Family Madeira Adventure

This week-long escorted tour around Madeira begins in Funchal, where after settling in you can enjoy an evening welcome with your group. Early days include stand-up paddleboarding at Camara de Lobos Bay, with time for swimming and snorkelling, followed by a stroll through the fishing village with views over the bay.

The itinerary moves on to Funchal's historic heart with visits to the cathedral, the colourful market and a botanical garden where macaws and cockatoos chatter among exotic plants. A cable car ride to Monte is paired with a ride down on the island’s two-seater wicker toboggans, steered by men in white uniforms, reaching speeds up to 48 km/h. Midweek brings a jeep tour west to coastal villages, volcanic pools and viewpoints including the waterfall Vu da Noiva, with a picnic featuring traditional Madeiran flatbread and steak or a vegan alternative.

Later, a three-hour catamaran trip hopes for sightings of dolphins or whales near the island, followed by a free day offering the choice of canyoning or the local football museum. The final day combines a two-and-a-half-hour hike across the island’s eastern tip with a boat trip returning to the marina beneath. Accommodation is at a hotel with pool and games room just outside Funchal and close to the lido.

New to Portugal? Our Portugal guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

These are the places the trip visits, in order. Explore Worldwide publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.