Strap on your boots and discover Madeira on foot with the Sunflower Madeira travel guide which includes 100 long and short walks. On the days when your feet may have had enough, enjoy some spectacular scenery on one of our 6 recommended car tours.

Madeira Walking Guide – 100 Walks: The Most Comprehensive Guide to the Island

“This book single-handedly turned levada-walking into something approaching a craze” – The Sunday Times

Discover Madeira with the guide that’s been trusted by walkers since 1984. Written by John and Pat Underwood, who have been walking, checking and updating these routes for over 35 years, the Sunflower Madeira guide is more than a walking book – it’s your complete companion for levada walks, mountain hikes and scenic driving, helping you explore the island at your own pace. 

Now in its 16th edition and fully updated after the author’s latest trip, with every route rechecked on the ground, this long-established guide has helped generations of visitors discover Madeira’s famous levada paths, UNESCO-listed laurel forests, volcanic peaks and hidden coastal corners with confidence. Levadas are the ancient watercourses that carry rainfall from Madeira’s mountains to the cultivated terraces below – and the maintenance paths alongside them make for some of the most rewarding and accessible walking in Europe. From the dramatic ridgeline walk between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo to gentle waterside strolls above Funchal, every outing is covered with the detail and accuracy that walkers rely on. 

With 100 walks – more than any comparable Madeira walking guide – and 6 scenic car tours, this is the most comprehensive guide to exploring the island on foot and by car. Ideal for anyone planning a Madeira walking holiday. 

Why choose Sunflower Madeira:

• 100 long and short walks for all abilities – more walks than any comparable Madeira guide and all clearly graded so you can pick what suits you
• Pull-out map included – a full pull-out map for ease of use in the field, plus large-scale topographical maps with clearly marked waypoints and a Funchal town plan
• Always up to date – every route is rechecked on the ground by the authors for every edition with all the latest route changes and traveller feedback available via Sunflower’s free online update service 
• Unique car tours included – 6 scenic driving routes through Madeira’s volcanic landscape for when you want to explore further or take a rest day from walking 
• Satnav & GPS ready – free downloadable GPS tracks plus satnav coordinates to get you straight to the start of every walk
• Turn every outing into a great day out – handpicked picnic spots and ideas to help you slow down and enjoy the scenery
• Ideal for flexible travel – public transport timetables included, perfect if you’d rather not hire a car every day

Unlike purely technical hiking guides, Sunflower Guides are built for enjoyment, reliability and flexibility. Whether you want a short levada stroll through UNESCO-listed laurel forest, a full day on the high mountain ridges above Funchal or a relaxed scenic drive with stops along the way, the guide that introduced levada-walking to the world is ready to show you the best of Madeira.