Levada da Referta - Castelejo

Excellent guide, small group size wonderful experience.

Our first levada walk in Madeira booked through our hotel. We were picked up at our hotel in Funchal at 8:15am and discovered we were in a small group of 11. Elton was our driver and guide. The trip to the start of the walk was about 45 mins but we were entertained by Elton and his facts about the island en route. The walk was pretty easy though wet and muddy in places. No problem if you wear good walking shoes (not for trainers). Fascinating learning about the island and the flora and fauna from Elton was is experienced, knowledgeable, passionate about his island and nature and very entertaining. The walk took just over 2 hours and ended in a local cafe famed for its banana and walnut cake (quite rightly!). We were dropped back at the hotel around 1pm having throughly enjoyed the experience. We saw other much bigger groups some distance behind us on our walk and glad we chose a company that deliberately keeps group sizes to 15 or less. Highly recommended especially if Elton is your guide ( he leads other walks , too).

Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your wonderful and detailed review! We’re delighted to hear that your first levada walk in Madeira was such a positive experience and that you enjoyed travelling in a small group. It’s great to know that Elton helped make the journey and walk so enjoyable with his knowledge, passion for the island, and entertaining insights along the way. We’re also pleased that you appreciated the route, the café stop at the end, and the overall timing of the day, as well as the benefits of keeping our groups small for a more personal and relaxed experience. Thank you for highlighting practical details like footwear and conditions too — this is very helpful for future guests. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another walk in Madeira soon!

via Tripadvisor

Lovely Levada Walk

Picked up on time by a brilliant guide - Alvaro and a driver - small group, 15 people. A very scenic and easy walk, just over 5.5 km with 15/20 steps down to the Lavada and a short downhill walk on a quiet road at the end to a cafe and our pickup. Along the way Alvaro pointed out plants and birds and talked about the countryside which enhanced the walk, along with a couple of jokes and recipes. A lovely morning - and it didn’t rain! He was a great guide who was very concerned with the safety of the group and did everything to ensured we had an enjoyable outing.

Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your lovely and detailed review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the walk and the scenic route, and that the small group size helped make the experience more personal and relaxed. It’s great to know that Alvaro made such a positive impression with his knowledge of the local plants, birds, and countryside, as well as his humour and engaging stories. We’re especially pleased that you felt well looked after and safe throughout the walk — this is always one of our top priorities. We’re glad the weather held up for you too! Thank you again for your kind words, and we hope to welcome you back for another enjoyable morning in Madeira soon.

via Tripadvisor

Beautiful walks in Madeira

I couldn't recommend this company enough. They guide ( Maria) was very caring , friendly, and clear when explaining features of interest along the walk. We were so impressed that we booked another walk at a different location, and the guide (Elton) was just as caring and informative. We will return to Madeira, and will book more walks with this company

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review and kind recommendation! We’re delighted to hear that you had such positive experiences on both walks with Maria and Elton. It means a lot to know that their caring approach, friendliness, and knowledge helped make your time with us so enjoyable and memorable. The fact that you chose to book a second walk with us during your stay is one of the best compliments we could receive, and we’re truly grateful for your trust. We look forward to welcoming you back to Madeira in the future and sharing even more beautiful walks and experiences with you!

via Tripadvisor

A really good, easy start to a walking holiday

Picked up on time and transported in a nice minibus to the stant of our walk which was a pleasant, gentle stroll with some lovely views. Our driver guide, Elton, was a gem - knowlegeable and humorous. All told, a really good half day trip.

Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the walk, the beautiful views, and the comfortable transportation. It’s especially wonderful to know that Elton helped make the experience memorable with his knowledge and sense of humour — we’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to him. We truly appreciate your feedback and are so pleased you had a really enjoyable half-day trip with us. We hope to welcome you back again for another walk in Madeira soon!

via Tripadvisor

Referta Levado hike

Wonderful hike with a great guide Avrelo. Exactly what we expected. Knowledgable and good humour. Do it

via Viator