Santana & Pico do Arieiro tour: Private transport, no lunch

Mountain peak, forest and coast without arranging your own transport

You visit a wicker crafts factory, climb to Madeira's third-highest peak at 1,810 meters, walk through a UNESCO forest, see Santana's traditional thatched houses, and end at the dramatic cliffs of Ponta de São Lourenço. Private transport and WiFi are included. Lunch you arrange yourself in Santana.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Pico do Arieiro30m
2. Santana2h
3. Ponta de São Lourenço30m

Visit villages and scenic viewpoints

• Visit Craft Factory and Wicker Bazaar
• Climb to Pico do Arieiro peak
• Visit trout nursery and Laurisilva Forest
• Descend to Santana and stop for lunch
• Observe north and south coasts at Ponta de São Lourenço
• Visit Pico do Facho viewpoint

The experience

You're in the van before nine, climbing out of Funchal toward the interior. The Crafts Factory in Camacha comes first: wicker baskets stacked floor to ceiling, the kind locals have been weaving for generations. Then the road gets serious. Poiso winds upward and the air cools noticeably. At 1,810 meters, Pico do Arieiro is the third highest peak on Madeira, and from the top you're standing between two coasts at once. The landscape spreads in every direction, and on a clear day the view holds for hours.

The descent takes you to Ribeiro Frio, where a trout pond sits quiet among the trees. This is where you step into the Laurissilva Forest: a UNESCO World Heritage site that feels older than the island itself. The canopy is thick, the air is damp, and the ferns grow in layers. You're not hiking deep. It's a walk through, enough to understand why this forest matters. After that, Santana appears with its famous thatched houses, the A-frame roofs and whitewashed walls that you've probably seen in photos. Lunch happens here, though it's not included in the tour price, so you'll want to scout a spot or bring something.

The final stretch takes you northeast toward Ponta de São Lourenço, where the peninsula juts into the Atlantic and the cliffs drop sharp. A quick stop at Pico do Facho gives you a view back toward Machico and the whole eastern point of the island. By then you've crossed from mountain to coast and back again, seen three different versions of Madeira in a single day. The van has WiFi and air conditioning the whole way, and the driver handles all the navigation so you're just watching it unfold.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation from Funchal, WiFi on board, entry to the Crafts Factory and Wicker Bazaar in Camacha, the drive to Pico do Arieiro peak, a walk through the Laurissilva Forest at Ribeiro Frio with a visit to the trout pond, time in Santana to see the thatched houses and arrange lunch, and stops at Ponta de São Lourenço and Pico do Facho for coastal views. All fees and taxes are covered, and the vehicle is air-conditioned throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French 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 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Limousine Taxis Madeira

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Madeira's interior peaks, forest, and northeast coast without renting a car or planning five separate stops: the private transport and fixed route handle the logistics, leaving you to focus on the views and the villages.

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. You stop in Santana and can eat at a local restaurant there, or bring your own.

What is the highest point we reach?

Pico do Arieiro at 1,810 meters, the third-highest peak on Madeira Island.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes. Infants and small children can use a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels.

What is included in the price?

Private transportation, WiFi on board, all fees and taxes, and an air-conditioned vehicle.

When is this tour not available?

The tour does not operate on January 1st or December 25th.

Do we visit the Laurissilva Forest?

Yes. At Ribeiro Frio, you visit an important section of the Madeira Laurissilva Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Are there viewpoints to see both coasts?

Yes. From Pico do Arieiro and Ponta de São Lourenço, you can observe both the north and south coasts of Madeira Island.