Funchal Agriculture Tour: Banana Farm, Rum Factory & Countryside

See how Madeira grows its food, from the farms to the factory floor

A seven-hour guided tour of Funchal's working farms and food production, visiting a private banana farm, the island's largest banana cooperative, a fruit and vegetable farm supplying local supermarkets, a cattle farm making famous requeijão cheese, and a rum factory with tasting. Lunch at a traditional restaurant, drinks and snacks included. Small groups with hotel pickup and drop-off.

Step-by-step itinerary

Agriculture tour with farm visits

• Pick up from hotel
• Visit private banana farm
• Visit biggest banana cooperation
• Visit fruit and vegetable farm
• Visit cattle farm and see milking
• Stop for traditional lunch
• Visit farming village
• Visit rum factory with tasting
• Drive through countryside
• Stop at cable car viewpoint
• Return to hotel

The experience

The tour runs seven hours and moves through the old roads of Madeira's agricultural heartland. You start with pickup from your hotel, then head to a private family banana farm and the biggest banana cooperative on the island, where you'll see how the fruit is grown and processed. From there, a drive takes you to a fruit and vegetable farm that supplies most of the supermarket chains across Madeira: the scale of what feeds the island becomes clear once you're standing in it.

A cattle farm comes next, where you'll watch the old milking techniques still used to produce milk for the island's famous requeijão cheese. The tour stops for a traditional Maderian lunch at a restaurant in the farming village where much of the day takes place, with fresh local vegetables and drinks included. After lunch, you visit the rum factory to see the production process and taste the rum and honey cake the factory exports. On the drive back through the countryside, there's a stop at the cable car viewpoint before you return to your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• a qualified guide speaking English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or another language.
• lunch at a traditional restaurant.
• snacks and drinks throughout the day.
• rum and honey cake tasting at the factory.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and FridayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 11 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Secret Madeira Lda

Is this one for you?Small groups keep the tour manageable and let you ask questions as you move between farms, making it work well for travelers who want to understand how Madeira's food system actually operates rather than just see the sights from a bus window.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I see at the banana farm and the cooperative?

The private family banana farm and the biggest banana cooperative show you how bananas are grown and handled on Madeira. You'll see the plants and learn the techniques used to produce the fruit the island exports.

Is the cattle farm part of the tour, and what happens there?

Yes, the cattle farm is included. You'll see the cows that provide milk for requeijão cheese production and watch the old milking methods still in use on the farm.

What kind of lunch is served, and does it fit dietary needs?

Lunch is traditional Maderian food served at a restaurant in the farming village, made with fresh local vegetables. If you're vegetarian or vegan, let the guide know when you book so the restaurant can prepare something suitable.

Does the rum factory tasting mean I have to drink alcohol?

The rum factory visit includes a tasting of rum and Maderian honey cake. If you prefer not to taste the rum, you can skip it. The factory tour itself is the main stop.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

There is some walking involved, so bring comfortable shoes with good grip. The tour moves between farms and through the village, but it is not a hiking tour. The pace is set for small groups visiting working farms.