizes: 63 / 60 / 56-51 cm (heights approx. 165 cm to 205 cm)

Rental Bike PLUS
Rental Bike PLUS is designed for a slightly sportier sitting position and finely tuned gears offer excellent riding flexibility. The KTM aluminium frame has a high-quality Suntour suspension fork and puncture-proof tyres.
Sizes: 63 / 60 / 55 / 51 / 50 / 46 cm (heights approx. 155 cm to 205 cm)

Unisex Electric Bike
The electric bikes available on this tour assist up to 25 km/h whilst pedalling. The pedalec motor is in the bottom bracket of the frame and the detachable batteries last for approximately 120 km. Each bike has an illuminated LCD and 8-speed internal hub gears. They weigh 23 kg and have a back-pedal brake. Only limited numbers are available.
Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 46 ‘xs’ cm (heights approx. 148 cm to 195 cm)

Route Map

What’s included

Accommodation in beachside 2* and 4* hotels
Breakfast buffet or extensive breakfast
Welcome briefing
Luggage transfers
Detailed travel documents (Includes route maps, route description, local attractions and important telephone numbers)
Bus transfers Canico – Camacha, Porto da Cruz –Santana and Sao Vicente – Rocha Negra, incl. your bike
1 Cable car return journey Funchal – Monte
Service hotline
GPS data is available

Not included

Travel to/from the start and finish (Flights/Trains)
Evening meals (unless stated)
Local daily taxes (Payable at the hotel)
Helmets (Please bring your own cycle helmet with you)
Water bottles
Travel insurance
Bike hire (Rental bike insurance included)
Bike insurance (unless stated)
Welcome meetings (unless stated)
Transfers (unless included)
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: £469 PER PERSON
EXTRA NIGHT(S) – Canico: £89 PER PERSON PER NIGHT INC. BREAKFAST
EXTRA NIGHT(S) – Funchal: £89 PER PERSON PER NIGHT INC. BREAKFAST
Bike Hire Options
- 21/24/27-gear unisex/men’s inc. rental bike insurance: £99
- 21/24/27-gear unisex/men’s inc. rental bike insurance: £99
- Rental bike PLUS inc. rental bike insurance: £179
- Gravel bike inc. rental bike insurance: £189
- Electric bike inc. rental bike insurance: £279
You can select your bike hire options in the ‘Book Now’ section.

Check Availability

2026/27 cycling holidays

All prices shown are per person, sharing a double/twin room and exclude flights/bike hire.

Special Offer: £70 per person off all September AND ocTOBER prices!

Contact us for more information, a price match, or call 017687 71700. Offer valid on new bookings only and until the 31st August 2026.

NEW FOR 2027

To make a booking, simply use the filter and select the day of the week that the tour operates on. You’ll then see all of the tour dates and prices easily. No payment is taken at this stage. For all bookings, we take a 20% deposit, and the final balance is due 56 days before arrival. An invoice and online payment link are generated after the tour is confirmed.

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