Funchal 4x4 wine tour: Cabo Girão and vineyard tasting

Glass floor at Europe's highest sea cliff, then wine and terraced vineyards

A half-day 4x4 tour from Funchal combines off-road driving through Madeira's northern terrain with visits to Cabo Girão (580 meters above sea level) and a working vineyard where you taste six wines (one rosé, three whites, two reds) paired with Portuguese cheese and chorizo. A professional local guide leads the route, pickup and drop-off are included in central Funchal, and the tour suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Skywalk and wine tasting adventure

• Travel from Funchal to Cabo Girão
• Visit Cabo Girão sea cliff skywalk
• Explore Lime Route Museum Centre in São Vicente
• Off-road drive through northern Madeira landscapes
• Tour vineyards at Quinta Barbusano
• Taste local wines with cheese and chorizo

The experience

Four hours takes you from Funchal into terrain most visitors never reach. The 4x4 climbs into the northern part of the island, where the landscape shifts to terraced vineyards and traditional farming that has shaped Madeira for centuries. You stop at Cabo Girão, one of Europe's highest sea cliffs at 580 meters, where a glass-floor balcony lets you stand directly over the drop: the Lime Route Museum Centre in São Vicente sits nearby if you want to step inside. The vehicle handles the rough tracks. Your guide handles the history and the navigation.

The second half moves into Madeira's wine region and Quinta Barbusano, a working vineyard where the guide walks you through the vines and explains how the island's volcanic soil and Atlantic position shape what grows here. You taste six wines (one rosé, three whites, two reds) each paired with Portuguese cheese and chorizo. This is not a formal tasting room. It is the producer's own operation, and the wines are what Madeira actually drinks.

Pickup and drop-off happen in central Funchal or next to the port, so no separate transport to arrange. The guide is a local professional, the vehicle is sanitized between tours, and all Portuguese insurances are included. If you are picking up or dropping off outside the central area, there is an extra fee to arrange that. Children from age three can join, and infant seats are available.

What’s included

• Professional local guide in English.
• pickup and drop-off in central Funchal or next to the port.
• off-road 4x4 transport.
• vineyard tour at Quinta Barbusano.
• tasting of six wines (one rosé, three whites, two reds) with Portuguese cheese and chorizo.
• safety instructions and first aid.
• vehicle sanitized with ozone.
• all insurances according to Portuguese law.
• local taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Wednesday and SaturdayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

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

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by True Spirit

Is this one for you?Book this for a morning or afternoon when you want to see Madeira beyond the main roads: the off-road drive and the sea cliff are what make it different from a standard tour, and the wine tasting grounds the day in something local instead of just passing through.

Traveler reviews

4.86★★★★★★★★★★

546 verified traveler reviews

5 ★491

4 ★40

3 ★8

2 ★5

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What is Cabo Girão and why is it on this tour?

Cabo Girão is one of Europe's highest sea cliffs at 580 meters above the Atlantic. The tour stops there so you can walk the glass-floor balcony and see the drop directly beneath your feet. It is the single most dramatic viewpoint on the northern coast.

How much wine do you actually taste on this tour?

You taste six wines total: one rosé, three whites, and two reds, each paired with Portuguese cheese and chorizo at Quinta Barbusano vineyard in São Vicente.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the starting point?

No. Pickup and drop-off are included in central Funchal and next to the port. The driver collects you and returns you at the end of the four hours.

What is the terrain like on the off-road sections?

The 4x4 drives through the northern part of Madeira over rough tracks past traditional terraced vineyards and farmland. The tour suits all fitness levels because you ride in the vehicle. You step out at stops but do not hike or climb.