Final Update from MAD 3A!
July 27, 2026
It is time for our final recap of the summer; these 17 days flew by and we miss them already!!!
We woke up in the morning bright and early to catch our ferry over to Porto Santo, a neighboring island. This ship was massive, 7 stories of theaters, cafes, shops, and even a helicopter pad. In reality, though, most of us ended up napping throughout the journey. When we arrived, we all gawked at how beautifully clear the water was. It looked like a postcard. We walked to our hotel, then our local guide Gonçalo greeted us with a delicious lunch. Afterwards, we loaded up and did a short walk through a sandstone canyon and over to a more remote part of the beach. The shores here were white and sandy, a nice contrast from the black rocky beaches that characterize mainland Madeira. Ava was the first to jump in the water, and after she approved, we all followed. As we swam, Isaac initiated splash wars and Parker and Adrian met him with a chicken fight. After a good swimming session, we later went out on the beach where Abby spotted a baby flounder flopping up and down on the shores. Sutton excitedly ran to pick it up before we sent it far offshore again. After a nice day at the beach, we headed back into town, then out to dinner for pizza. During the meal, Abby and Blythe introduced the group to some new games, such as ‘Jello’ and ‘Bubblegum.’It was delicious, and we all left feeling full and happy. Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel for Moonup.
The next morning we were lucky to catch some more rest before heading off for the day. Our morning buffet and coffee run fueled us before we hopped in the van for a short ride. Once we arrived, we began to walk around the island, soaking up the beautiful day. Our weather here was incredible, with most days reaching the mid-70s, not too hot or too cold. As we continued throughout the morning, we straddled a ridge line of the island, then descended to our lunch spot. This spot was strategically placed with a beautiful view of the beaches on the north half of the island. This part is characterized by treacherous cliffs, while the southern half is where the sandier beaches are found. After lunch, we pressed onto the beach where we found the kayaks. After a short swim, we loaded up and paddled off into the distance. Davies and Issac were the first to explore the many caves we would enter and exit during the section. We spent the afternoon weaving in and out of these caves before we came to a halfway beach. On this beach we were stoked to find an appropriate cliff jumping spot, and the group was quick to try it out. After we had heaps of fun, we headed back to the main shore and packed our boats. We continued back through the crystal clear blue waters; it was so beautiful it almost looked like Gatorade. After kayaking, we headed back into the vans and showers at the hotel before dinner. Once the menu there was traditional Portuguese food: steak sandwiches and Picas. We were delighted!!! The restaurant we went to overlooked the calm ocean and had the perfect view for our sunset meal. We fueled up on traditional Portuguese food (steak sandwiches and steak bits) and ice cream. After the meal, we walked along the beach on the way home and had a dance party as it got dark. We stopped and had our Moonup, which Charlie ended with a rock skipping competition. Afterwards, we played games of pool and ping pong in the basement before bed.
The next morning we woke up and walked down to breakfast, packed up, then got in the van. We jammed out to some 2010s music before reaching the beginning of our walk. We followed a cliff line along the northern edge of the island before descending to a secluded beach. Once we arrived, our guides prepared lunch, and we feasted as we admired the sea. It was a bit too windy to swim comfortably, so we packed up a bit early, and we headed back to the south side of the island where conditions were perfect for a dip. Blythe got the group playing volleyball, which has become a group favorite. As our time at the beach finished, Margaret led us in for one final dip. We showered off and headed onto the ferry. Davies got games of ERS and Go Fish started before dinner, and then the group met up for Moonup on the helicopter pad. After we had arrived at the ferry terminal, we headed into our hotel and to bed!
We woke up for our final morning of the trip feeling well rested. We met downstairs for breakfast, then hopped in taxis to go canyoneering. Once we arrived, we suited up and dipped into the canyon. Once again, the cool water was the perfect contrast for the warm day. We got straight into the rappels, and as we descended we cheered each other on. We laughed a ton pretending to be various animals and singing our way through the canyon. We took the chance to swim at every hole and slide through tight rock crevices. It was the perfect adventure for our last day. After we had finished, we ate lunch then headed back to Funchal. Once we arrived, we did some shopping and got ready for our banquet dinner. We decided to commemorate the summer with a traditional Portuguese meal, and so we all ordered forms of steak and garlic bread. We finished the meal and decided to walk it off, which turned into dancing it off on the marina docks before holding Moonup. We talked about our favorite parts of the trip and each other; it was a special one for sure! Afterwards, we wandered around town more before getting our bags out of the hotel and heading to the airport.
We are so grateful to have the opportunity to lead this incredible group of students. They have truly come out of their shells and melted into a kind, talented, funny group. It is our most sincere hope that they keep in touch and continue to embrace these friendships!
Thank you for a wonderful trip!
All our love,
Palmer and Mitchell
Back from Trekking!
July 22, 2026
Helloooo everyone!
We are back after putting some miles under our belt. Our five-day trekking section was full of adventure, and we are closer than ever now!
The section began at one of Madeira’s two natural sand beaches. Since Madeira was formed by a volcano, the sand is naturally black, which was epic. Adrian and Sutton played soccer and pretended to be Australians as they met locals to pass with. After an afternoon at the beach, we began our trek. The first section was pretty much all uphill through the city of Seixal, but then it evened out as we went to a hidden waterfall. The boys swam in the pool below the fall, which left Issac feeling satisfied yet frigid. Afterwards, to exit, we walked out of a dried-up riverbed. We arrived at our campsite shortly after to find that the owners had left us a chocolate cake. We took a few slices, then Davies led the group in a game of empire. After some time had passed, we made dinner. Our cook crew, led by Abby, was on fire and made us a delicious Mexican meal. To finish off the day, the group decided to cowboy camp (sleeping under the stars rather than in a tent)!
The following day we were faced with our greatest challenge; nearly a mile of incline awaited us. However, this did not stop the group from having a great time. Blythe led the group in some stretches before we began hiking, and throughout the morning we headed up, up, and up more. Once we reached the top, we stopped for some well-earned lunches and cookies. As we finished out the back half of the trail, the route was clogged by a baby cow drinking its mother’s milk. Eventually it gave way, and we completed the route. Our driver Henrique met us at the top of the mountain, and we celebrated with a delicious meal. Charlie, Ava, and Parker cooked the group chicken and pasta, which we all agreed was one of the best meals of our trip. After finishing up the dishes, we sprinted up the hill near our campsite using our last ounces of energy to overlook the beautiful sunset. There was a layer of clouds below us and the mountains jutted upwards as the sun sank below, simply stunning. After moonup, the group stargazed for a while, and then we were off to bed.
The next day we woke up, cooked breakfast, then headed off in the vans. After about an hour, we arrived at what looked like a giant soccer ball (but was actually just a radar) and began the iconic ‘Stairway to Heaven’ hike. We climbed up through the clouds and then sank below them and carved through the mountains (literally, there were tunnels)! It was a beautiful hike, and we felt so lucky to be some of the first to get to hike the trail after it reopened. The trail merged into one that took us to the highest point on Madeira. Adrian even sat on the post marker to make sure he was the highest on the entire island. Then, we walked down. Instead of camping tonight, we had a surprise up our sleeves and told the group that we would be staying in a beautiful mountain hotel. We were greeted by the owner and checked into our rooms with comfortable beds and showers, quite the switch-up from our tents! After getting clean, we headed down for a scrumptious dinner of chicken and potatoes and desserts galore. LODs Margaret and Sutton planned us a wonderful Moonup, and we got a great night’s rest!
The next morning we walked back downstairs for a seemingly endless breakfast. Coffees, pastries, eggs, bacon, yogurt- it was all delicious. After fueling up, we headed to the trailhead and started our ascent to our next campsite. We spent most of the day walking through the clouds. When we arrived at camp, we were still in the clouds, which prompted us to take a mid-afternoon nap. When we woke, we had made it out of the clouds and to a beautiful sunset. We cooked burgers and salad for dinner before the group played a big game of soccer in the field. It was quite picturesque. Charlie managed a fire in the nearby shelter, and then he and Davies led Moonup inside.
The final morning of our trek, we woke up and packed all of our things one final time. We bid our driver and second guide, Luís, goodbye, then headed downhill and towards Funchal. After a few hours of walking, we arrived at a beautiful church. LODs Issac and Ava revealed to the group that we would be taking toboggans down the next mile of our trek, which was a welcome break on our knees. We paired off and then sat in the wicker baskets as men in all white outfits pushed us down the slick roads. It was thrilling!! Then, we departed our baskets with new memories and headed to the seaside, where our trek concluded, and we celebrated with ice cream!
We cannot wait to see what the final stretch of our trip holds!
All our best,
Mitchell and Palmer
Davies: hey mom and dad! Thanks so much for sending me on this trip it’s been incredible and I’ve had so much fun! Can’t wait to see yall soon🩷🩷🩷🩷
Charlie: hey mom thank you so much for sending me on this trip I’m so glad I did it we are having a great time I miss y’all so much also tell Lj that I miss her and love her so much. See yall soon .
Adrian: hey guys! Thanks for sending me to Maderia! It’s been super fun definitely more fun than last year. Also my ski jacket got lost. See yall soon and tell ava I say hi.
Sutton: I have had a lot of fun thank you very much for sending me. See yall soon.
Ava: hi mom and dad! I’ve had so much fun on this trip thank you so much for sending me! Love you and see you soon!!
Margaret: Hi Mom and Dad!! Thank you so much for sending me here! It is so beautiful and I love my group!! See yall soon!!
Blythe: Hey Mom Dad and Elle!!! Thank you so so much for sending me on this amazing trip!! I have met the most amazing people and done the best activities! I’ll see yall when I get home!!
Isaac: Hello guys. Thank you so much for sending me on this trip. It’s been incredible. The people here are all super interesting, and the activities have been fun too. The views are amazing. I hope you are having a nice time and aren’t missing me too much. Bye!
Abby: hey mom and dad!! Thank you so so so much for sending me on this trip!! I have had the best time and I will see you sooo soon! Love yall!! Happy birthday Mom!!!
Parker: Thank you mom and dad so much for sending me on this trip! It’s been the best weeks of my summer and I really appreciate it.
Surfing in the Sun!
July 18, 2026
We are back and better than ever!!
These last few days have been spent adventuring all over Madeira, literally crisscrossing the island to soak up every bit!
On day 5 of the trip, we woke up early so we could catch the peak surfing conditions. First, we, of course, had to fuel up with a delicious breakfast of eggs, bacon, pastries galore, and more. After filling ourselves, we headed into cabs and went to a surfing village on the north side of the island. When we arrived, we met our guides and got suited up into wetsuits. Then one of the guides, Kaia, led us in some warm-up stretches. After we were loose, we spread into groups and practiced our pop-ups before grabbing boards and walking down the rocky beach to the water. As we paddled, excitement mounted for the new environment. Our training paid off quickly, especially for Ava, who was catching waves before we even knew to watch along. Speedy girl! It didn’t take long for others to catch on and start standing as well. As we continued through the lesson, the group became more and more consistent in their abilities, making great progress. Our guides were wonderful at keeping us entertained in the water, and our time passed quickly. Before we knew it, ‘last wave’ was called and we returned to the beach. After the lesson, we rounded the corner to a spot for cliff jumping. Adrian showed off some of his best jumps, including one that looked a lot like a starfish. In contrast, Isaac went for a nonchalant approach, simply stepping off with his hands in his pockets. Both gave us a good laugh! As we swam, we ate our picnic lunches. By the time that was all said and done, we drove back to town. Davies led the charge to get some afternoon coffees before some ice cream and hacky sack on the beach. The group has become fans of a game called ‘death’ where after three hits of the hacky sack one member picks it up and throws it at others aiming to get them out. Through multiple rounds of this game, Blythe, Margaret, and Sutton proved themselves to be competitors. After this, we headed back to the hotel for dinner. There was a spread of fish, chicken, and risotto before another serving of ice cream. England played Argentina, so we walked back into town to watch the game. Our group decided to cheer on Argentina, and we were so pleased! The final 10 minutes of the game were exhilarating, and we left feeling proud of our pick. We topped off our day with Moonup on the beach!
The next morning we woke up early again to shred. This time, we had to pack up our belongings as we were moving hotels. We had another delicious breakfast and headed back out to the waves. This time we were at a different beach to shred. We suited up, practiced our pop-ups a few more times, then paddled out. It didn’t take long for people to start catching waves. Charlie and Adrian were quick to start catching them on their own! The lesson absolutely flew by. But one thing is for sure: we all left the water as better surfers than when the flight landed in Madeira, which is something to celebrate! We bid our guides farewell and walked over to a nearby saltwater pool. We spent the afternoon hanging out, and Abby started up some games of volleyball to keep us all entertained. On land, Adrian was busy putting his hacky sack skills to work with some of the other boys. All in all, we were exhausted by the sun and sea, and we headed off for some afternoon coffees and ice cream. Once that was settled, we hopped in the taxis and drove into the valley to our accommodation for the night. It had beautiful sweeping views of the mountains drenched in clouds with the light shining through; it was stunning. We played some games outdoors and took in the view before heading in for some dinner and our Moonup!
This morning we woke up to a gorgeous view of the mountains in the morning light. We cleaned out our rooms, then headed to the breakfast buffet, loaded up, then headed out. Our activity for the day was canyoneering! We met our guides in the parking lot and suited up before trekking into the canyon. Once we arrived, we were greeted with shockingly cold water given the surrounding temperatures. It was a perfect day to be in the gulch. We received a safety briefing, then Davies led the group in the first rappel of the day. We descended through the canyon with great style and laughter. Our first-time canyoneers like Ava absolutely rocked the route and were loving it; she mastered the rappels like a pro! We also did some slides, which made everyone laugh. After a fun afternoon of splashing around, we drove to our next accommodation. Right after arriving at LODs, Sutton and Ava decided that we should go to a nearby salt pool to go swimming and cliff jumping. The rest of the afternoon passed quickly, and we had a treat waiting for us at the house. A pizza chef brought his oven and ingredients, and students prepared and served pizzas for each other with brie, pepperoni, walnuts, arugula, honey, pesto, and more. We all left the dinner table feeling stuffed. We watched the sun sink below the horizon, then had Moonup. Afterwards, Charlie and Parker initiated some ghost storytelling, which got the whole group a bit spooked a bit before bed. Nonetheless, we headed off to bed with full stomachs and tired bodies. We need good sleep before beginning our trek!
All our best,
Palmer and Mitchell
Shout Outs!
July 15, 2026
Isaac: Greetings parentals. This trip has gone very well so far. The group is optimal for everyone having a good time. Thank you father for going to Miami with me, and thank you both for signing me up. Grayson, I hope you are having a good time as well.
Parker: Hi mom and dad I’m doing great in Maderia. We have we did some walking and climbing and now we’re otw to surfing. Love you guys so much hope your enjoying the vacation
Charlie: hey mom and Lj I miss y’all and we are having a great time can’t wait to tell yall about the trip I love yall mom share this to lj. We have been surfing and climbing and pretty much anything you can think of we have done. Yall be safe.
Sutton: Hello mom and dad I’m having fun and Maderia is pretty cool and hope yall have fun in bahamas
Adrian: yo mom and dad! It’s so fun in Madeira. So far we have hiked and gone to the beach. It’s really fun everyone in the group is mad chill. Tell ava I say hi and I miss her. Love you guys.
Blythe: Hey mom and dad!! I’m having the best time ever! Hopefully my card works so I can buy a lot of stuff! I can’t wait to tell yall about everything!!
Abby: hey mom, dad and eliza!! I am having sooooo much fun!! We are on the way to surf!! I hope yall are having so much fun in Montana!! Love and miss y’all so much!
Davies: hey mom, dad, huiet and sam! I’m having sooo much fun! Maderia is such a cool place and everything is really pretty. We have done surfing, a hike, rock climbing & a cooking class so far! I think we start trekking soon and I’m rly excited for the views. Can’t wait to see yall and thanks so much for giving me the chance to travel and do this trip I love yall!!!!! 💚💚Andddd shoutout ellie & kayra I miss yall sm and can’t wait to see yall😘
Ava: hi mom dad and Riley!! Maderia is so cool and I’m having so much fun. We have gone hiking, rock climbing, swimming and I’m actually good at surfing Riley. I love and miss you guys! Also pls don’t forget about my test thanks!
Margaret: Hi mom and dad!!! I am having the best time with my group and all of the activities! I never want to leave! I miss and love y’all so so much!!
Moondance Magic in Madeira!
July 14, 2026
Ola! Ola! Ola!
We have had an incredible kick-off to our trip so far, and it’s time we fill you in! This group is well on its way to building strong friendships and memories to laugh about. We have loved being witnesses to it!
The group arrived in Lisbon and were united for the first time in the airport. Then, we all caught the same flight to Madeira. As the plane landed in Madeira, the cabin erupted in applause. Students shed their devices, and we exited the airport. First things first, we put away our baggage and got settled into our hotel before heading out to get steak sandwiches on traditional Madeiran bread called ‘bolo de caco.’ Feeling fueled, we headed down to a local beach and got into the ocean. Despite it being a bit chilly at first touch, we all agreed that temperatures were ideal as we began to swim. The boys explored the beach before we decided to head up for dinner. As is Moondance tradition, we had pizza for our first dinner. Then headed up to our hotel’s rooftop patio for our first Moonup. Our group is made up of Moondance alumni, so it didn’t take long to get back into the swing of things. After Moonup was complete, we headed to bed and caught up on some much-needed rest.
The following morning, we were able to sleep in a fair bit, which left us feeling rested and ready for the day ahead. We began by having breakfast on the beautiful rooftop. Next, we loaded into vans and drove to the North side of the island, where we began the Vera de Larano hike. The hike carves across the coast, staying at a fairly constant elevation while boasting views of the vivid blue water throughout the first half. It was stunning!! Midway through, the hike carved inwards, and we traversed a peninsula of the island on a route farmers used before the roads were completed. It was interesting to see how much the island has grown since its original settlement in Machico. After the hike, we had worked up a sweat, so we decided to cap it off with a swim. The water was cool and clear, which made for a nice swim, and afterwards we headed back into Funchal. For dinner, we had a cooking class where we got to cook the most traditional Madeiran meal made up of beef skewers, garlic bread, corn, and salad. We had quite the group of chefs on our hands. Abby minced the garlic to perfection, and Margaret made a fresh salad. Meanwhile, Adrian and Parker were especially interested in both the meal and our lead chef and learned all about her life path and how she came to lead the class. As the meal was being brought out, we were all very impressed by the skills demonstrated and the outcome. It was impressive how quickly the group picked up on the techniques! With full stomachs, we headed back into the city and got Pastel de Natas, a traditional Portuguese dessert custard tart. The group loved them! With that, we walked down to the waterfront, and Charlie and Sutton admired the boats in the marina. We had Moonup by the ocean and then found a bit of live music and some Irish friends to dance with. Our day was packed, so we headed back up to our hotel for bed!
The next morning, we woke up, got breakfast, packed up, and hit the road. Today we were off to rock climbing. Our guides, Edgar and Steve, met us and gave us a safety briefing and an overview of the day. We suited up into harnesses, helmets, and climbing shoes. The girls were eager to get on the wall, and Davies was the first one clipped in and scaled the wall, but Ava wasn’t far behind! The group continued to climb throughout the morning, and when they weren’t climbing, they were encouraging those who were! After climbing was complete, we got to swim down by the pitch. There was even a small jump for us to do, which added an element of thrill to the swim. Once we had finished, our taxis carried us to Machico. We spent the afternoon playing beach volleyball, hacky sack, and playing in the sand, which built up our appetite. For dinner, we dined on fish and burgers, then had excellent ice cream complete with vanilla and chocolate ice cream as well as whipped cream and cherries. Afterwards, we headed into the town square where we got to watch the France v Spain World Cup semi-final. The atmosphere was lively, as many people were vacationing in Madeira from their homes in these countries. Viva Spain! Then, we headed off to the store to buy snacks for the upcoming days. Afterwards, we headed up to the roof of our new hotel, where we, LODs Blythe and Isaac, led our Moonup, and then we headed off to bed!
Wishing you the best!
Palmer and Mitchell
Touched down!
July 12, 2026
Hello Madeira Families!
We heard from our leaders that the group has landed safely! We cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure.
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
