Exploring Madeira MTB Style

A mountain bike, or MTB, is a bicycle designed for off-road cycling. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain. These typically include a front or full suspension, large knobby tires, more durable wheels, more powerful brakes, and lower gear ratios for climbing steep grades. Mountain biking is the sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using such specially designed bicycles. The sport requires endurance, core strength and balance, bike handling skills, and self-reliance. Advanced riders pursue both steep technical descents and high incline climbs. Traveling by mountain bike opens the door to a world of possibilities; you’ll gain access to places often too remote for the tourist hordes and engage with locals in a more meaningful way than from the seat of a tour bus. Research has shown that those who are able to distance themselves from the noise and havoc of daily life to find reprieve in the tranquility of nature are happier, less stressed and more energetic.

Madeira Island is a small paradise for mountain biking in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and only a few hours flight away from most European cities. Here you can find fantastic trails from mountain to sea level. It’s famous mild weather makes biking in Madeira enjoyable all year round. There are many mountain biking agencies that offer bike holidays at your taste from a full week program, a few days of biking or just one day discovering Madeira by bike.

For beginners there are tours that are ideal for a relaxed bike ride through amazing nature, and for more experienced riders there are tours for all tastes: XC, all mountain and Enduro with shuttle assistance. Some will be more technical, some will have more uphill meters, some will require crossing rocky trails, rain forest, root trails and eucalyptus forest, but all these tours will focus on exploring Madeira. In case you want to explore madeira without a guide, there also bikes available for rent. Challenge yourself going all the way up to Pico do Arieiro or just to go for a short Sunday ride.

So, don't look any further. Madeira is certainly a biker’s retreat. All you have to do is hop on a bike and hit the trails. In the end, you will be rewarded with the best nature Madeira has to offer.

MTB Tour Itinerary

Location: Fonte do Bispo, Lombada dos Cedros

Start: Fonte do Bispo (E.R. 210)

End: Lombada dos Cedros (E.R. 101)

Type: downhill

Difficulty: medium

Terrain: dirt road

Direction: one way

Distance: 4,9 km

Time: 8-20mins

Directions: Take the Via Rápida (VR1) towards Ribeira Brava. At Ribeira Brava, follow the Via Expresso (VE3) towards Ponta do Sol and Calheta. Once you arrive in the village of Prazeres, follow the first exit of the Via Expresso towards the Estrada Regional (E.R. 101). At the crossing with the Estrada Regional (E.R. 210), go left until you reach Fonte do Bispo. The trail is located on the left.

Safety: The track is flagged by red and yellow arrows from beginning to end. The terrain is generally quite even but requires some attention due to the possibility of loose rocks.

Necessary / recommended equipment: Full Face Helmet, gloves, knee pads, elbow pads, mobile phone, thermal blanket, waterproof jacket, puncture repair kit, inner tube.