3 hours Caniçal
Ponta de São Lourenço Boat Tour
A calm coastal boat tour around the eastern peninsula's red cliffs — sea caves, swim stops and the easiest way to get the family on the water.
from €38
Check availabilityMadeira with Kids
Family travel here is about picking the right version of each activity: the short levada rather than the ridge, the morning boat rather than the afternoon one, the sheltered beach rather than the dramatic one.
Where to go
Base yourself low
Mountain villages are beautiful and cold in the evenings.
Book boats early in the day
The sea gets choppier as the wind builds.
Plan around rain
The south stays dry when the north doesn't.
Bring a carrier
Pushchairs and levada paths rarely mix.
Book it
Guided options
2.5 hours Calheta Marina
Whale & Dolphin Watching Tour
A marine-biologist-led catamaran trip into the deep Atlantic, where pilot whales and three dolphin species are resident year round. Rated 4.9 from over 1,200 reviews.
from €74
Check availability
7.5 hours North West
Porto Moniz & Fanal Forest Day Trip
Seixal's black sand, the Véu da Noiva waterfall, the Porto Moniz volcanic pools and Fanal forest — the full west coast in an open-roof 4x4.
from €69
Check availabilityGuides on this subject
Family
Madeira with Kids
Which walks, beaches and boat trips work with children, and how to pace the week.
8 min read
Practical
What to Do in Madeira When It Rains
Rain on one coast usually means sun on the other. Here's how to use that.
5 min read