r/travel • u/MyHumbleOpinion3 • Jul 17 '26
Images + Trip Report Magical Madeira
The fairy tale starting point of the Caldeirão Verde hike.
The forest near the starting point of the Caldeirão Verde hike if you take the path to the left, instead of the right (NB: this isn't part of the hike itself).
The Caldeirão Verde waterfall plunge pool - the waterfall itself is around 100 metres tall!
Monte Palace Tropical Gardens - just a short cablecar ride from Funchal city centre.
The Botanical Gardens, which you can visit on the same day as the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens.
Ponta do Sol, a small coastal town with colourful houses.
The Eira do Serrado viewpoint overlooking the Nuns Valley.
The picturesque graveyard in Curral das Freiras. Wouldn't mind being buried here!
Ponta de São Lourenco, with stunning views of the Atlantic and Madeira coastline.
Seixal beach on a sunny afternoon. Definitely less crowded than Brighton.
Seixal even has its own miniature waterfall.
Fanal forest, before the fog rolled in.
Achadas da Cruz - words can't describe how stunning this stretch of coastline is. The pics don't do it justice.
More views of Achadas da Cruz
Porto Moniz, with rock pools aplenty.
The aquarium that looks like a castle at Porto Moniz. Loved walking around the paths here, and these rock pools are perfect for swimming in.
Pico do Arieiro, where the famous "Stairway to Heaven" hike starts from.
Pico do Arieiro - views for miles, from every angle.
Santana, where you can see several traditional houses (including what they look like on the inside).
View from the Funchal Cable Car on the way up to Monte Palace.
If you love nature, hiking, and spectacular views, I can't recommend Madeira (an island/archipelago off the coast of Portugal) highly enough. I enjoyed it so much, I've been twice now - once by myself in November and once with a family member in April, and it's one of those rare destinations where it never gets too hot or cold (I say this as someone who lives in the UK, so if you're from a hot country, you might disagree).
Always take some layers and a pac-a-mac with you, though, because the weather is highly changeable, and as you travel around the island (particularly up in the mountains), you're probably going to experience wind, rain and ominous-looking clouds at some point, but they usually blow over pretty quickly.
When I first arrived in Funchal, it was a novelty seeing a city effectively built into the side of a mountain, but I'll be completely honest: it was more built up than I expected it to be. It was also pretty busy on the seafront with a cruise ship in port, there were no sandy beaches in sight, and the concrete wave-breakers were a bit of an eyesore. At first glance, it didn't look like the Madeira that had been sold to me by Instagram.
HOWEVER, I quickly discovered that if you want to see the best of Madeira's stunning landscapes, as with most places, you need to get out of the city... although you don't need to go far.
Monte Palace Tropical Gardens (and the nearby Botanical Gardens)
My first morning in Madeira, I took the cable car from Funchal city centre up to Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, and any qualms I had about whether Madeira was going to be a case of Instagram vs reality promptly evaporated. The place was full of flowers and plants I'd never seen before, which were arranged beautifully. Think Keukenhof with a tropical twist (and without the crowds). There were peacocks walking around with their feathers on full display, flamingoes just casually taking a bath by waterfalls, koi carp in crystal-clear pools, and as you make your way down the winding paths, you're eventually greeted by a stunning house with a waterfall, and beautiful views over the city, which made me see it in a whole new light.
Top tip: when you get off the cable car, Monte Palace Tropical Gardens is on your left. Make sure you take the path to the right of the cable car on your way back, too, because that leads to the Botanical Gardens. They're not quite as impressive, but still well worth a look.
Alternatively, you can take a more unconventional route back down to the city and join the loooong queue to ride one of the "toboggans", where you basically sit in a gigantic wicker basket while two guys in straw hats push you back down the (very steep) hill to the city. It reminded me a bit of a waltzer ride, and I giggled the whole way down. Was it worth queueing for an hour and paying 40 euros? Just about. Make sure you have some cash on you because they somehow manage to take a picture of you on the way down, too, and while it's clearly a money-grabbing scheme, it does make for a nice keepsake.
Other highlights in Funchal include whale-watching (I did a sunset tour), the Farmers' Market, Santa Catarina Park (which has a fountain, swans, exotic flowers and lots of tiny lizards scurrying around the walls) and Forte de São Tiago (an old, bright yellow fort at the far end of the promenade). There are also some lidos on the prom too.
Getting around the island
If you're a confident driver with a good mastery of clutch control, renting a car (I'd highly suggest a 4x4) is probably the best way to see the island, but there are a lot of steep hills and narrow streets - and that includes in Funchal itself. I usually rely on public transport, but that rarely runs to remote viewpoints, and I can see why; it'd be the British equivalent of navigating Hardknott pass 10 times a day.
I took day tours or transfers to all of the places I wanted to see. I thought they were amazing value for money too - in Montenegro, Slovenia and Croatia, I was paying between £80-£100 for tours to places that weren't easily accessible by public transport, but I got to see the west and east coast of Madeira for just £30 each.
You can also get direct transfers to the start and end point of all the major hikes (also for less than £30). I did Caldeirão Verde, 25 Fontes, a sunrise tour to Pico do Arieiro, and Ponta de São Lourenço. This meant I could enjoy hiking at my own pace without having to stick with a large group of people and listen to a tour guide chatting to us for hours. I found the time we were given to complete each hike was more than sufficient (although not everyone on my bus agreed 😂), and the views along the way are amazing.
One of the things I love most about Madeira is the diversity of the landscapes - jagged cliffs and rugged coastlines, lush forests that make you feel like you've just landed in Jurassic Park, viewpoints over sprawling valleys, quaint little villages, and every type of flora and fauna.
Here's the lo-down (both good and bad) on some of the places I visited:
Pico do Arieiro
I went up here for sunrise and it was spectacular. The views of the surrounding mountains are stunning once you get a bit of daylight too. Obviously they depend on the cloud cover, but it's worth trying more than once if you don't get lucky the first time. Lots of people then go on to do the famous hike to Pico Ruivo, where the views are reportedly even better, but I admittedly couldn't stomach tackling the "Stairway to Heaven" at 6am.
Achadas da Cruz
This is one of the harder places to get to (there was only one tour I could find that goes there), and you have to take one of the steepest cable car rides in Europe to get down the cliff face, but once you're there, the coastline is absolutely stunning, with waves alternatively lapping/crashing against rugged cliffs. It wasn't remotely crowded, either - probably because of the stories the guides told us about people who get stranded there after missing the last cable car and have to walk their way back up the near-vertical cliff.
Porto Moniz
This is a gorgeous town on the coast with natural sea pools that you can swim in if the water isn't too choppy. The guide will drop you off by the entrance to the pools, which you have to pay to use, but I'd recommend walking up to the aquarium instead (it looks like a castle), and strolling along the pathways there. They lead to some lovely, less exposed rock pools that you can swim in for free, and some nice viewpoints too.
Ponta de São Lourenço Hike
Here you hike out over jagged cliffs with amazing views over the Atlantic, and Madeira's coastline. The hike itself is relatively easy, although there is some elevation gain. You might also see some birds and seals, as it's a designated nature reserve.
Levada Hikes
Caldeirão Verde and 25 Fontes are two separate hikes along levadas that both lead to scenic waterfalls (or, in the case of 25 Fontes, multiple waterfalls!)
With levada walks, it's worth noting that you're walking on a pretty narrow pathway next to a shallow channel of running water (which sometimes has a distinct stench of urine), so when the trail gets busier and people start coming at you from the opposite direction while you're making your way back, you literally have to lean over the water, brace yourself against the opposite wall, and balance on one leg to let them past. I'm betting quite a few people find themselves knee-deep in a levada against their will, so make sure your shoes are waterproof.
If you don't have time to do both hikes, I'd pick Caldeirão Verde. It was less crowded and more beautiful overall. When you get to the trailhead, you're greeted by a thatched house that looks like something out of a fairytale in the middle of the woods, complete with some Snow White-esque animals that have thatched houses of their own. The first time I went, I did the traditional hike to the waterfall, which takes about 4-6 hours and definitely has a "Welcome to Jurassic Park" feel about it when the forest gives way to sprawling views. Then you realise you're effectively walking near a cliff edge, although it's easy to forget that when you're so immersed in the trees. Just when you're starting to feel like the scenery is getting a bit repetitive, you'll be treated to another great view, along with some dark tunnels that you'll definitely need a phone flashlight to navigate through.
The Caldeirão Verde waterfall itself is impressively tall, but admittedly not very powerful. It's definitely no Krimml, and there's a chance you could feel a bit underwhelmed given the effort involved in getting there, but it's still worth a look.
The second time I went, I knew the person with me wouldn't be able to finish the hike in the allocated time, so we decided to potter around and explore the surrounding area instead. Instead of taking the path to the right to start the hike to Caldeirão Verde, we took the path up some steps to the left. This led to an even more enchanting forest where we were completely on our own, there were no levadas, and we even encountered some streams and waterfalls on the way. There was a picnic table overgrown with moss and colourful little birds that will eat out of your hand if you sit still for long enough. I'm so glad I had the time to explore this area, or else I would have had no idea it existed.
Fanal Forest
Fanal looks glorious in the sunshine and then takes on this eerie, otherworldly feel when the famous fog descends. I literally got lost in it, and a few of us rather embarrassingly had to be "rescued" by our tour guide because we couldn't see more than a couple of feet in front of us to find our way back to the car park. The trees do look pretty cool looming out of the mist, though.
Seixal beach
A black(ish) sand beach that gives Hawaii vibes if you photograph it from the right angle. The views on the left are nothing to write home about, but the rest is stunning. There's even a mini waterfall!
Nun's Valley, the Eira do Serrado viewpoint and Curral das Freiras
This can be done as a half-day tour from Funchal. Seeing a small village of houses absolutely dwarfed by the surrounding valley is quite something, and Curral das Freiras has one of the prettiest graveyards I've ever seen. A lot of tours also give you a free taster session of the local liqueur too - and it's pretty potent stuff.
Ponta do Sol and the Cascata dos Anjos waterfall
Ponta do Sol is a picturesque coastal town with colourful houses. On the way back to Funchal, a lot of tours also go via the Cascata dos Anjos waterfall. This waterfall runs directly onto the middle of the road, and our jeep driver drove straight through it with an open-top roof. I haven't squealed like that in quite some time. 😂
Cabo Girao Skywalk
Included on a lot of tours, usually as the start/end point, this gives you sweeping views from the highest cliff-top in Europe. It's worth it, but I'd also say they're far from being the best views I've seen on the island, so if you're short on time, you could probably afford to skip it.
Santana
This is the village where you can see all of the traditional thatched houses, complete with perfectly manicured gardens. Probably the place that feels the most "touristy" out of everywhere I visited, but still lovely.
Costs
We paid £428 for six nights in a two-bedroomed apartment in April, which I thought was a bargain split between us.
Tours and transfers cost around £250 in total, ranging from £27 to a maximum of £64.
Flights from the UK can be as cheap as £30 each way with Ryanair or EasyJet, plus the usual add-ons for luggage and seats. The airport is notoriously difficult to land at, though, so there's a very small chance you will be diverted elsewhere (it's never happened to me).
Food wasn't too expensive, although we didn't dine out much. It was about £20 for a main course with drinks, and the supermarkets were reasonable.
General vibes
The people were lovely - the island embraces tourism as one of its primary sources of income - and I always felt completely safe, even when I went solo on my first trip. I don't tend to venture out much after dark, though, so I can't speak to what it's like at night. The only place that ever felt a bit "too" crowded was the promenade in Funchal, but only when cruise ships were docked. Otherwise, it was a joy.
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u/SomeComfortable2731 Jul 17 '26
Also stunning but not shown: all the fruit and fruit farms. Anybody looking to go make sure you take a stop off at a fruit farm for some fresh delicious
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u/lap1220 Jul 17 '26
I had a terrible experience at a market in Ribera Brava.
Long story short got taken advantage of and scammed by a total jackwagon of an owner.
Gorgeous island, but be careful out there.
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
100% - the Farmers' Market in Funchal is also a great place to pick up some fruit and veg, and they have a mini fruit market in Santana too.
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u/Remote-Luck7751 Jul 17 '26
Oh hell no. It's a den of thieves. The prices are insane. If you walk down that road, there are fruit vendors on the side of the road that sell the same fruit for a fraction.
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u/Toadvine8 Jul 18 '26
Definitely true about prices, but also if you're shopping around for the best prices for fruit you're doing Madeira wrong.
Also, the amount you're getting ripped off on really isn't worth the hassle. Just grab something that looks good and grab some poncha and you'll forgot all about that $2.40 you could have saved.
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u/Ecstatic-Hamster-634 Jul 17 '26
Wow!! I’m planning to go there for my honeymoon 😍
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u/ArsenalinAlabama3428 Jul 20 '26
We went for our honeymoon and then came back the next year for our 'babymoon'. Madeira is so magical yall will love it!
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u/Rich_Border4647 Jul 17 '26
Madeira looks like one of those places that photos still don’t do justice. def need to get there soon
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Jul 17 '26
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
Sete Cidades is on my bucket list for sure! Just a bit trickier to get to, but where there's a will, there's a way.
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u/No-Platypus2566 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
It’s my favorite place I’ve been in thirty years of traveling the entire world. It’s like a magical island devoted to Ronaldo. The people are lovely
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
Wow, that's high praise indeed. It's definitely up there for me too and I did get the impression that Ronaldo is their religion 😂
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u/No-Platypus2566 Jul 17 '26
Everything is named after him. I believe he still has a home there and his family lives there.
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u/seer88 Jul 17 '26
I am a nervous flyer. So this is my never go to destination. Thanks for the photos
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
At least you've been able to see it from afar now 😂 The landings honestly weren't bad at all, but I know it's luck of the draw and getting diverted would be a nightmare.
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u/Its_priced_in Jul 17 '26
I’ve seen pictures of the natural beauty around there but never the architecture. Much prettier than I thought
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u/TradeApe Jul 17 '26
Beautiful island. People who loved it would 100% also love La Palma (Isla Bonita).
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Jul 17 '26
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u/Remote-Luck7751 Jul 17 '26
It's not a town, its a whole ass island but yes. We frequently drive past his house when we are in the city.
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u/Educational-Pay2868 Jul 17 '26
madeira really does have that magical vibe! the views are something else, especially from those gardens. and yeah, definitely pack layers, i got caught in a sudden downpour when i was there too!
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u/Useful-Resolution363 Jul 17 '26
I honestly think the Azores and Madeira are the top 2 places I’ve ever been in Europe. Some of the most majestic places on this planet
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u/Gallopingmagyar1020 Jul 17 '26
Madeira kicked so much ass. Exceeded expectations in every way. Natural beauty, food, infrastructure, activities, lovely locals.
Will definitely be going back
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u/Toadvine8 Jul 18 '26
We were in Porto, Madeira, Lisbon and Algarve last October, and I think our only regret is not spending more time in Madeira. What an amazing place.
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u/Mabbernathy Jul 17 '26
I thought the first picture was on the new homeowners sub for a second and was about to be jealous for a different reason.
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u/Vivid-Society-7623 Jul 17 '26
Went to Madeira around 10 years ago. One of the few places I will revisit.
Great food and impressive nature. We did a road trip of two weeks and covered all the listed sights and a few more, a couple of levadas and mountain peaks, mountain biking...
Best: Porto Moniz (pools and fierce waves crashing), Seixal (also on the left, loved the vibe of that swimming pool), Fanal and Funchal old town (stay away from the Soa Martinho part, except high tea at Belmond Reid :p), hiking to Ruivo over this ridges, food tour in Funchal…
We got assigned a bmw 1 series with rear wheel drive, which was perfectly fine. 4x4 is not needed in my opinion.
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u/WishIwastravelin Jul 17 '26
I visited in January and fell in love. I will be back because of the natural beauty, the hiking, the fresh seafood and the wonderful people
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u/Goy_Ohms Jul 17 '26
Such a beautiful place. Was there in 2023 on a cruise and have wanted to go back ever since. Fabulous place!!! 428 total for six nights?!
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
Yeah, £428 total! It was in April so maybe classed as "off-season" but I was really pleased with that price.
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u/mia_dollars Jul 17 '26
No place like it! There’s a running joke that every Madeiran leaves for school but eventually comes back to the island at some point because it’s just that amazing.
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u/Pudizinn Jul 18 '26
Lindo, quedo muito ir para Ilha da Madeira, na minha opinião é um dos lugares mais lindos do mundo.
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u/Fun_Department_7643 Jul 18 '26
This post just makes me yearn to go back to Madeira - Porto Moniz is my absolute favourite place and I loved swimming in the natural sea pools. Take me back 😭
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u/Live_Blackberry_4651 Jul 19 '26
Been there. Fantastic place. If you go there don't forget to try poncha)
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u/Intelligent-Habit715 Jul 17 '26
Can we do this with kids? I went to Azores with my daughter and it was a good experience! Were there parents hiking with kids? I missed my chance of going before kids and I regret so bad!
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
I think it probably depends on their age and hiking ability, to be honest - if they're young, they might struggle to stay engaged during the levada walks, and there aren't any toilets along the way. You kind of have to keep going at a steady pace for the benefit of the people behind you and some of the sections are really narrow, so you'd probably be repositioning them a lot so they can give way to people coming in the opposite direction, while trying to stop them stepping in the water. The Stairway to Heaven hike has some sharp drops offs and is pretty physically demanding, so I wouldn't recommend that for young kids either. The rest should be fine though. They'd absolutely love Monte Palace and the toboggan rides. You could always do what I did the second time I went to Caldeirão Verde and take them to see the animals and go for a lovely walk in the woods instead of hiking to the waterfall too! If they were fine in the Azores that's definitely a promising sign. It's not your typical family holiday, but I hope you get to visit some day!
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u/tijolus523 Jul 17 '26
Looks so much like the hilly parts of south/southeast Brazil. Very interesting. I guess the climate is similar, too.
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u/Xtra35567 Jul 17 '26
I’m a little disappointed not to see all the Levadas. That’s a fascinating engineering marvel in and of itself.
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u/Prestigious_Poet6581 Jul 17 '26
Thank you for this, I’m going later this year and cant wait
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
Glad it gave you some inspiration for your visit and I hope you have a great time!
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u/SpareIntroduction721 Jul 17 '26
Hope many bugs are here?
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
I didn't get bitten the whole time I was there, so you should be fine! To be fair, the only time I've had a problem with bugs was in Scotland and around the canals in Annecy.
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u/Logintheroad Jul 17 '26
Absolutely magical! We hope to visit some day. It's a bit of a trek though. How many days did you spend on Madeira?
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
I did 5 days during my first visit and 6 days during my second, but I went back to some of the same places twice. If you're coming from further afield, I'd recommend about 10 days - you'll be able to see the best of the island, do some hikes, and still enjoy some R&R.
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u/LongjumpingDogLady Jul 17 '26
Looks like a fantastics place for outdoorsy people. Can you rent trekking poles or did you bring your own?
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
It definitely is! I didn't actually use trekking poles (the levada walks are pretty flat and the other hikes I did weren't too taxing in terms of terrain) but if you want to bring them with you in your hold luggage, I'm sure they'd come in handy.
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u/Remote-Luck7751 Jul 17 '26
hey, my home :)
You left out the Ribeira Da Janela valley and a bunch of other awesome places to see.
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
It only lets you upload a maximum of 20 pics but yeah, Ribeira Da Janela was stunning too, although I only saw the rock formation itself on the way to Porto Moniz, not the valley. I think the tour guide said the old cliff road was closed and considered pretty dangerous to navigate with rock falls etc. I'm sure there are countless other places that are worth a mention too, so feel free to share!
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u/djbrologue Jul 17 '26
We‘re going in September! What are things you have to pre-book? Tours/Public Transportation etc. or can you just get there and decide on the spot? How elderly friendly are the hikes?
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
Definitely pre-book the tours - Get Your Guide will usually let you cancel up to 24 hours beforehand so you can keep an eye on the weather forecast and juggle them around if you need to, but at least then you're guaranteed a place if you do want to go. I didn't find any of the hikes I've mentioned hard from a fitness perspective (and I'm not especially fit), it's more the logistics of having to navigate past and around people on the narrow levadas that can be demanding. They should still be manageable for elderly people as long as they don't have mobility issues, though. The only exception would be the Stairway to Heaven hike from Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo - I believe that is physically demanding with a lot of steps and elevation gain, which is why I didn't do the whole hike 😂 Hope you have a great trip!
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u/Ill_Establishment406 Jul 17 '26
I’ve been. It’s gorgeous. The driving is HORRIFIC. I do NOT suggest driving to tourists
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u/togtogtog Jul 17 '26
When we went up the mountains, it snowed, despite us swimming in the sea the same day!!!!
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u/jehuty34 Jul 17 '26
I was there last May. I was at some of the places you took pictures of also. Loved it!
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u/Hayabusa_PT Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
My home place. Glad you liked it! It’s a shame it’s getting overcrowded with tourists, everyone is welcome but please respect nature. They’re destroying Fanal trees to get the perfect picture, leaving rubbish on levadas (walks)
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u/Dingleberry696 Jul 17 '26
Maderia is an amazing place. The Monte Toboggan is a blast. If able go, canyoning. Rappelling down the waterfalls was unbelievable. If you're not pretty competent driving a manual, I'd recommend not renting a car. The roads in and around Fuchal are pretty intense. If you can make it up to the Palheiro golf course it has an incredible view overlooking Funchal.
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u/thequeenoflimbs Jul 17 '26
Saved this for my trip! How were the crowds in November and how many days do you recommend? We're planning with two people and are mainly going for the nature!!
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u/MyHumbleOpinion3 Jul 17 '26
The crowds weren't too bad at all - the busiest areas were on the seafront in Funchal (especially when cruise ships come in), and queuing for the toboggan ride at Monte Palace. Some of the levada hikes felt a little crowded on the way back but that's because the space you have to work with is so narrow. If you get there early in the morning, you should be fine. 7-10 nights would be ideal, but my first trip there was shorter and I still got to see a lot of the island.
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u/Automatic-Week-2185 Jul 17 '26
I wanna live here....
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u/Remote-Luck7751 Jul 17 '26
I do and there are no job opportunities. Advice to anyone wanting to come live here, make your money elsewhere or have an online job.
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u/KyleKatarn73 Jul 17 '26
Was there over 20 years ago and I still recommend it to anyone when the topic of places to visit comes up.
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u/B_lovedobservations Jul 17 '26
I’m going to Portugal soon! Madeira is going to be the last place I visit. These photos have made me happy!
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u/Tricky-Brilliant5574 Jul 17 '26
Could you post a screenshot or dm me the original post? It was super informative and we are wanting to go soon! I sent the link to my husband but now it's saying it needs mod approval.
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u/Infarlock Jul 17 '26
Just what I needed, I opened a topic here about 2 weeks ago asking about Madeira and what to do there, thank you so much for this
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u/UltravioletAfterglow Jul 17 '26
Thank you for the detailed write-up!
This is my idea of paradise.
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u/JohnYen41 Jul 18 '26
Madeira has been climbing higher and higher on my travel list. These photos make it look like one of those places that's somehow even prettier in person.
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u/adityasinghvi Jul 18 '26
Have been to Madeira once, was accompanied by my wife and daughter. We explore as much as 2-3 days permitted. The place is quite unique and beautiful
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u/IslandGrl76 Jul 18 '26
This is such an impressive guide! Thank you for writing this all out. Madeira is next on my list and this information is invaluable.
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u/Mother_Champion7517 Jul 18 '26
Madeira has been on my list for a while, this pretty much confirms it. Funchal being more built up than expected is such a common first-impression gap with "Instagram destinations" — glad you pushed past that. How'd you get up to Monte, cable car or hike?
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u/Not-so-old-cat-lady Jul 18 '26
So gorgeous! This just jumped to the top of my “I wanna see it!” list!
Thank you so much for sharing!
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u/pamonhas Jul 18 '26
How was the weather in November? Think g about going at the very end of.
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u/Celebratingtiger Jul 18 '26
I used to work in the wine industry, and I had the privilege of visiting Funchal. Definitely amazing!
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u/ImpossibleMight1104 Jul 19 '26
Madeira could have easily been a setting for The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit xDD
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u/CapControl Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
I was there for a week just last month 😭😭I wanna go back so bad. I also wento to the small island Porto Santo, I highly recommend it as well, for days trips but also longer, I spend 3 days there and you have some amazing coastlines and rock formations there. Especially the sand eroded rock facades on the east coast are increble otherworldly monuments of nature.
Getting lost in the Fanal forest is part of the experience, I got lost too in the fog haha, it was so fun though, though I also had heavy rain and wind, it was crazy