Maderas is the older, quieter sister to Concepción. At 1,394 metres it is shorter than its neighbour but covered in dense forest from base to summit, with the rare distinction of a crater lake — Laguna de Maderas — sitting in its dormant cone. The climb is technically easier than Concepción but muddier and more slippery; the upper slopes are cloud forest and rain is the norm rather than the exception.
The trail typically starts from Balgüe or Mérida on the eastern side of the island, takes seven to nine hours round trip, and rewards you with a chance to swim in the crater lagoon if you are still willing after the descent into the crater itself. Guides are required and worth it — the trail is poorly marked and the forest is genuinely disorienting in the mist. Wear shoes you don't mind ruining.