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Welcome! You will find here everything you need to register or support a participant of the The Great Madeira Island Crossing - Portugal.

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The Great Madeira Island Crossing - Portugal

Discover this little corner of paradise in an authentic way! From the sea to the highest Picos, following the levadas and surveying the magnificent primary forests of the Flower Island! With breathtaking surroundings, you'll discover authentic natural treasures on this small island of just 741km².

Itinerary

• Day 1: Montreal – Funchal : Participants meet at the airport in Montreal and fly to Funchal with connecting flight.
• Day 2: Funchal – Machico : Arriving in Funchal, you are welcomed at the airport by your local team. Short transfer to your accommodation in Machico or Santa Cruz.
  Dinner included
• Day 3: Machico – Pointe Sao Lorenzo : Short 10-minute transfer to Abra Bay and hike to Pointe de São Lorenzo at the eastern end of the island. Follow a narrow, rocky path into a unique, entirely mineral world of multicolored ledges. The ochre and red of the basalt rocks contrast with the deep blue of the ocean, between the peaceful Abra Bay to the south, and the ever-choppy coastline to the north. On a clear day, you'll be able to see Porto Santo, the deserted islands and the central cordillera, home to the highest peaks. Return to Machico in the afternoon.
  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
  Distance: 7 km / Approx. walking time: 4 hrs / Elevation: +500m / -500m
• Day 4: Machico – Porto da Cruz : A coastal hike takes us to Porto da Cruz. After breakfast, we set off on foot from our hotel, climbing to Pico do Facho and following the levada de Caniçal for 4 km through a valley of eucalyptus and mimosa. Along the way, we admire the island of Porto Santo in the distance. A 1.5 h cliffside trail takes us to Maiata and then Porto da Cruz, renowned for housing one of the island's last rum distilleries.
  From Porto da Cruz, we continue on foot to Sao Roque do Faial, where we spend the night.
  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
  Distance: 15 km / Approximate walking time: 7 hrs / Elevation: +850m / -550m
• Day 5: Penha de Aguia - Santana : The Faial valley is dominated by an enormous rock: the Penha de Aguia (Eagle Rock). This mound bears witness to the erosion caused by rivers over time. After breakfast, we set off on foot from our accommodation. We begin our ascent through the mimosas to reach the heart of a eucalyptus forest and discover a splendid view of the picos and the tip of Sao Lourenço.
  On the way back down, we walk directly to our accommodation in Santana.
  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
  Distance: 10 km / Approx. walking time: 7 hrs / Elevation: +1100m / -1300m
• Day 6: Pico Ruivo - Curral das Freiras : For this day's hike, we're going to reach high peaks. This morning, a short transfer takes us to Achada do Texeira, the starting point for our crossing of Madeira's high peaks. We're off in the direction of Pico Ruivo, the island's highest peak at 1862 m altitude. The ridge trail offers breathtaking views over the entire massif, without ever becoming vertiginous.
  Descent to Curral das Freiras, where we spend the night.
  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
  Distance: 11 km / Approximate walking time: 5 hrs / Elevation: +400m / -1000m
• Day 7: Curral das Freiras - Encumeada : We set off directly from our accommodation towards the Boca do Cerro pass, at the foot of Pico Grande (1654m). We pass through Madeira pines, eucalyptus and chestnut trees. We then descend to Encumeada, through a forest of laurel and broom, where we spend the night.
  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
  Distance: 13 km / Approx. walking time: 5 hrs / Elevation: +775m / -510m
• Day 8: Encumeada - Seixal : We set off on foot from our accommodation in Encumeada, to immerse ourselves in Madeira's deep wilderness. We hike to Bica da Cana, through a steep-sided valley. We then cross the Paul da Serra high plateau and continue on to regions where nature has remained virtually untouched, with some of the world's most imposing laurel trees. We plunge onto the northern slopes, where we discover impressive cliffs of untamed beauty. We arrive in Seixal, on the island's north coast, where a vehicle is waiting for us for a short transfer to Porto Moniz, where we settle in for 2 nights.
  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
  Distance: 23 km / Approx. walking time: 7 hrs / Elevation: +900m / -1650m
• Day 9: Seixal – Porto Moniz : A short transfer takes us back to our previous day's arrival point, before we climb up to Ribeira Funda and then Ribeira da Janela. From here we begin our long descent to Porto Moniz, where we finish our crossing and spend the night. Natural pools await us for a well-deserved refreshing dip!
  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
  Distance: 14 km / Approx. walking time: 6 hrs / Elevation: +870m / -870m
• Day 10: Jardim do Mar - Cabo Girao – Funchal : After a one-hour transfer, we reach the capital Funchal for a free exploration of this charming city. Explore the colorful market, churches, museums or the famous botanical gardens. Rest of the day and overnight in Funchal. Farewell dinner in Funchal.
  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
• Day 11: Funchal - Montreal : Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Montreal via a connecting flight.
  Breakfast included

The Challenge Against Cancer program is a series of fundraising travel campaigns to benefit cancer research. The Challenge against cancer is a unique program that offers our participants the chance to show their support for cancer research while discovering the world and surpassing themselves through various sporting activities. This unique adventure has a special and specific goal: to motivate our participants to raise funds for the advancement of cancer research.

Learn more about the Challenge Against Cancer program