Pico do Arieiro & Santana 4x4 Tour from Funchal

A levada walk winds through working sugar cane and vegetable fields on the way down from the highest peaks.

This 7.5-hour guided tour from Funchal takes you to Pico do Arieiro, Madeira's third-highest peak, then through Santana's UNESCO-protected village with its distinctive thatched-roof houses, a rum distillery in Porto da Cruz, and the volcanic cliffs of Ponta de São Lourenço. The tour includes a scenic levada walk through traditional agricultural landscapes, a soft off-road 4x4 section, professional guide in your choice of language, and pickup and drop-off from central Funchal. Children from age 3 are welcome. Infant seats are available.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Pico do Arieiro30m
2. Santana30m
3. Ponta de São Lourenço1h

Explore eastern Madeira landscapes and culture

• Visit Pico do Arieiro peak
• Walk scenic Referta Levada trail
• Drive soft off-road adventure
• See Santana thatched-roof houses
• Tour Porto da Cruz rum distillery
• Marvel at Ponta de São Lourenço cliffs

The experience

Pico do Arieiro sits at 1,818 meters and opens with panoramic views across deep valleys and the island's highest peaks. From there, the route descends through a levada walk, Madeira's traditional irrigation paths, where you pass working fields of vegetables, sugar cane and vineyards that have shaped the island's landscape for centuries. The walk itself is the transition between the high peaks and the inhabited villages below.

Santana is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve village known for its iconic A-frame thatched-roof houses, a design unique to this part of Madeira. The tour then moves to Porto da Cruz for a rum distillery tour before heading to Ponta de São Lourenço, where volcanic cliffs rise from the sea and the island's geological history becomes visible in the rock formations. The 4x4 vehicle handles soft off-road sections that connect these stops, letting you reach places a standard car cannot.

Pickup and drop-off are included from central Funchal and next to the port. If your accommodation is outside the central area, an extra fee applies. The guide is a local professional fluent in English, Spanish or Portuguese. The vehicle is sanitized with ozone between tours, and all Portuguese law insurances are covered. The full day runs 7.5 hours.

What’s included

• Professional local guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• pickup and drop-off from central Funchal and next to the port.
• safety instructions and first aid.
• vehicle sanitized with ozone.
• all insurances according to Portuguese law.
• local taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday and FridayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, Spanish 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 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by True Spirit

Is this one for you?The tour departs from central Funchal with included pickup, so you don't need a rental car or local driving knowledge to reach Pico do Arieiro and the eastern villages. The 4x4 handles the off-road sections and the guide navigates the full route. If you're staying outside central Funchal, factor in the additional pickup fee when booking.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

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

What is Pico do Arieiro and why does this tour start there?

Pico do Arieiro is Madeira's third-highest peak at 1,818 meters, offering panoramic views across deep valleys and the island's highest peaks. Starting there gives you the high-altitude perspective before descending through the agricultural and coastal landscapes below.

What happens during the levada walk on this tour?

The levada walk follows Madeira's traditional irrigation paths through working agricultural fields (vegetables, sugar cane and vineyards) showing how the island's landscape has been cultivated for centuries. It connects the high peaks to the lower villages.

What is the rum distillery stop in Porto da Cruz?

Porto da Cruz includes a tour of a local rum distillery, one of the stops between Santana and the coastal cliffs at Ponta de São Lourenço.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel?

Pickup and drop-off are included from central Funchal and next to the port. If your accommodation is outside central Funchal, an additional fee applies for pickup and drop-off.

What makes Ponta de São Lourenço worth visiting?

Ponta de São Lourenço features vibrant volcanic cliffs where the island's geological history is visible in the rock formations. It marks the eastern tip of Madeira and offers views of the coastline and offshore rock formations.