Hidden Gems in Madeira
Twelve places we send returning guests, none of which appear on the coach routes.
By Madeira.Vacations · 7 min read · Last checked 26 July 2026
The far west
Achadas da Cruz's cable car drops almost vertically to a farming shelf by the sea. Ponta do Pargo lighthouse sits at the island's western end with almost nobody there.
Walks without the crowds
Ribeiro Frio to Portela is downhill all the way with a taxi back. The Levada do Caniçal and the Vereda do Larano see a fraction of the 25 Fontes traffic.
Timing beats distance
Fanal at dawn and Curral das Freiras before ten are effectively different places from the same spots at midday.
