East Side of Madeira: Pico do Arieiro, Santana and More – Full Day Tour with Pickup
From mountain peaks to rugged coastlines, discover the wild east of Madeira at your own pace.
This East Madeira full day tour takes you across some of the island's most dramatic and diverse landscapes, from the clouds above Pico do Arieiro to the windswept cliffs of Ponta de Sao Lourenco. With a maximum of seven guests per vehicle, the experience is unhurried, personal, and genuinely immersive.
The tour operates in electric vehicles, keeping the journey quiet enough to hear birdsong in the laurel forest and waves breaking far below coastal viewpoints. The difference in how you experience a destination when the engine noise disappears is immediately noticeable. Your senses engage with the environment in a way that a conventional tour vehicle simply does not allow.
A local lunch in Santana, a levada walk through ancient Laurissilva forest, and a glass-floored viewpoint suspended above the Atlantic are among the stops that define this itinerary. The route balances well-known highlights with lesser-visited spots that most visitors never find. The group size cap ensures that your guide can adapt the pace and focus to what genuinely interests the people on the day.
Cruise ship passengers are advised to note that this is a scheduled group tour and is suitable only for guests staying overnight in Funchal, as the schedule is not structured around ship departure times. Private tour options are available for guests needing guaranteed returns.
Tour Highlights
Stand at 1,818 metres on Pico do Arieiro and take in panoramic views across Madeira's central mountain spine.
Walk a levada trail through Laurissilva forest at Ribeiro Frio, a UNESCO-recognised ancient woodland teeming with endemic birdlife.
Visit the village of Santana and see the famous triangular thatched houses that are unique to this part of Madeira.
Step onto the glass and steel balcony of Miradouro Guindaste for an unobstructed view directly above the ocean.
Explore Ponta de Sao Lourenco, the easternmost peninsula of Madeira, where volcanic cliffs drop sharply into vivid blue sea.
Travel in a quiet electric vehicle that reduces noise and emissions, enhancing the natural soundscape at every stop.
Benefit from a capped group size of seven guests, allowing for a relaxed, attentive, and flexible guided experience.
Itinerary
1
Hotel Pickup in Funchal
Your guide collects you directly from your hotel or accommodation in Funchal, so there is no need to find a central meeting point. The journey east begins as soon as the group is assembled.
2
Pico do Arieiro – Mountain Summit at 1,818m
The route winds up to one of Madeira's highest accessible peaks, where the views extend across ridgelines, valleys, and often above the cloud layer. Time is given to explore, photograph, and simply take in the scale of the landscape.
3
Ribeiro Frio – Levada Walk and Laurissilva Forest
The descent leads to a small mountain village where a leisurely levada walk passes through ancient laurel forest. The area is known for endemic bird species including the Madeiran firecrest and chaffinch.
4
Santana – Local Lunch and Triangular Houses
Lunch is taken in Santana, a town recognised for its distinctive triangular thatched-roof houses that reflect a vernacular building tradition specific to northern Madeira. Time is available to explore the village on foot.
5
Miradouro Guindaste – Glass Viewpoint Over the Ocean
A cantilevered glass and steel viewing platform extends over the cliffside, providing an uninterrupted view of the coastline below. It is one of the more striking viewpoints on the island.
6
Ponta de Sao Lourenco – Volcanic Peninsula and Return
The tour concludes at Madeira's easternmost point, where bare volcanic rock and dramatic sea cliffs contrast with the green interior. After exploring, the group returns to Funchal with hotel drop-off.
What Is Included
Included
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Funchal
Transport in a quiet electric vehicle
Professional licensed guide throughout
Local lunch in Santana
Levada walk at Ribeiro Frio
All entrance fees to viewpoints on the itinerary
Not Included
Personal travel insurance
Drinks and snacks outside of lunch
Gratuities for the guide
Any optional purchases in villages
Important Information
This is a scheduled group tour with a maximum of 7 guests. It is not suitable for cruise ship passengers whose vessel departs on the same day. Tour duration ranges from 6.5 to 8 hours depending on conditions and group interests.
Duration
Approximately 6.5 to 8 hours. The tour does not operate to a fixed minute-by-minute schedule and adapts to the group's pace.
What to Bring
Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven forest paths. Bring a light jacket for the mountain summit, sun protection, and a camera.
Cancellation Policy
Please refer to the cancellation terms displayed at the time of booking. Weather-related cancellations are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Accessibility
The levada walk involves uneven terrain and is rated easy difficulty. The tour is not recommended for guests with significant mobility restrictions. Contact the operator before booking if you have specific requirements.
Age Range
The tour is suitable for most ages. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult. The relaxed pace makes it accessible for older travellers in good health.
Reserve Your Place on This Tour
With only seven seats available per departure, this tour fills quickly. Secure your spot and experience the east side of Madeira the way it deserves to be seen.
Is this tour suitable for cruise ship passengers?▼
This scheduled group tour is designed for guests staying overnight in Funchal. Cruise passengers whose ship departs on the same day are advised to book a private tour to ensure a guaranteed return time.
How many people are on the tour?▼
The maximum group size is seven guests. This cap is maintained to ensure a comfortable and attentive experience throughout the day.
What type of vehicle is used?▼
The tour operates in electric vehicles, which produce no direct emissions and travel quietly. This makes a noticeable difference at nature stops such as the levada walk and coastal viewpoints.
Is lunch included, and are dietary requirements catered for?▼
A local lunch in Santana is included in the tour price. If you have specific dietary requirements, it is recommended to inform the operator at the time of booking so arrangements can be made in advance.
What is the difficulty level of the walking sections?▼
The overall tour is rated easy. The levada walk at Ribeiro Frio follows a relatively flat forest path with some uneven surfaces. Comfortable walking shoes are sufficient.
Where exactly does the tour start and finish?▼
The tour begins and ends with a pickup and drop-off at your hotel or accommodation in Funchal. There is no requirement to travel to a central departure point.
East Madeira TourPico do ArieiroSantanaPonta de Sao LourencoLevada WalkLaurissilva ForestElectric Vehicle TourSmall Group TourFunchal Day TripMadeira ViewpointsMiradouro GuindasteFull Day Madeira
This tour operates across the eastern region of Madeira Island, an autonomous Portuguese archipelago located in the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1,000 kilometres southwest of mainland Portugal and 520 kilometres west of the Moroccan coast. Key destinations include Pico do Arieiro (1,818m), situated in the central-eastern mountain range; Ribeiro Frio, a highland village in the municipality of Santa Cruz; Santana, a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape in the northern municipality of the same name; Miradouro Guindaste, a coastal viewpoint on the northeastern cliffs; and Ponta de Sao Lourenco, the easternmost peninsula of Madeira in the municipality of Machico. The tour begins and ends in Funchal, the capital city located on the southern coast. The region is characterised by sub-tropical laurel forest (Laurissilva), UNESCO World Heritage-listed, dramatic volcanic sea cliffs, and traditional Madeiran vernacular architecture including the triangular palheiro houses of Santana.
Region: Madeira Island, Portugal | Tour Type: Full Day Guided Small Group | Transport: Electric Vehicle | Difficulty: Easy | Primary Departure: Funchal | Key Stops: Pico do Arieiro, Ribeiro Frio, Santana, Miradouro Guindaste, Ponta de Sao Lourenco | Themes: Nature, Culture, Gastronomy, Scenic Viewpoints, Levada Walking
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