Coasteering Tour in Madeira: A Day of Adventure!

What is Coasteering?

We had no idea what coasteering was until we booked this tour. Coasteering combines the words ‘coast’ and ‘mountaineering’, but instead of mountains and canyons, you’ll traverse along the coastline between water and land — climbing up cliffs and rocks, abseiling, and jumping into the ocean.

Our Coasteering Experience

One of the things we knew we wanted to try on our second visit to Madeira was coasteering! The island’s incredible cliffs, craggy rocks, small islands, and caves make it an ideal playground for this adrenaline-pumping sport.

We booked a tour company that took us coasteering for 3 hours on the east side of Madeira. We paid about 70 euros per person for this tour. The experience began at 09:00 near the PR8 trail parking area, where we met our two friendly guides who would lead our adventure! 

From the parking lot, we made our way down to the rocky shores. We started with some easy cliff jumps—just 1 or 2 meters—and once in the water, we followed the rugged volcanic coastline around to the other side.

Throughout this coasteering experience, we had the opportunity to climb various rock formations and jump from heights ranging from 1 to 10 meters. However, it’s good to know that there’s no pressure to jump from any specific height, so you can always choose what feels right for you. Your guide will always find you an alternative route if you don’t want to jump. 

Tip: The volcanic rocks were sharp on the hands at times, so a bit of caution is needed, but the landscape is incredibly diverse and dramatic. Coasteering is a unique way to see parts of the coastline you wouldn’t otherwise be able to access; we explored remote caves, tide pools, and inlets. 

Animals during Coasteering in Madeira

Along the way, we saw lots of crabs and sea urchins, and we even explored a small cave—including jumping down into their entranceways! There’s also a chance you’ll spot sea lions, but unfortunately, we didn’t.

At the end of the route, we were given snorkeling gear and had the opportunity to snorkel along the coast, where we saw plenty of colorful fish and marine life. 

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This whole experience lasted around 3 hours, including a break with snacks and water. All in all, the entire experience was great – it wasn’t a 10/10 for the scenery, but the adrenaline rush was epic!

GoPro footage: The guides also carried GoPros, capturing footage of us. After the tour, you’ll receive the footage afterward as part of the package. It’s worth bringing your own action camera for your personal shots. (See what’s in our camera bag)

Is Coasteering difficult?

Coasteering is definitely an activity everyone should try. However, as with any adventurous sport, you do need to have a good level of fitness, particularly as you’ll be rock climbing. Additionally, while you’re wearing a life jacket at all times, you should be a good swimmer, as you’ll be jumping into some strong Atlantic waves! 

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Note: I’d been struggling with back problems before this trip, and I found coasteering surprisingly ok! I simply avoided the big jumps that made me uncomfortable and informed the guides when I booked, so they could prepare accordingly. Likewise, Hannah has a fear of heights, but she also found this very doable. She said that because you’re jumping into the water and have a lifejacket, it’s somehow not as scary. ;)

Things to Pack

In general, your guides will provide you with everything you need for your coasteering adventure, including helmets, wetsuits, life jackets, and water shoes. That being said, you should still pack a few things yourself: 

• Suitable footwear for reaching the start point (sturdy trainers are fine!)
• Comfortable clothes to change into afterwards
• Swimwear to put underneath your wetsuit
• A towel for drying off after 
• Water is essential to hydrate during and after this active experience 

Best Time For Coasteering in Madeira

Madeira is known as the island of eternal spring, with a subtropical climate that’s ideal for coasteering! We visited in early June, and the days were warm and clear—perfect for exploring the underwater world. While you can book a coasteering tour at any time of the year, spring and fall are the best seasons, as it’s not too hot.

Remember, Madeira is unique in that you can have all types of weather in one day. However, your guides take all the proper precautions to ensure your safety and will cancel the excursion if the weather is really bad.