Madeira: Pico do Areeiro & Santana 4x4 Off-Road Tour

A 4x4 climbs to Madeira's third-highest peak, then drops into villages and clifftop viewpoints most visitors never reach.

You ride in a 4x4 from Funchal up to Pico do Areeiro, walk the Levada dos Balcões trail through UNESCO forest, explore Santana's traditional houses and a centuries-old family home, then visit two clifftop viewpoints (Guindaste and Ponta do Rosto) that frame the eastern coast. Hotel pickup, lunch and a local English-speaking driver are included, and you're back by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Pico do Arieiro30m
2. Santana1h 30m
3. Ponta de São Lourenço30m

Madeira East 4x4 full-day tour

• Drive from Funchal to Pico do Arieiro
• Visit Centro da Freira and enjoy views
• Stop at Ribeiro Frio trout aquaculture
• Walk Levada dos Balcões trail
• Admire Balcões viewpoint scenery
• Off-road drive to Faial village
• Explore Santana triangular houses
• Lunch in Santana
• Visit Miradouro do Guindaste viewpoint
• Visit Ponta do Rosto viewpoint

The experience

The 4x4 leaves Funchal at 9am and heads straight uphill. Within an hour you're at Pico do Areeiro, 1,818 meters up, where the air thins and the island spreads below you in layers: mountains, clouds, the whole eastern half of Madeira visible at once. The Centro da Freira sits at the top, and from there the view doesn't really stop. You stand there longer than you planned to.

From the peak, the route drops into Ribeiro Frio, where a short walk along the Levada dos Balcões takes you through the Laurissilva Forest: a UNESCO site thick with native plants and the sound of water running through stone channels. The trail is maybe 45 minutes, easy pace, and it ends at a viewpoint where you're looking down into a green valley with Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo rising on the far side. The guide points out the peaks and the forest below, and you realize how much of Madeira is still untouched. After that, the 4x4 cuts through off-road routes toward Faial, rough enough to feel like real driving, smooth enough that you're not gripping the door handle.

Lunch happens in Santana, the village famous for its triangular houses. The colorful ones you've seen in photos, but also a real 300-year-old family home with original furniture still inside, which is the one that stays with you. After eating, the tour heads to Miradouro do Guindaste, a glass platform built out over the cliffs of Faial, where the sea drops away beneath your feet and there's nothing between you and the horizon. The last stop is Ponta do Rosto in Caniçal, another viewpoint looking east toward Ponta de São Lourenço, the dramatic cliffs and volcanic shape of the peninsula clear from here. You're back in Funchal by 6pm.

The driver speaks English and knows the roads. He's local, so he stops where it matters and keeps the pace steady. Water and snacks are included. Hotel pickup and drop-off mean you don't navigate Funchal traffic yourself. The whole day is nine hours, which sounds long until you realize how much ground it covers.

What’s included

• Professional local English-speaking driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from Funchal.
• bottled water and snacks throughout the day.
• lunch at a restaurant in Santana.
• entry to Pico do Areeiro and access to all viewpoints including Miradouro do Guindaste and Ponta do Rosto.
• the Levada dos Balcões walking trail through Laurissilva Forest.
• visits to Santana's traditional triangular houses and a 300-year-old family home.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 3

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by The Big Adventure Madeira

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want to see Madeira's interior peaks, forest trails and traditional villages in one day without renting a car or navigating mountain roads yourself: the 4x4 and driver handle the logistics, leaving you to focus on the views and the stops.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (2 to 11 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 is the Levada dos Balcões walk?

Around 45 minutes at an easy pace through the Laurissilva Forest, ending at the Balcões viewpoint.

What time does the tour start and finish?

9am from Funchal, returning by 6pm. Hotel pickup is included.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch is included at a restaurant in Santana.

What is Pico do Areeiro?

Madeira's third-highest peak at 1,818 meters, offering panoramic views of the island and the Laurissilva Forest.

Can I visit the traditional houses in Santana?

Yes, the tour includes visits to both the colorful touristic triangular houses and a real 300-year-old family home with original furnishings.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited fitness?

The Levada dos Balcões walk is short and accessible. However, the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy.

What's included in the tour price?

Professional local driver, bottled water, snacks, hotel pickup and drop-off, and lunch.