Madeira: Pico Arieiro & Ponta São Lourenço Jeep Tour

Five viewpoints in one day: why the east side of Madeira stops you cold

You're picked up from your hotel and driven to five viewpoints across Madeira's east side, starting at Pico do Arieiro and ending at Ponta São Lourenço. A 30-minute forest walk at Ribeiro Frio breaks up the driving. Santana's traditional houses give you time to walk and eat on your own. The jeep does the navigation and the timing, so you just show up and look.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Pico do Arieiro20m · entry included
2. Santana1h 30m
3. Ponta de São Lourenço30m · entry included

Madeira Jeep Tour Highlights

• Stop at Pico do Arieiro for views
• Enjoy coffee and snacks
• Walk along Balcões levada trail
• Try traditional poncha drink
• Lunch and see Santana houses
• Take photos at Faial viewpoint
• Visit Ponta de São Lourenço viewpoint
• Walk and buy souvenirs

The experience

You wake up in your hotel and wonder what to do with the day. The jeep arrives, and within an hour you're standing at Pico do Arieiro, the third-highest peak on the island, where the air thins and the whole eastern coast spreads below you like a map someone left open. The view is the kind that makes you forget to take the photo for a moment, just stare. Coffee tastes different up here. You stop long enough to breathe, and then the jeep drops down into the laurissilva forest, where a 30-minute walk along the Balcões levada takes you through mist and ancient trees that feel older than the island itself.

Santana comes next, and it's the only moment the pace slows on purpose. The village sits in a valley, and the houses (those steep-roofed, painted wooden structures you've seen in guidebooks) are actually lived in, not staged. Lunch isn't included in the tour price, so you eat where locals do, or you bring something. Either way, you're there long enough to walk around, buy a souvenir if it strikes you, and let the quiet settle. The driver knows the place. He'll point out which houses are the oldest, which families still live the way their grandparents did.

After Santana, the jeep climbs toward Faial and the Guindaste viewpoint, where the slopes drop so steeply toward the sea that your phone camera can't quite capture the angle. Then comes the final stop: Ponta São Lourenço, the eastern tip of Madeira, where the land runs out and the Atlantic takes over. It's a walk to the viewpoint, not a long one, but the wind picks up and the light changes every few minutes. By the time you turn back toward the jeep, you've seen five completely different versions of the same island.

Hotel pickup is included, so you don't arrange transport or figure out where to meet. The whole day runs on the tour's schedule, which means you're not checking your watch or wondering if you've missed something. Suitable for most fitness levels. The walks are short and the pace is set by the group, not by the mountain.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup.
• stops at Pico do Arieiro, Ribeiro Frio (with optional 30-minute forest walk), Santana (with time to explore traditional houses), Faial and Guindaste viewpoint, and Ponta São Lourenço.
• time for photos and walks at each viewpoint.
• jeep transport throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 46 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 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by RideWithToni

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the full range of Madeira's landscape in one day without renting a car or planning the route yourself: the jeep and driver handle both, leaving you free to look.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

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?

No. Lunch in Santana is not included in the tour price, so you can choose where and what to eat.

What's the walk at Ribeiro Frio like?

It's a 30-minute walk along the Balcões levada through the laurissilva forest. You can also try traditional poncha at a local bar if you prefer to skip the walk.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. The walks are short and the pace is set by the group.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup is included in the tour.

What should I bring?

Comfortable walking shoes, a camera, and layers: the weather changes as you climb and descend. Sunscreen and water are also useful.

Can I do this tour with young children?

The tour is not recommended for babies or children under 6 years old.

What if I don't want to do the forest walk?

The walk at Ribeiro Frio is optional. You can stay with the jeep or visit the traditional bar instead.