AVIS Car Rental at Madeira Airport

Avis and Budget share a car rental desk at the Madeira International Airport arrivals hall. The desk is located before security, on the ground floor. The service desk is open from 8.00 am to midnight, every day of the week. Staff can be contacted on +351 291 524 392 to arrange pick-up or drop-off times.

Avis is one of several car rental companies at Madeira Airport.

Although it is possible to reach some of Madeira's tourist attractions with public transport, or by taking a taxi, hiring a car at Avis Madeira International Airport offers far more freedom. Several of the island's highest peaks are accessible on foot, once you have driven to the starting point of the hiking trails.

One of them starts in the village of Rabaçal, which lies in the highlands of Madeira, in the Paúl da Serra. The hiking trails on Madeira are explained in maps available at the tourist information office in Funchal. Hiking trail PR 6.1 follows the Levada do Risco, starting in the village and rising some 1000 meters above sea level. The area is known for its waterfalls and man-made cascades, 25 of them in fact. The one at Rabaçal plunges some 100 meters down a rock-face.

Another area where one can admire these man-made fountains and waterfalls is near Calheta, which lies along the ER222 road in the southwest of Madeira. Calheta boasts one of the few sandy beaches on the island, but only because the sand was imported and brought there. Another hiking trail, stretching just under 10 km, starts in Calheta.

The circular trail takes around 3 to 4 hours to complete and runs along the 25 Fontes Levada route that offers hikers spectacular views across coast, mountains and ocean. At the village one can enjoy modern art at the clifftop Casa das Mudas Arts Center. Opened in 1992, the arts center lies just 20 minutes drive from Funchal. It aims to promote awareness and life-long learning of art and art appreciation The ocean views are amazing from the arts center's clifftop perch, and there is a cafe where tired hikers can rest (Rua Simão Gonçalves da Câmara 37, 9370-139 Ilha da Madeira, +351 291 820 900).