Larano Walking Tour

Fantastic hike through forests and along seaside cliffs. Susanna is an exceptional guide. She is so much fun and took time to point out the various plants. Some parts of the hike involve uphill climbs, but it's not too strenuous (if you're in good shape). That said, at the end of the 11km hike, our group was pretty tired.

My two walks, Larano guided by Susannah & Pico Do Arriero to Pico Ruivo guided by Maria were first class. Pic ups were punctual & comfortable, the guides friendly & knowledgeable, and above all safety was prioritised. The walks were conducted at a pace that suited all abilities, though you should prepare well for Arriero to Ruivo as there are a lot of steps both up & down. Two fabulous days walking in spectacular scenery.

My wife and I visited Madeira for the fifth time in May. With Free Spirit, we enjoyed two wonderful hikes: the Levada do Rei (King’s Levada) and the Larano coastal walk. From the pick-up in Funchal through the hikes themselves to the return transport, everything was superbly organised. The tours were professionally guided, the explanations were informative and interesting, and we felt comfortable and safe at all times. A big thank you to the whole team! We would go on a trip with Free Spirit again in a heartbeat and can wholeheartedly recommend the tours.

I went on 3 very enjoyable separate walks in May with Madeira Free Spirit. On each occasion I got picked up from the hotel at the arranged time. The guides were Alvero, Elton and Susanna. All are very friendly and experienced guides, knowledgeable and safety conscious . I learned a lot about Madeira. I can wholeheartedly recommend this professional company.

Great experience and our guide Susanna very knowledgeable and nice.

Selton lead our tour to the Mimosa valley & Larano cliffs, he was outstanding. Aware of our safety and he shared so much information about Madeira and the plant life, his passion for walking and for Madeira was clear and it was a joy to walk with him. Had a lovely Nikita and Poncha cocktails at the end of the walk too. Many thanks

Excellent from start to finish. We were picked up dead on time. The guide seemed to know everyone and told us about farming, levadas, the plants and local culture and history. The walk is wonderful, starting on a small levada and ending in a beautiful seaside village . The pace was perfect, a toilet stop before we started and a relaxing sit down at a cafe before driving home. A superb day.

Great walk, reasonable price, knowledgeable guide Elton. All went as planned picked up in clean modern vehicle on time from hotel and dropped back.

Over the last three years we have been fortunate enough to have visited Madeira an a number of occasions. We have always used Madeira Free Spirit for our walks and as a result we have seen a lot of the island. However, it is the guides (this year we were lucky to have Susannah, Elton and Alvaro) that, not only make you feel safe and secure, but it is the knowledge they inpart that makes the whole experience so memorable. I think we have done all the walks now (our favourite is the Larana cliff walk) and even though we are both over 70 it has beenextremely enjoyable with a sense of achievmant at the end. If you have any queries do contact the office where Maria and Sofia are so friendly and are a mine of advice and information. We cannot recommend them too highly.

I did four walks with this company, all well-organised, with punctual pickups and enthusiastic, informative guides. Well worth trying if you want to explore Madeira.

Excellent varied walk with a very knowledgeable & entertaining guide. Very scenic coastal views, just a great day out!!

We have undertaken guided walks on a number of occasions but this was the first time with Free Spirit Walks. We were part of a small group & all had plenty of opportunity to speak to the guide & benefit from her knowledge. The veiws from the walk along the cliff top walk were wonderful & at all times felt very safe. Thank you for a wonderful day with great memories made.

What a stellar experience with Madeira Free Spirit Walks! I did 7 walks with them and it was an awesome experience as each walk offered something special. Guides Maria, Susana, and Alvaro were skilled, knowledgeable, passionate, informative, friendly, and warm. They attuned to the unique needs of each client while maintaining a cohesive group dynamic, and cultivated a hiking experience that prioritized both our enjoyment and our safety. Sofia (in the office) was communicative and, whenever possible, quick to make accommodations based on individual circumstance. I really felt like everyone on the team truly cared, and went above and beyond to make this a wonderful experience. Thank you so much, Free Spirit! I would highly recommend this company to anyone planning a trip to the island.

A superb coastal & valley small group walk with excellent guide Maria who was only too happy to share her knowledge & love of Madeira wildlife. Pick up was on time & we felt in very safe hands throughout the walk.

Another great walk with Suzanna - pick up was on time, the enthusiasm and information sharing were top class. The route itself was very good with some great views. Highly recommended, this is our 5th walk with Free Spirit and we wouldn't look anywhere else

A very competent and fluent guide led us at a comfortable pace through some amazing landscapes, simultaneously providing insights into Madeiran life and history. This walk is definitely not for vertigo sufferers.

We stayed in funchal for 2 weeks and decided our 1st tour with maderia free spirits would be their LARANO levado cliff top walk.picked up on time at an arranged spot and drove firstly to machico for a quick toilet stop and opportunity to have coffee then onto the levada walk itself. Suzanna our guide for the day explained well our trip itinerary and along the way highlighted the local area and how the leavadas worked etc..very knowledgeable and very impressive animal impersonator...our very own DR DOLITTLE! Prior to trip I personally had concerns about vertigo as I'm not great with heights but tbh it was not a huge issue the paths are relatively good and some have wired railings. Suzzanna told us where it was safe to stop and where not, not once was I concerned. The end of the walk we ended close to Praia de maiata where george our excellent driver collected us for our last rest stop of the day before return journey to hotel .overall we thoroughly enjoyed the day and if you like dramatic views along the coastline go for it

We went on the Larano Walking Tour on April 18, 2024 which we booked through our hotel. Right from the moment we were picked up Alvaro’s humour and knowledge set the tone for a fun, safe and engaging trek. His love for the outdoors, the area’s history and the local people he interacted with along the route demonstrates his passion for Madeira. If we are fortunate enough to return to Madeira, another walking tour with Alvaro will be on our ‘Must Do’ list.

We have just completed 2 walks with this company. Unlike other companies they keep the party size to no more than about 12. Their guides ( Felipe and Suzanna) were excellent combining safety with humour. In addition they have huge knowledge and enthusiasm . They took care to ensure all members of the party were looked after and I would recommend this company as the very best for prompt efficient service and for providing brilliant days out on this beautiful Island

We had a brilliant day on the Larano Cliff walk. Suzanna was the perfect guide. She was so knowledgeable about the plants, birds, geology and local information. She had the right balance of talking and being silent to let us enjoy the spectacular scenery. She was very safety conscious and we never felt at risk, at any point. It is listed as a moderate level walk which, as a hill walker in Scotland, I would say is about right. (Note - this walk is definitely not for children due to the cliff-edge path.) We were picked up promptly from our hotel in a nice, clean mini bus. We had a comfort stop at a smart cafe, where we could buy our lunch, before the start of the walk. Again, at the end of the walk, Suzanna pointed out some nice cafes for refreshments. We were then taken back to our hotel by the same mini bus and driver. The trip was put together perfectly and it was the highlight of our visit to Madeira.

Another amazing day with Maderia Free Spirit Walks. Prompt pick up a quick coffee stop and we arrived at the beginning of the hike. Our guide provided interesting information about the local agriculture, lifestyles of the farmers, vegetation and environment. An informative and interesting day. Our guide was professional, had a great sense of humour and ensured all walkers were comfortable with the walk. Highly recommend Maderia Free Spirit Walks!!!

An excellent day trip, great view - even better than expected - and a very good guide. The walking pace was moderate and the track not too demanding - not too easy either. We got through a rain shower but not a problem because the tour organizer provided a water proof jacket for those who did not have one - if you have one take it with you because it can be rain even on a sunny day. One more thing: the pick up in the morning was exactly as promised. A strong recommendation, alors.

We had read the reviews on Free Spirits Madeira and were very pleased we chose them for the Rabacal 25 Fonts and then the Larano cliff top walk. Our guides, Julia on the first and Susanna on the second were excellent bursting full of information on the Levadas, the fauna and general knowledge. We were picked up promptly each time. I’m 70 and my wife is 64 and we have done a lot of mountain walking so were well equipped including mountain boots and thick waterproof jackets which best for the Rabacal 25 Fonts in January and February as those who had track shoes ended up with chilled wet feet. The Larano walk more interesting for us with its contrasts and cliff sides and sea views.Thoroughly recommend Free Spirits.

It was a great walk with CLauoro. We enjoyed it really a lot! Our guide was great and told us a lot about nature, plants and sightseeing-points. I absolutely recommend it for people , who come to Madeira to admire nature!!

I went on two walks with Madeira Free Spirit walks this week. The first Larano with Suzanne, and the second, Serra da Aqua with Julia. One hard, one easy. One by myself, one with my wife. Booking was easy and although the day of the second was changed I was given adequate notice and the logistics were smooth. Collection from the hotel was punctual. Both guides were professional and their English excellent. Looking forward to our return to Madeira and our next walks with Madeira Free Spirit.

An interesting walk through a beautiful landscape. Thank you to Madeira Free Spirit Walks for making my day enjoyable.

This review is as much about the company Madeira Free Spirit Walks than the specific walks we did. They offer 12 different walks, with a variety of time, difficulty and locations. We did 2 walks with them - Larano and Rabacal 25 Fountains, and on both occasions had the same guide Alvaro, who was very knowledgeable and great fun but at the same time very safety and environmentally conscious. Group sizes are deliberately smaller than other companies, making for a much more personal and safe experience than was evident from other operators. Both our walks were graded "Moderate" at around 11km each, taking around 4-5 hours. We regularly walk that kind of distance in the Lakes and Dales in the UK, so the level of difficulty was not too onerous. There is some climbing and descent, but the paths are for the most part very well established and maintained. You do need to bring decent footwear (though hiking boots are not really necessary), and something to eat and drink. Walking poles and a lightweight waterproof jacket may also be useful, but Alvaro had some spares of each if necessary. Our preference was the Larano walk which was mostly cliff walking with a small amount of Levada - great views over the south and east coast, though maybe could be challenging if you suffer from vertigo. The Rabacal 25 Fountains walk is much busier generally, being the island's most popular Levada walk, so there's alot more stop/start with groups overtaking or passing from the opposite direction. Hotel pickups were bang on time around 8:30ish with a brief toilet and drink stop around 10 minutes before the start of the walk, and another toilet and drink stop before the journey home. There is also some opportunity for "wild-wees" on the walks themselves, but a degree of advance notice to the guide is recommended particularly on the busy walks. The minibus journeys were around an hour each way, and we were back at our hotel before 4pm so time for a swim or chill before dinner. Overall, two really enjoyable experiences with a superb company. Very highly recommended.

Picked up at our hotel in a modern mini bus. Fantastic and amusing guide, who led us through wonderful scenery. Extremely interesting and informative. I can thoroughly recommend this walk with Madeira Free Spirit Walks. A great day

A great walk with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and the coast of Madeira. Susana was a wonderful guide. She gave us a lot of information about the flora of the island. Thank you for a wonderful experience!!! Obrigado!!!

Thank you for this wonderful walk. This was the second levada walk we did with this organiser and it was absolutely perfect from start to the end. We felt really well taken care off by the organiser. She gave us lots of information about the island and its wildlife and the many interesting plants found here.

Great walk with wonderful views over the ocean. Alvaro guided us with full profesionalism and responsibility

Expertly led by Alvaro - this was my second walk with him and his knowledge of the locality and his humour made it a special day. The views were amazing and the small group made it very pleasant indeed. Very pleased that I did this walk

We have just completed three separate walks with Alvaro. A fantastic guide with a great sense of humour. He really brings the walks to life with stories and facts/figures. Would highly recommend Free Spirit for Levada walks in Madeira and, again Alvaro is a great (and unique!) guide. Thanks also to Sofia for sorting out our arrangements so efficiently.

The guide Alvaro was superb. Funny and knowledgeable. He made sure we had a good time. Overall good value for money.

Wonderful cliff walk with a brilliant and witty guide Suzanna. Small groups so it feels very comfortable. Thank you for going above and beyond!

We have 3 amazing levada walks tour in this Week with the great guide Rubina. Best wishes from Lithuania

Guide was brilliant, clearly outlining what was coming, and keeping a running commentary throughout the walk. Always sensitive to the needs of everyone in the party, and briefing us carefully at each stage. An excellent sense of humour!! The walk itself was a mix of cliff top footpaths and levada walking. Views were stunning. Perhaps the best walk I've done in Madeira. The day finished at a local cafe and coincided with the landing of tuna in the local fishing harbour - something totally different and unexpected. Thank you Alvero!

Recently did the Verada do Larano walk with Madeira free spirit walks What an excellent day out The guide Alvaro was very informative and safety conscious and we were comfortable and at ease throughout the walk His assistant Maria stayed at the rear in case anyone was in difficulty The weather was spectacular and the scenery out of this world We've been going to do this walk for a couple of years having done all of the others including the Picos several times Thoroughly recommended Will do it again When we come back to Madeira next May Derek and Veronica

Some walks on Madeira are flat and fairly uninteresting - but not the Larano one! Though a little more challenging than a simple levada walk, it's worth the effort, as the views along the coast on the first part of the walk are spectacular - be sure to take a camera! As well as that, if you walk with Alvaro, you'll need to take a few other things - water, stout walking shoes and your sense of humour! The entertaining stories come free! Just be careful which you believe! This was a really enjoyable walk - cliffside and along a levada above Machico. Thoroughly recommended.

Very beautiful cliff hike with a pleasant pace and a small group. Susanna was very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and has a sense of humor! Highly recommended!

Top experience. Smooth booking with communication via mail and WhatsApp. Pick up on time with notification via Whatsapp. Guide Elton was very knowledgeable with a lot of info about fauna and flora laced with a touch of humor. Is an absolute must to accompany your stay in Madeira

Hiking group was led by a very likeable woman named Susanna, adjusted the pace of the group, was very competent linguistically as well as knowledge of fauna and animals. Highly recommended!

Susanna guided us wonderfully through this challenging beautiful tour, there was so much to see and she explained everything wonderfully. The pace was moderate, I felt safe and in good hands at all times. The views were fantastic and varied, which was one of the most beautiful tours in Madeira. Thank you very much if Madeira then only with you ****

Start along a road up from the village of Porto da Cruz, parking along the road to continue going steeply uphill along the road about 1 km (closed to vehicles). Then relatively flat hiking along the mountain slope. Very slippery due to moisture and water on paths and rocks. Muddy despite hiatus weather. When we were walking in November, a man fell down 10 feet from the path and injured himself. Beautiful view when you get to the vantage point after a few km. Took about 1 hour in each direction. Can continue to Boka do Risco if you walk another hour but we turned around. The path goes through forest terrain with occasional views to the sea.

Went today this very beautiful trip - again me you the very knowledgeable and sweet guide Suzana. There were some places that went steeply up and some went steeply down, but it was all worth the effort. A wonderful view of the mountains, the forest and the sea on the north side of the island. Can warmly recommend the tour and the agency 😎👍

Been on five walks with Free Spirit Walks. Well organized and knowledgeable guides. It can be strongly recommended, especially the trip to the peaks.

Fantastic experience the guides Fabiano and Susanna are very good, excellent organization, great company is also a thank you to the driver Alvaro! Madeira is great for trekking! Super recommended agency 👍👍👍👍

An incredibly varied tour between green of the forests and turquoise lau of the sea with fascinating views