Madeira has a fantastic network of tracks and “levadas”. In total there are over 200 “levadas” crossing the basalt masses of the islands, leading the walker to a natural world such as is seldom seen elsewhere.

Along these water courses, rare species of flora and fauna can be found,from the world of the Madeiran Laurissilva forest, a primordial type of flora listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

Birds such as the Long-toed Pigeon (Columba trocaz), Zino’s Petrel (Pterodroma madeira), the Madeira Chaffinch (Fringilacoelebs maderensis) and the Madeira Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus maderensis) can be found here, as well as trees such as the Fetid Laurel (Ocotea foetens), the Azorean Laurel (Laurus azorica) or the Indian Bay (Persea indica), as well as many other shrubs, plants and mosses found nowhere else in the world.

The majority of the walks are quite accessible, although they are graded according to difficulty, so it is a good idea to buy the programmes provided by travel agencies or the tourist organisations which arrange walks led by mountain guides and give advice as to the appropriate equipment to be used.

It goes without saying that you should tell people where you are going: under no circumstances should you do these walks alone.

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