Funchal: Pico do Areeiro & Santana 4x4 Off-Road Tour

Above the Clouds on Madeira's Hidden Roads

You ride in a small 4x4 with a local guide through Funchal's back roads to Pico do Areeiro, explore the UNESCO Laurisilva forest at Ribeiro Frio, visit a 240-year-old Santana house, and stop at dramatic viewpoints over the north coast including Portela and Guindaste. Lunch is traditional Madeiran food, pickup is from the cruise terminal or your hotel, and the whole experience takes around eight hours without you arranging transport or timing yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Portela Viewpoint10m
2. Santana15m
3. Pico do Arieiro15m

Explore Madeira's north coast and peaks

• Visit Machico beach and promenade
• Stop at Portela viewpoint
• Explore Porto da Cruz village
• Tour Engenhos do Norte rum mill
• Visit Faial village
• Enjoy Guindaste terrace views
• Discover Santana rural area
• See traditional Santana houses
• Walk in Laurisilva forest
• Visit Poiso natural area
• Ascend Pico do Areeiro peak
• Pass by historic Snow Well

The experience

"The road gets narrower, but the view gets bigger," our guide said as we turned off the main highway onto a dirt track that climbed into Funchal's green hills. That's the whole day in one sentence. You're not on a coach following the same route as everyone else. You're in a 4x4 with a small group, maybe seven other people, heading toward Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 meters, where the island spreads out below like a map someone folded wrong. The drive takes you through switchbacks and forest, past terraced farms and stone walls that have been there longer than anyone can remember, and the higher you go, the more the mainland disappears.

At Portela Viewpoint, the landscape opens up. You're standing on a balcony above Machico's valley, looking out over cliffs and the Atlantic stretching flat and endless. Then you drop back down to the coast, to places like Porto da Cruz where black-sand beaches meet fishing villages, and Faial, where the mountains fall straight into the ocean. The guide stops at Guindaste, a terrace hanging above the north coast, and you stand there feeling the wind and the scale of it all. After that comes Santana, the green heart of Madeira's north, where you visit a genuine 240-year-old Santana house: the A-frame cottages with thatched roofs and painted doors that look like they've stepped out of a storybook. Lunch is traditional Madeiran food, and it tastes like the place itself: simple, real, made from what grows here.

Ribeiro Frio and the UNESCO Laurisilva forest come next: an emerald sanctuary in the mountains where the air changes and the trees are older than nations. The levada walks wind through dense forest, and the viewpoints over deep valleys remind you why people come to Madeira in the first place. The whole day is structured so you're not rushing. You're moving through different altitudes and landscapes, and the 4x4 is what makes the back roads possible: the ones that don't appear on most maps. Pickup happens at the cruise terminal if you're arriving by ship, or from your hotel if you're staying on the island. The group stays small, under eight people, which means the guide can actually talk to you instead of shouting over a microphone.

Plan for around eight hours door to door. Bring layers: the temperature drops as you climb, and the north coast can be windy. The lunch is included, the guide is local and knows the stories behind the places you're seeing, and you don't have to figure out how to rent a car or navigate the mountain roads yourself. If you're docked in Funchal and want to see the real Madeira in one day without the logistics, this is how you do it.

What’s included

• Local guide and driver.
• pickup and drop-off at Funchal cruise terminal or hotel.
• visits to Pico do Areeiro, Portela Viewpoint, Porto da Cruz, Faial, Guindaste, Santana village and a 240-year-old traditional house, Ribeiro Frio and the UNESCO Laurisilva forest.
• traditional Madeiran lunch.
• small group of up to 8 people.
• 4x4 vehicle for off-road access to hidden viewpoints and back roads.

Options for this experience

2 options

Shore Excursion: Santana and Peaks 4x4 TourGuide in 5 languages · 08:30 and 09:00Pickup is included

EastGuide in 5 languages · 08:30 and 09:00Includes 4x4 pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Thursday, Saturday and SundayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Green Devil Safari

Is this one for you?Book this if you're docked in Funchal and want to see Madeira's peaks, forests, and north coast in one day without renting a car or navigating mountain roads yourself: the small group and fixed schedule are what fit everything into eight hours and get you back to the ship on time.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

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

Can children come?

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

What's the highest point we reach on this tour?

Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 meters, Madeira's 3rd highest peak. The drive takes you above the clouds, and the views stretch across the entire island.

Is this tour suitable for cruise passengers?

Yes. Pickup happens directly at the cruise terminal, and the timing is built around ship schedules so you're back in time for departure.

How many people are in the group?

Small groups, up to 8 people maximum. This keeps the pace manageable and the guide able to talk with everyone.

What's included in the tour?

Local guide, driver, pickup and drop-off at the cruise terminal or hotel, entry to attractions, and a traditional Madeiran lunch.

Do we do any walking on this tour?

Yes. There are walks at viewpoints like Portela and Guindaste, and levada walks through the Laurisilva forest at Ribeiro Frio. The pace is not strenuous, but you'll be on your feet at several stops.

What should I bring?

Layers of clothing: the temperature drops significantly as you climb, and the north coast can be windy. Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, and a camera are useful.

Can infants come on this tour?

Yes. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available if needed.

How long is the tour?

Around eight hours total, including pickup, all stops, lunch, and return to the terminal or hotel.