Much Love To Madeira!
July 27, 2026
Day 12 – This morning started off with a much-deserved late wake-up around 9:30. Today was our first day of trekking, which we will be doing until departure day! With some help from Parker, our LODs, Bennett and McLaine, cheffed up an amazing breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast, and cowboy coffee. Afterwards, we packed our bags up and waited for our taxi to the beach, where we began our ascent into the foggy jungle. Today’s hike was only around five kilometers, but man, was it a calf burner. Our initial climb today was straight uphill for the first half. Along the way, our amazing guide for the day showed us a beautiful waterfall hidden off trail where we stopped for lunch. Throughout the trip, some of the kids have a challenge to swim in a body of water every day, and today was by far the coldest of them all. Nevertheless, the whole group took a polar plunge, which ended up being quite refreshing. As most of us were drying off, Baer and Eliza found an amazing spot to grab some pictures before we headed out. With just a mile or so left until camp, we packed up and made the final push. Our campsite tonight was situated in the valley between two giant cliff sides towering over us on both sides. Many of the students commented on how awesome it is that, even in the mountains, we can see the beach we started at this morning. To close our night, we feasted on chicken quesadillas and a surprise birthday cake for Kate’s 23rd birthday! 🎂🎉
Day 13 – Today, we awoke to a heavy layer of fog surrounding our campsite. Today would be our biggest challenge of the trip so far. With about ten kilometers and four thousand feet of incline, we had our work cut out for us. Today’s breakfast menu consisted of scrambled eggs, ground sausage, granola, loads of black coffee, and maybe a couple of Oreos… because who doesn’t need Oreos to fuel themselves for the day? Before beginning our ascent, we had to, of course, get the vibes high with some music. Meanwhile, Ava and Thomas made sure to picturemax (a favorite term for MAD 3B) in their raincoats as we waited to begin our climb. Luckily for us, the rain held off during the hike, and we were able to enjoy some incredible views. After our steep incline during the first half of the hike, we found ourselves atop a foggy plateau as we trekked through fields of windmills and cow pastures. We arrived at our campsite in the early evening and settled in for a chilly night. For dinner, our LOD, Alastair, whipped up the highest-quality pita pizzas Madeira has ever seen. In the meantime, Rhett made friends with some kids sharing our campsite and led them in a “6-7” chant, which had the whole group, even our guides, laughing. Before heading to bed, we found an amazing viewpoint to do Moonup and take some sunset pictures.
Day 14 – Today was another early wake-up. Our trekking today was a very special one. Throughout the day, we would be summiting the three tallest peaks on the island! Throughout the day, we found ourselves high above the clouds, dipping into valleys and experiencing some of the most incredible sights. In order to summit these three peaks, we had to traverse through cliff sides and tunnels to reach our final destination. Along the way, Thomas made sure to keep the group motivated with a group-favorite riddle game called “Travel” and millions of one-liners. Our final summit of the day was the tallest point in Madeira. From one side, you can see down into a small town situated between two valleys and rolling hills on the other side. We ended our day at a mountain café, where we surprised the kids with a night in beds and showers rather than tents!
Day 15 – We woke up this morning in our cozy beds, which we had an amazing night of sleep in. For breakfast, there was a spread laid out for us of yogurt and granola, bread and meat, eggs and bacon, fruit, coffee, and orange juice. It was an amazing meal to fuel up for the last few days of trekking. We said our goodbyes to the staff and made our way to the start of the hike for the day. We trekked through a forest, which was a beautiful change of scenery from open fields and mountains. Hannah was consistently at the front, encouraging everyone and keeping up with our guides. We made it to the campsite in record time and set up tents. For dinner, we decided to cook burritos and burrito bowls, which was a huge hit. Vivian and Bennett helped prep the food, chopping vegetables to go in the pico de gallo. (We also finished off the jar of Nutella for dessert!) With full stomachs, we bundled up and had Moonup in between the tents. Our LODs chose McLaine and Thomas to close out our trip!
Day 16 – On our final day of trekking, we woke up shortly after the sun with high spirits. With a quick breakfast of coffee and yogurt, we packed up camp and started heading down! Along the way, we made a quick pit stop at our favorite mountain café for pancakes and fed some donkeys along the way. As we descended down, we finally saw the sun for the first time in a few days and soaked in the rays. On the outskirts, we sat down for our final packed lunches, and we surprised the kids with gondola rides to the beach! As we began our rides, the kids all agreed this was a perfect way to end our trekking. But no feat of accomplishment is complete without some homemade gelato, so obviously we had to make a stop there before checking into our hotel. After cleaning up and taking warm showers, we headed to the harbor for some pictures before heading to our banquet dinner. After dinner, we headed back to our hotel for a bittersweet final Moonup on the roof. We ended our night with lots of happy tears shed and laughs shared.
Day 17 – This morning we left Madeira at 6:00 A.M. for our flight to Lisbon! As I’m writing this, all the students are hopping on their flight to Miami. Parents, it’s been an absolute pleasure to spend these past seventeen days with your kids. Thank you so much for sharing them with us, Parker and Kate.
Update from MAD 3B!
July 22, 2026
Day 9- Today we woke up energized and ready to take on another adventure! This time, the stunning Vereda do Larano hike, beginning and ending in Machico. The trail led us steadily upward before opening onto a breathtaking ridge, where sweeping coastal views made every step worth it. At the top, we paused for lunch, soaking in the scenery while music played in the background. Before long, the group was singing at the top of their lungs, show tunes echoing along the cliffs. Vivian proudly led the way with songs from Hamilton, while Baer brought the energy with favorites from Dear Evan Hansen, turning the moment into a mountaintop concert. After making our way back down, we celebrated the hike the best way we know how, with a well-earned stop for ice cream. Once we returned to the hotel, the excitement continued as we headed into Funchal to explore the vibrant city. With its bustling streets and endless shops, the group split up, giving the girls and boys time to wander and discover on their own. One highlight? Nearly everyone walked away with a Cristiano Ronaldo jersey, a perfect souvenir from the day. We wrapped things up back at the hotel with a delicious dinner of pasta bolognese, followed by another meaningful Moonup to reflect on the day. Our LODs, Vivian and Bennett, passed the torch to Alastair and Rhett, who are ready to lead us into tomorrow’s adventures.
Day 10- Today brought a brand new adventure, rock climbing! After a short hike to the site, we geared up and got ready to take on the rock. What started as a challenge quickly turned into a highlight of the day, as everyone pushed themselves and cheered each other on. Eliza especially stood out, moving up and down the rock with impressive speed and confidence. With five different levels to climb, each person had the chance to test their strength and step outside their comfort zone. To top it off, our guides told us we were the strongest Moondance group they’ve seen all summer, an accomplishment the whole group was proud of. After a full morning in the sun, we cooled off with a refreshing swim in a nearby lake. Thomas was the first to jump in, and it didn’t take long for everyone else to follow. Despite the chilly water, Eliza and Baer swam farther out than anyone else, embracing the moment and the beautiful surroundings. It was the perfect change of pace and scenery from our previous activities. Later in the day, we had the opportunity to take part in a cooking lesson featuring a traditional Madeiran meal. The group learned how to prepare steak, fresh bread, and salad, getting hands-on in the kitchen and working together to bring everything together. Alastair took the lead on cutting and cooking the steak, doing an incredible job, while others helped assemble the rest of the meal. Rhett quickly made a new friend in the sweetest dog named Kiara, who kept us company throughout the experience and added even more joy to the evening. Back at the hotel, we cleaned up and headed into an exciting evening, watching the World Cup finals in Funchal! The city was buzzing with energy, with fans everywhere cheering on Spain against Messi. Rhett made a quick friend and managed to get some face paint, which sparked a trend. Soon, all the girls joined in, proudly sporting the red and yellow of the Spanish flag. The game kept everyone on the edge of their seats for hours, and the excitement only grew when Spain secured the win. We ended the day back at the hotel with Moonup, reflecting on another unforgettable day together. Our LODs passed leadership on to Thomas and Ava, who are ready to lead us into whatever tomorrow holds.
Day 11- Today was our second day of canyoning, and the group stepped into it with confidence, already looking like pros after their first experience. The course was a bit higher and more challenging this time, which only made it more exciting. Ava fearlessly led the way, often being the first to rappel down each waterfall, while Thomas held it down at the back, making sure everyone made it through. On a few of the rappels, Thomas and Bennett added some extra fun by turning it into a race, bringing energy and laughter to the adventure. We spent the morning and early afternoon climbing over rocks, navigating the canyon, and rappelling down waterfalls, fully embracing every moment. After wrapping up, we enjoyed a well-earned lunch before heading to Porto Moniz, where we would spend the night. As soon as we arrived and dropped our bags, we made our way straight to the famous salt pools. The rest of the afternoon was spent soaking up the sun, swimming in the crystal-clear water, and enjoying the incredible coastal views. Dinner that night was a highlight in itself, a hands-on pizza cooking class! Everyone got the chance to spread out their own dough, choose toppings, and cook their pizzas to perfection. It was so much fun seeing everyone’s creations come to life, and of course, we couldn’t resist trying each other’s pizzas. It was the perfect (and delicious) way to end such an active day. We closed out the night with Moonup, reflecting on all the adventures and laughter shared. Our LODs passed leadership on to Bennett and McLaine, who are ready to lead us into another exciting day tomorrow. Our moonup closed with a game of “calabría,” where Hannah and Ava have been our reigning champs the past few nights!
McLaine- Hi Mom and Dad! I miss you guys so much!! Thank y’all so much for sending me to Madeira it’s so amazing and I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it here and about my group! Also miss you RK see y’all soon xx
Hanna – hi mom and dad!! Thank you so much for this opportunity to go on this trip! I’m having the best time and i love my group so much!! It’s so much fun and so pretty here and I miss yall so much!
Baer- hey mom and dad! I miss yall and Atlanta but I’m having the best time. Thank yall so much for letting me have the summer I’ve had, couldn’t have asked for anything better. I love and miss yall. Also miss you Violet Katherine and Riya, see ya soon!
Ava- hey mom and dad!! Thank yall so much for letting me go on this trip. I’ve had the best past days ever and seen some of the most beautiful places ever. I couldn’t have asked for a better trip and I’m so lucky to have yall to let me take this opportunity. Love and miss yall so much!! Also hey fam jam hope yall are reading this but love and miss yall too
Eliza- Hey mom and dad! I miss you so much! I’m having so much fun in Madeira and I’m so grateful you let me go on it. It’s been such a great time and all the activities are so much fun. Thank you so much. Can’t wait to see you soon!
Alastair- sup mom and dad thank you so much tor sending me on moon dance. Such a fun trip and ready for Grampys memorial when i get back
Thomas- Thank you guys for sending me! I am having an amazing time, see you soon!
Vivian – Hi I miss you all!!!! Thank you soo much for letting me come on this trip – Madeira is soooo amazing!!!!! Love u guys so much 💛💛
Bennett- Dear Mother and Father, Hiiiiii, I miss you all so much, thank you so much for letting me go on this amazing trip. I love yall so much, see yall at the airport soon 🔜 ❤️
Rhett- Hi mom, dad, clay, Thomas, and woody!! I miss yall all so much! Give woody a huge hug for me! It is so pretty here in Porto Moniz! We are about to go trekking and I’m so excited! Thank yall so much for this trip!🔜😛🐶🍽️
Surfing the Waves!
July 19, 2026
Day 5- After a phenomenal first day in Porto Santo, this morning we headed out early for a hike from mountains to sea! Accompanied by our guides, we began trekking through historic farmland overlooking the deep blue ocean. Our LOD Baer situated himself as the leader of the pack throughout the hike making sure to pass information from our guides to the rest of the group about the history of the island as well as warnings about loose rocks we were walking on. Of course, no Moondance hiking could be done without a little music, so we turned the speakers up and kept our legs moving thanks to some great songs added to the MAD 3B playlist on arrival day. McLaine and Ava made sure to serenade us to pass the time as we descended through the hardwood forests of the island. After completing our hike, we stopped for lunch at the beach and enjoyed some time snorkeling in the reefs and jumping off volcanic rocks into the bays.
Day 6- On our final day in Porto Santo we set out for another day hike! This time we challenged ourselves with more elevation change. Starting at the beach, our guides showed us a secluded sandstone crevasse we could walk into, and obviously grab some pictures in. After that, we started making our way up the back of a ridge to overlook the beautiful beaches and harbor of the island where our ferry awaited us. At one of the viewpoints, Rhett and Vivian made sure to get some pictures while we took a break for some water. With one final upwards push, we found ourselves atop a small mountain just outside of the town and began our descent to lunch in the shade. Along our way down, we passed by a couple of cows grazing in farm fields and made sure to snap a group selfie. After returning to our hotel, we quickly changed clothes and headed to the beach pier for a quick cool off. Thomas quickly headed for the jump and after jumping in floated in the water encouraging the rest of the group to give it a try. With the sun beginning to set, we dried off and headed for our ferry back to Madeira.
Day 7- This morning we woke up just after the sun and headed to the beach for our first surfing lesson! Before heading out, we made sure to fuel up on coffee and a group favorite breakfast of fresh fruit and Nutella with croissants. We grabbed our lunches for the day, hopped in taxis and headed for a beach village where we were met with perfect waves. With our wetsuits on and a short briefing on technique from our guides Diogo and Gigash, we headed to the water. Right away, Alastair was catching waves left and right. After our surfing lessons, we headed back to our accommodations to clean up and hangout at the beach for the afternoon. There’s a floating dock at the beach’s and it has quickly become a fan favorite tanning spot for the group. That night we enjoyed an amazing burger dinner and ended it with a rooftop moonup. For our closing that night, Hannah led us in a fun new game called Calabria. During the game, Bennett shined by finishing top two in both rounds.
Day 8- After getting some extra rest this morning, we packed our bags and headed to the beach for our second surfing lesson. During the lesson, our guides crowned Eliza the champion surfer of the group! After the lesson, we found a rooftop overlooking the beach to enjoy our lunches and watch locals surf plus bringa couple rounds of hacky sack in too. While heading to Funchal after our lesson, the group played carpool karaoke doing their best Taylor Swift and Billy Joel impressions. They even managed to get a couple laughs from our driver. Before dinner, the group decided to go searching for matching soccer jerseys to wear for the final game of the World Cup tomorrow and managed to pick up a couple more souvenirs too. After a delicious dinner, we were treated to some locally made passion fruit pie from the restaurant attached to our hotel and closed out the evening with a hilarious Moonup recalling today’s shenanigans. We can’t wait to update you all again in a few days with more amazing stories about our adventures on the island!
Moving and Shaking in Madeira!!
July 14, 2026
Welcome to our trip to Madeira for the next seventeen days! We are so excited to share the experience with you as well as your kids.
Day 2- With an early wake up call, we headed to the Lisbon airport as the sun arose to meet the students as they landed! We had a short layover in the airport before a brief flight into Madeira. After landing, we broke off from the rest of the group and headed to one of only two sand beaches in Madeira for the afternoon and pizza dinner before heading into the mountains for our first night accommodations.
Day 3- Today we woke up to our first full day on the island, there was no better way to begin than with canyoneering! After driving up into the mountains, we geared up in our wetsuits, full of excitement for the adventure ahead. Our LODs for the day, Thomas and McLaine, led the way as we spent the morning and early afternoon navigating through rocky paths, climbing, and rappelling down the sides of stunning waterfalls. Baer braved the freezing water and tried convincing McLaine and Ava to join him for a swim! Once we wrapped up canyoneering, we headed to a small café nearby for lunch, where warm fries and coffee felt like the perfect reward after a long, adventurous morning. After everyone had refueled, we made our way back to Machico, where we would be staying for the night. We enjoyed warm showers and, of course, made a stop at our favorite grocery store on the island (Pingo Doce) for some afternoon snacks. After a bit of downtime at the hotel, we headed out to dinner, where we enjoyed burgers, fries, and a fun side of riddles. We worked our way through nearly the entire riddle book (the ones Parker and I knew off the top of our heads), with Hannah solving one of the toughest ones first, impressing all of us. Ava followed not long after with the correct answer as well! To end the night, we took a walk down to the water and decided ice cream was a must. It was the perfect way to wrap up the day before heading to the rooftop for Moonup. Before we called it a night, our LODs announced that Rhett and Bennett would be leading tomorrow’s adventure.
Day 4- We woke up bright and early today to catch our ferry to Porto Santo! During the ride, McLaine and Baer passed the time making friendship bracelets, adding a creative start to the day. Once we arrived, we headed to the hotel where we enjoyed a spread of meats, cheeses, and toppings to build our own sandwiches. After lunch, we made our way to the beach and spent the afternoon relaxing by the water before gearing up for kayaking. Our LODs, Rhett and Bennett, led the way as we paddled through beautiful caves and grottos along the coastline. At the halfway point, we pulled our kayaks onto shore and took turns cliff jumping; an exciting highlight for everyone! Baer and McLaine stood out as our kayaking MVPs for their energy and enthusiasm on the water. A close second were Eliza and Vivian! Once we returned, we freshened up and headed to dinner, where we enjoyed Alastair’s favorite meal….pizza! We wrapped up the night playing hacky sack, mafia, and Moonup underneath the sunset. To close out the day, Vivian and Baer were chosen to lead tomorrow’s hike!
Quick message from our crew below!
Hannah- hi everyone!! I’m having so much fun and I love my group! We’re on a ferry rn to Porto Santo to sea kayak and we’re drinking some sprite at 8am! Tell coco i miss her! Love you guys!!!! HAPPY BDAY LILA 🎉🎉🎉
Ava- Hey mom dad and Olivia!!! I’m having so much fun and my group is so good. I hope everything in atl is good and Olivia school is going well. Also tell ozzy I miss him. Hey Lila Riley violet and sloane miss y’all a lot and hope y’all are having fun. HAPPY BDAY LILA ❤️💕😊😊😊😘😍
Baer- Hey Y’all! I hope y’all are doing good, I miss y’all and the dogs. My group is amazing!!! We’re on a ferry right now waiting to go to another island. So far we have canyoneered and it was super fun! Hey violet and Katherine, I miss y’all! Anyways love y’all! Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILA!
McLaine- Hiii Mom Dad and MB! Miss you guys so much! My group is so good and I’m having so much fun! Yesterday we cayoneered and right now we are going to Porto Santo to sea kayak! Tell bogey I said hi! Also HEY RK 🤟🏼 I miss each and every one of y’all and hope summers going awesome! Ok love you guys SO MUCH!!!
Eliza- Hi Mom and Dad! Miss y’all so much and the dogs. I’m having so much fun and I love my group. We canyoneered yesterday and now we are on the way to Porto Santo. Love y’all so much and thank you!
Rhett- Hi mom, dad, and everyone!! Miss y’all everyone so much! We are on a ferry right now to go to Porto Santo to river kayak. We canyoneered yesterday and it was so fun! Love y’all and thank y’all so much!! Give woody a hug for me!!!
Vivian- Hi fam!!!! I miss you!!!!💖💖💖 I’m having so much fun and love my leaders. The first hotel was so cool and now we are on a ferry to the other island. We went cayoneering yesterday and it was soo much fun. Give eddie and bento a HUGE hug for me. I miss you sm Chloe see you in Chicago!!!😆🍭
Bennett- Ciao fam, I miss y’all so much, I am having a blast, don’t worry all the nerves have gone away. We went Canyoneering, and are now on a boat to a super cool island, have fun in Europe and Ireland, tell the doggies and Ella hello for me, love y’all so much.
Alastair- what’s up, miss you guys trip is fun. I’m enjoying it a lot and made new good friends. Love you guys
Thomas – Hey family, I’m having a great time! Love y’all.
Safe Arrival!
July 12, 2026
Hello Madeira Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely! The trip is off to a great start, and 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
