Balmy winter days make Madeira and the Algarve a paradise for walkers, cyclists and nature lovers.
If you're in search of an active winter sun holiday in southern Europe, sub-tropical Madeira and mainland Portugal's most southerly region, the Algarve, offer a wealth of hiking and biking trails. Read on for where to find high peaks and forested paths, opportunities for unique encounters with nature and costal routes through quaint fishing villages.
Madeira's levadas
Madeira's mild climate makes it the perfect destination for winter hikers and nature lovers. And while the south coast is the big draw, time spent exploring other parts of the island offers unforgettable rewards too. There's an endless choice of walks, thanks to a network of more than 2,000km of levadas - man-made irrigation channels dating back from the 16th century to the 1940s. They're a great way to see Madeira's nature at its most spectacular, taking in forest parks, quarries filled with five-million-year-old fossils, volcanic rock formations, springs, waterfalls, lakes, cliffs and sandy beaches.
Hikers and mountaineers can attempt hike around the soaring Pico Ruivo - the island's highest peak - while less strenuous routes are plentiful too. Vereda dos Balcoes is an easy 1.5km walk with plenty of birdwatching opportunities. But the levadas aren't just a way of seeing the island's bountiful nature, they are a great way to discover traditions of ancient villages and their inhabitants - among them the enthusiastic gardeners who sell their bananas and other tropical fruits along the routes.
The trails of the Algarve
Many think of the Algarve as a summer destination, but the region's long-distance trails draw walkers and cyclists from far and wide in the cooler months too. These paths offer a wonderful overview of this glorious region. They include the Grande Rota do Guadiana, one of the Algarve's best-kept secrets, and the Rota Vicentina footpaths, which showcase Portugal's wonderfully preserved southwest Coast.
The 65km Grande Rota do Guadiana follows the eponymous river on its way to the sea, passing fishing villages and salt pans and encompassing a series of circular routes, the Caminhos do Guadiana. But most of all are the 450km of trails on the Rota Vicentina, connecting the Algarve and Alentejo regions. Its two main branches, the Historical Route and the Fisherman's Trail, plus a series of circular offshoots, give walkers and cyclists a taste of Portugal's most authentic rural culture.
Amazing animal experiences Getting back to nature. Along the levadas of Madeira Natural Park and Funchal Ecological Park, you will find tame Madeiran chaffinches that will feed from your hand - a highlight of any trip here.
Riding the pilgrims path. A truly special way to explore the Algarve's Via Algarviana is on horseback. It follows an old pilgrim's path - stretching 300km from Alcoutim to Cabo de Sao Vincente - past bucolic pastures, plains and undulating scenery, filled with the scent of herbs and the sound of birds and gurgling streams.
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