Madeira
In November 2021, Mei and I wanted to enjoy a few more warm days and so we spontaneously flew to Madeira for a week. The Portuguese island lies west of Morocco and is known for its beautiful hiking trails and high cliffs.
Ponta de São Lourenço
Our first hike took us to the peninsula of Ponta de São Lourenço in the east of the island. The region is dominated by barren landscapes with desert-like vegetation and always beautiful views.
Cabo Girão Skywalk and Calhau da Lapa
After a hearty breakfast on our balcony with a beautiful view of the sea, the next day we went to the south of the island to the Cabo Girão Skywalk and to Calhau da Lapa.
Achada da Cruz
Achada da Cruz is in the very west of the island. From here a cable car leads 500m down to the coast where you can take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the sea.
Pico Ruivo
An absolute highlight was the hike to the highest mountain on the island, the Pico Ruivo. The ascent is a bit strenuous, but the view is absolutely worth it.
Porto Monitz
After our hike we drove along the northern coast and enjoyed the sunset in Porto Monitz
25 Fontes
The levada hike to the 25 Fontes is certainly one of the most beautiful and easiest levada trails on the island. It leads through original vegetation with many small waterfalls and laurel forests. After our hike we made a small detour to Praia da Calheta.
Funchal
In Funchal, the capital of Madeira, in the city’s oldest street, Rua de Santa Maria, you can admire beautifully painted doors created as part of the Projecto artE portas abErtas project. With the support of the city administration, various artists have created a kind of open-air art museum with many restaurants and cafés.
Fajã dos Padres is another small coastal town that is most easily reached by cable car.
Levada do Cabo and Farol da Ponta do Pargo lighthouse
The next day we hiked a bit along the Levada do Cabo in the west of the island and enjoyed the sunset at the Farol da Ponta do Pargo lighthouse.
Peninsula of Ponta de São Lourenço
On our last day we went back to the peninsula of Ponta de São Lourenço in the east of the island, where we had a beautiful view of the Ponta do Bode, before we flew back to cold Germany. 
We rented a car at the airport to get around the island. Luckily we got a rather small one. The roads in Madeira are very narrow, winding and steep. I