Discover Madeira has announced the launch of the new Madeira Ocean Trails, a campaign to promote active tourism on the island. 

Trail running is fast emerging as the latest fitness trend, offering a way to experience a destination and scenery. Madeira has challenging routes with ocean and mountain views.

Madeira Ocean Trails is hosting events on the island, offering active visitors the chance to be immersed in nature whilst running or hiking at any pace.

On this year’s agenda is the 3rd edition of EcoTrail Funchal – Madeira Island, taking place on Saturday, 28 October.

EcoTrails, takes place annually in ten destinations around Europe and comprises of 80km, 40km, 25km and 15km races.

These four routes will take place on Madeira’s Ocean Trails and combine urban and rural trail running. They aim to combine running with ecological and environment sustainability. These are manifested in Madeira during the lead-up to the event as reforestation, requalification of green spaces, cleaning and recovery of paths take place, among other projects.

Next year, there are two events, the Madeira Island Ultra Trail is an endurance race taking place on 28 April 2018, and is a race across the island, from sea-to-sea. The other challenge is the Ultra SkyMarathon, which will take place on 1 June. The Ultra SkyMarathon® Madeira is a technical mountain race which consists of steep slopes and trails in Santana.

Madeira is a three-and-a-half-hour flight from London. On the same latitude as Morocco, the Atlantic archipelago has a sub-tropical climate and rich volcanic soil.