Funchal: Pico do Arieiro & Santana Electric Tour with Pickup

Mountain Peak to Coastal Cliffs: Madeira's East in One Quiet Day

You travel in a quiet electric vehicle through Madeira's eastern highlands and coast, starting at Pico do Arieiro's 1,818-meter peak and descending through a forest levada walk to the village of Santana for lunch. You stand on a glass viewpoint above the ocean and explore the windswept cliffs of Ponta de São Lourenço. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Funchal are included, and the small group size means the pace adjusts to your interests rather than a fixed schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Pico do Arieiro30m
2. Santana1h
3. Ponta de São Lourenço30m

Explore East Madeira's highlights

• Visit Pico do Arieiro mountain peak
• Levada walk in Ribeiro Frio forest
• Lunch and see triangular houses in Santana
• View ocean from Miradouro Guindaste viewpoint
• Explore cliffs at Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula

The experience

You'll wonder why anyone drives a regular car up here. The electric vehicle is so quiet that when you reach Pico do Arieiro at 1,818 meters, you actually hear the wind instead of an engine. The mountain opens up in every direction: the sweeping views from the peak are the kind you stand in front of for longer than you planned, and the air up there is sharp and clean. From there the day unfolds downward: you descend into Ribeiro Frio, a tiny village tucked into the Laurissilva forest, where a levada walk takes you through green so thick it feels like walking inside a plant. Firecrests and chaffinches move through the canopy. The path is gentle and the forest muffles everything.

Lunch happens in Santana, the village famous for its triangular thatched-roof houses: the kind you see in old photographs of Madeira, except they're still there, still lived in, still painted in bright colors. You eat local food while those houses sit across the street, and the guide doesn't rush you. After lunch the tour pivots to the coast. Miradouro Guindaste is a glass and steel viewpoint that hangs you out over the ocean. You're standing on a platform that feels like it shouldn't hold, but it does, and the drop below is real. Then comes Ponta de São Lourenço, the peninsula at the island's eastern edge where the cliffs are dramatic and the wind has shaped the rock into something that looks almost alive.

The whole thing runs 6.5 to 8 hours depending on how long you linger, and the group stays under seven people. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Funchal are included, so you don't navigate the roads yourself. The vehicle is air-conditioned, the driver knows where the hidden stops are, and the pace follows what the group wants to do, not a clock.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within Funchal.
• air-conditioned electric vehicle.
• parking fees.
• insurance.
• booster seat if needed.
• guided stops at Pico do Arieiro mountain peak, Ribeiro Frio levada forest walk, Santana village with triangular houses, Miradouro Guindaste glass viewpoint, and Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to13h before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (2 to 16 years)

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 35 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Madeira Electric Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Madeira's eastern highlands and coast in one day without driving yourself or arranging separate transport and timing: the small group size and flexible pace mean you spend time where you want instead of rushing between stops on a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 16 years).

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.

How long does the tour take?

Between 6.5 and 8 hours, depending on how long the group spends at each stop. The pace is not fixed to a schedule.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off within Funchal, the electric vehicle with air conditioning, parking fees, insurance, and a booster seat if needed.

How many people are on the tour?

Maximum 7 guests per tour, so the group stays small and the experience feels personal.

Is lunch included?

The tour stops in Santana for lunch, but the meal cost is not included in the tour price.

What's the levada walk like?

It's a leisurely walk through the Laurissilva forest near Ribeiro Frio. The path is gentle and takes you through lush green forest where you can spot local birdlife.

Is this tour suitable for cruise ship passengers?

This is a scheduled group tour. It's recommended only for guests staying overnight in Funchal. If your ship departs the same day, a private tour would be better to ensure you return on time.

What should I bring?

Comfortable walking shoes for the levada walk and the peninsula exploration, a light jacket for the mountain peak where it's cooler, and a camera for the viewpoints.

Can I do this tour if I'm afraid of heights?

The glass viewpoint at Miradouro Guindaste is high above the ocean, and Ponta de São Lourenço involves dramatic cliff views. If heights make you uncomfortable, this tour may not be the best fit.