Climatic Elevation Bands
Madeira Hiking Weather by Elevation Zone
Madeira has four distinct climate altitude bands. The beach can be sunny while levadas are shrouded in fog and high summits rise above the clouds. Check current conditions by layer.
0–300mFog: low
Coastal Zone
Sea-level to 300m. Warm, dry, and exposed to Atlantic winds. Swimming pools, fishing villages, and cliff walks.
3
Trails
3
16°C – 26°C·Wind: 15–35 km/h·Subtropical coastal scrub
300–800mFog: moderate
Levada & Laurissilva Zone
300m to 800m. The green heart of Madeira. Ancient laurel forests, levada channels, and waterfalls. Humid and sheltered.
7
Trails
7
12°C – 22°C·Wind: 5–20 km/h·UNESCO Laurissilva forest
800–1400mFog: extreme
Cloud Deck Zone (Mar de Nuvens)
800m to 1,400m. The trade-wind cloud deck sits here. Fog, drizzle, and near-zero visibility are common. Rabaçal and the upper levadas live in this band.
22
Trails
166
8°C – 16°C·Wind: 10–30 km/h·Upper Laurissilva transition
1400–1862mFog: low
Summit Zone (Above the Clouds)
Above 1,400m. The high peaks of Madeira punch through the cloud deck into clear, dry air. Cold, windy, and exposed. Sunrise here is unforgettable.
10
Trails
37
2°C – 12°C·Wind: 25–70 km/h·Alpine heath