Farewell, Madeira C!
July 10, 2025
Ola from Madeira!
We are writing to you while your kids are somewhere over the Atlantic on their way back home! The last few days have been so bittersweet as we are wrapping up our activities and starting to reminisce on how awesome this trip has been!!!
Day 12 was our second day of Canyoning!!! Yay!! One of our favorite activities!! We got up early and headed to a local bakery for breakfast, then set off on our adventure. Today’s canyoning was so perfect. The sun was out, and everyone was excited to get back on the river. Anne Hardy, Katherine, and Andrea hung out in the back and took every opportunity they had to swim in a pool. After our first rappel, the 3 of us jumped in and laughed so hard while the rest of the group was continuing on. That will be a memory we will never forget!!! That evening, for dinner, we got to participate in a local cooking class. We were perched up on the mountain, eating some of the best food overlooking Funchal while the sun set. It was truly magical!! During our cooking class, our trekking guide Tiago came to say one final goodbye. Anna and JJ were especially happy he came to see us one last time!!! We ended the night with Moonup and got some good sleep.
The next day, we left Funchal and headed to our final stop, Machico! On our way to Machico, we had rock climbing. Our rock climbing location was under the airport runway! It was so cool, and it felt like a place only we got to experience. Charlotte and Abby were so determined, we loved it!!! All the girls made it up at least one route and had the biggest smiles while doing so. We enjoyed our lunch at the airport, and it was so delicious. After that activity, we got settled in our last hotel for the trip and went right to the beach. It was pretty windy that day, but it didn’t stop these girls from having fun! After dinner, we had Moonup on the rooftop of our hotel. It was a really powerful Moonup with the most perfect backdrop that felt fake. The views never disappoint on this island!
The next morning, we got up and enjoyed breakfast before heading out on a beautiful day hike in São Lourenço, one of the most famous places in Madeira. At this point, we are pros at hiking, and it was a piece of cake. During our lunch break, we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to jump into the ocean! Charlotte, Katherine, Annabel, Abby, and Cooper all took advantage of one of the last chances to swim. Of course, after our hike, we planted ourselves on the beach to rest and relax. It was sunny, and the vibes were so high. Mae Mae, Anne Hardy, and Katherine enjoyed their books while Lila gathered the rest of the group to start a game of beach volleyball. Some locals even joined in!! We ended the day with pizza and ice cream, what a perfect day!
The last two days of the trip were spent surfing on the Porto Da Cruz coast. It’s easily one of the most beautiful places to surf in the world!!! The first day was spent learning the ropes and getting a hold of the waves. On our second day, we dove right in (literally). The waves were SO big and SO fun!!! Everyone expressed how much fun they were having, and it was such a great start to our last day together. On our last night, we taxied back to Funchal to enjoy one last dinner together. We spent our night laughing and talking about stories from the last 17 days together in this magical place.
We are so sad to say goodbye to your girls, but are incredibly grateful we got to spend this precious time with them!! The trip would not have been the same without each and every one of them. We love them so much and will miss them dearly ❤️
Andrea & Ansley
The Magic Continues!
July 4, 2025
Hi family and friends!!!
The magic has only continued here on this island!!! The last 5 days were spent in the mountains continuing to build incredible friendships and amazing memories!!!
Our first day of trekking was so cool! We started in the town of Porto Moniz and headed up the mountain. It was a steep incline for a while but wow these girls totally killed it!! Cooper and Lila were especially fast and made sure to set a good pace for the rest of the group. Once we made it to our first lookout spot the group rested, had water, and of course had a photo shoot!!! Anne Hardy has been impressing us with her camera skills. We continued up for a little bit then got to enjoy a long flat walk in and out of houses, gardens, and windy roads. We stopped and had lunch on our way down and we had the most incredible view of the town/ocean. Our hiking guide for the day, Ivonne, brought a tennis ball with her and the group named it Joey. Joey was passed around the entire hike and we loved him so much haha! Anna especially loved Tiago!!! Anna is so kind and she cares about others so much and we have noticed that throughout the trip. After our hike, we hung out in our little home, cooked another wonderful dinner, and ended the day with a really meaningful Moonup that brought the group closer together.
The next day we set off for the mountains! After a delicious breakfast Annabel and Abby led the group in a stretch session which was much needed for our long uphill day of trekking. While today was really hard it was SO rewarding. We hiked about 9 miles and the first half of that was all uphill. We didn’t hear a single complaint all day and were so proud of them! Our lunch spot was on the incline in a sunny spot and it was much deserved! After lunch, the weather took a turn and it was pretty rainy and cloudy but that didn’t stop us from having fun. We got to our campsite and enjoyed some time by the fire while our cook crew (Anne Hardy, JJ, and Anna) made dinner. After dinner, the sky cleared up for a little bit, and we got to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets we had seen yet. It was so special and we will all remember it forever. We had Moonup and our guides Tiago, Tere, and Henrique and ended it by playing such a fun game and everyone got really into it thanks to our wonderful LOD’s Annabel and Abby.
Day 3 of trekking was one to remember!! We hiked about 8 miles walking through tunnels, waterfalls, and along the famous lavada’s. Tiago is not only a great trekking guide but also so knowledgeable about everything we saw. He always made sure to point out the most important things. It was another rainy day but the group was pushing through and the vibes were high!! After our trek, we got to have Picado (traditional Maderian dish), coffee, and ice cream to celebrate. Katherine has been trying all kinds of new foods on this trip and today she tried Nikita. After our snack break, we hopped in a taxi to head to a really special hostel. This hostel was perched up in the mountains right by the tallest peak in Madeira. The rooms were cozy, the food was perfect, the showers were well-deserved, and the girls were happy. We had a very emotional and intentional Moonup tonight that definitely brought the group closer together. Trekking has consisted of lots of type 2 fun but we are having the best time and can’t wait to get back to our tents tomorrow night.
The next day we woke up early and had a feast for breakfast. It was endless fruit, granola, yogurt, eggs, bread, cheese, and coffee. Charlotte was smart and packed some of the extra bread to use for a snack later on in the day! Our stomachs and hearts were full as we began to hike up Pico Ruivo, the highest peak on Madeira. When we started our trek we were in the clouds but as we made our way up the sky cleared and we were in awe of the view. Once we got to the top (6,106 ft) we reminisced on the last few days spent in the clouds and were so grateful to have seen the top with a clear sky. We made our way back down and got in another taxi to take us to the next camping spot. Our 2nd campsite was perfect!! The sun was shining when we got there and we got right to setting up camp and relaxing. While the cook crew was working hard on dinner, Mae Mae, JJ, Lila, and Anne Hardy all got into their books/journals. It was a great time to reflect on the last few days while enjoying the music and view! Dinner consisted of all of the leftover food we had not used. And while that may sound gross it actually turned out really good! Make sure to ask your girls about the stew!!! We ended the day with Moonup with our trekking guides and listened to “Spring Into Summer” to close it out.
The last day of trekking also happened to be the 4th of July!!! We started the day off right by waking up for sunrise and it did not disappoint!! We then packed up camp and had breakfast while listening to all the 4th of July classics and laughing a lot. Our hike was a pretty easy downhill with a fun surprise at the end…. TOBOGGAN’S!!! It was the perfect way to end this section of the trip and also celebrate the US&A (Tiago’s favorite saying). We got back to Funchal and had a great dinner and got lots of sleep.
We are having so much with your girls and can’t thank you enough for sharing them with us this summer!!! We still have so much to look forward to and can’t wait to add to the adventure of a lifetime!
Until next time,
Andrea and Ansley
Hi from Madeira!!!!
July 1, 2025
We’re so excited to finally send our first full update. We seriously love this group so much!! These girls are sweet, hilarious, thoughtful, and just so much fun to be around. Everyone is all in, loving every second, and making each day feel special. Thank you so much for sharing them with us. It has already been such a joy!
Our first full day started with a beautiful flight over the ocean and a smooth landing. We went straight to the cutest café for sandwiches, then spent the afternoon exploring Funchal. A very funny round of a game called Big Booty broke out in the town square, and then we did some shopping before grabbing pizza for dinner. We wrapped up the day with our first Moonup on the boardwalk. It has already become the favorite part of each day and the girls have been so passionate and amazing at leading it. Moonup is when we get to slow down, give shoutouts to the little moments, and share more about ourselves through both fun and deeper questions. This group jumped right in and made it so so special already.
The next morning we caught the ferry to Porto Santo and started the day with fun coffee drinks that everyone loved. We met our new friend Tiago (TiTi), who quickly became a favorite as well. That afternoon we went sea kayaking in the clearest water. The girls were laughing and soaking it all in. We had pizza again for dinner and finished the night with Moonup led by Lila and Mae Mae. Both of them have done Moondance before and they brought such an inspiring and welcoming energy. They made everyone feel safe and open to share.
The next day was full of sunshine and adventure. We started with a gorgeous hike across the island and saw beautiful landscapes and a really cool cave. During the hike, Anne Hardy showed us how awesome she is. She killed it! JJ is so calm and helpful, and Anna was right there too, being so sweet and making the group feel welcome. It was such a good reminder of how much these girls care about each other already. On our way down from the hike we got to a special surprise!!! MINI GOLF!!! Abby and Cooper were all in and took their mini golf game seriously while having the best time. Afterward we stopped for the most delicious soft serve before heading to the beach. Abby, Cooper, Annabel, Charlotte and Mae Mae all jumped off the pier and were smiling nonstop. Annabel especially was glowing as she ran into the waves and made the most of it. We walked to dinner along the water and stopped for more ice cream on the way back. Charlotte had been working with TiTi on practicing her Portuguese and is so confident even though it is so hilariously far from correct. That night’s Moonup was led by Annabel and Anne Hardy, who both brought such a thoughtful vibe and helped everyone settle in for the night.
The next day we had our coastal adventure and climbed along the shoreline, stopping to explore little pools and look for sea life. We made sandwiches for lunch and had a picnic on a rock beach. We squeezed in some quick shopping and ice cream before hopping back on the ferry to Madeira. Lila made the sweetest friendship bracelets for Tiago, Andrea, and Ansley, which totally made our day. Cooper and JJ led Moonup that night and did such a great job making everyone feel heard and supported.
Then came canyoning, which was an absolute blast! The weather was sunny and warm, and the girls were brave and so excited. They moved through the canyon with confidence and had the best energy. Katherine made everyone laugh when she had prior asked what spray-on shoes would feel like, which became the quote of the day. After canyoning, we went to the natural salt pools where everyone jumped off the diving board into the water. The joy was contagious. That night was our first cook crew dinner, and they crushed it. Annabel was our team captain and kept things running smoothly. Charlotte, Cooper, and Abby helped make a delicious Mexican dinner with wraps, pico, beans, and guac. We are now settled into our cozy hostel, and it already feels like home. Being under one small roof has been such a gift, giving us more time to hang out, laugh, and keep getting to know each other.
This group is full of heart and so much fun. They are already lifting each other up, being vulnerable, and making every little moment count. We can’t wait for what’s next and feel so lucky to be here with them!!!! More soon!!
Lots of love,Ansley and Andrea
SHOUTOUTS
Lila – LOve you all and having so much fun! Tell Ellie and Sadie I miss them. Add money to my Wells Fargo card. Portugal does in fact not take American money….
Annabel – Hi guys!! I’m having so much fun in Portugal! Everyone is so nice and all the activities are great. I miss everyone, tell Batya I’m home soon. I hope there is a kitten waiting at home for me.
Abby – Hey fam!! I’m having a lit time here! Everyone is so seeet and we’ve done some awesome activities (canyoneering yesterday and we start trecking tomorrow). It’s so beautiful, I know you guys would love it here. Miss ya, say hey to Cody and Bo for me.
Charlotte – Hi family! I am having a great time in Madeira! We have done some amazing activities. We start trecking tomorrow. Miss you so much. Love you!
Anne Hardy – Hey yall! I’m having the best time ever and have made so many sweet friends. Thank you so much for this opportunity and helping me see the world. I’ve been so happy and at peace here and hope that all is well at home and you don’t miss me too much 😉 I miss yall and Mae so so much and can’t wait to tell you about all of my amazing adventures! Tell all of my friends I miss and love them. Love ya bye!
Anna – Hey guys! I’m having such a great time and I have been doing some really cool things here. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to get to explore and find life long friends. Say hi to Louie for me! See you soon!
Mae Mae – Hiiii fam!! I’m having so much fun and loveeee my group & leaders! I’ve had a pb & j almost everyday so I am rlly happy anywho I hope yall are having a lit time in Alaska and I miss yall so much!!! Hi Marge I rlly hope you remember to read my trip updates but I see you in 10 days and I’m actually so excited 🕺🏼💃🏼 hi to anyone from ww2 I miss yall all sm and cannot wait to dabble in pickle ball/ a love island watch party when I get back!!! See yall all soon!!!! Love yall most~ Mae Mae ❤️❤️
Cooper – Hi guys! Love you guys so much and thank you for letting me go on this trip I have learned a lot and been doing so much. Been thinking about you guys and missing you guys so much. Can’t wait to hug you guys! Love you guys so much and see you soon!! Tell the whole fam/cinnamon bun I miss them and love them so much!!!💗💗💗
JJ – Tell kitty hi and swing him around for me, Don’t let cha steal my clothes I love yall so much and miss you too. Send me a pic of Chas chin
Katherine – Hi guys! I’m having the best time in Madeira, it’s so amazing we get to be somewhere most people have never heard of. I miss you all a lot, but I lowkey don’t want to go back home. Tell Steven that I say hi and that he can’t touch my stuff. Can’t wait to go trekking tomorrow, looking forward to seeing you!
Safe Arrival!
June 25, 2025
Hello Madeira Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely on Madeira! The group is so excited to start their adventure together!
Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
