Madeira Island: Santana & Ponta de São Lourenço Full-Day Tour

Madeira's East Coast in One Day: Straw Houses, Lunar Cliffs & Mountain Views

You start at a mountain peak with views across the island, pass through the northeast's dramatic coastline at Ponta de São Lourenço, stop in Santana for lunch among its famous thatched houses, and visit a rum factory. An optional 45-minute forest walk through UNESCO-protected Laurel Forest can be added if booked in advance. Transport is in an air-conditioned vehicle and the tour suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Santana1h 30m
2. Ponta de São Lourenço30m

Explore Madeira's East and Santana

• Visit Madeira’s highest peak viewpoint
• Optional 2.4 km Levada walk or café break
• Pass through scenic areas
• Enjoy traditional lunch in Santana village
• Photo stop at Rum Factory (if open)
• Explore Ponta de São Lourenço landscape

The experience

The landscape changes so fast you almost miss it. One moment you're climbing toward one of Madeira's highest peaks (the kind of viewpoint where the whole island spreads below you in layers of green and cloud), and then the road tips toward the coast and suddenly everything flattens into something alien. Ponta de São Lourenço sits at the easternmost edge, and it looks like nothing else on the island: rust-colored cliffs, sparse vegetation, a kind of barren drama that catches you off guard if you've only seen Madeira's lush interior. The full-day tour from Funchal strings these contrasts together, moving through the northeast and mountains with stops that actually feel spaced out enough to breathe, not rushed.

Santana is the centerpiece: the village everyone photographs for its triangular thatched-roof houses painted in bright colors. You'll have time for a traditional Madeiran lunch there, which matters because it's not a quick photo stop and move on. You're eating in the place, not just looking at it. The drive itself uses an air-conditioned vehicle, which you notice when you're climbing elevation and the road narrows. There's a rum factory stop when it's open (photo opportunity, no pressure), and if you want to add the optional 45-minute walk through the Laurel Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site, you can book that separately in advance through the government's Simplifica Madeira website. That walk has a specific time slot between 10:30 and 11am, and the slots fill up, so it's not something you decide on the morning of.

The route covers the less-crowded parts of the island without pretending they're hidden. Ponta de São Lourenço is photographed constantly, but standing there in person is different. The geology is so stark it almost doesn't feel like an island. The smaller stops (a café break, a levada walk option at 2.4km if you want it) give you flexibility, though again, anything optional needs booking ahead. The whole day runs long enough to feel complete but not so long you're exhausted by the end.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• mountain peak viewpoint.
• Ponta de São Lourenço visit.
• traditional Madeiran lunch in Santana.
• rum factory photo stop.
• café and bathroom break.
• optional 45-minute Laurel Forest walk (booked and paid separately in advance).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 18

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.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.

Paid on site€ 4.50

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Spot Madeira Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Madeira's contrasting landscapes (mountains, coast, and village culture) without arranging transport or timing between stops. The fixed itinerary and included lunch mean you're not deciding what to do each hour. The optional forest walk lets you add depth if you plan ahead.

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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 (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5): free.

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.

Is lunch included in the price?

Yes, a traditional Madeiran lunch in Santana is included in the tour.

Can I do the Laurel Forest walk without booking in advance?

No. The walk must be booked and paid for in advance through the Simplifica Madeira government website. Slots fill up, so early booking is essential.

What is Ponta de São Lourenço like?

It's Madeira's easternmost point with an arid, almost lunar landscape. The cliffs are rust-colored, vegetation is sparse, and it offers panoramic sea views: very different from the island's greener areas.

Is the rum factory visit included?

Yes, there's a photo stop at the rum factory when it's open. It's not a full tour of the facility, just a stop.

Are there bathroom breaks during the day?

Yes, there's a small stop for a café or bathroom break included in the itinerary.

What's included in the price?

Air-conditioned vehicle transport, lunch in Santana, and stops at the mountain peak, Ponta de São Lourenço, and the rum factory. The optional Laurel Forest walk is paid separately.