Madeira: Sidecar Motorcycle Tour to Cabo Girão & Câmara de Lobos

Summary

Ride Madeira’s old west road in a vintage sidecar for wild sea views and village life

You’ll feel every curve of Madeira’s west coast as you ride in a classic sidecar past cliffs, fishing villages, and ocean views. Sip coffee by Câmara de Lobos’ harbor, brave Cabo Girão’s skywalk with your local guide nearby, and watch sunlight shift across terraced hillsides. This isn’t just sightseeing—it’s feeling part of island life for an afternoon.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous when I first saw the sidecar parked outside our hotel in Funchal — it looked straight out of an old movie, all chrome and leather. But our guide, João, just grinned and handed me a helmet. “It’s more fun than you think,” he promised. He was right. The engine rumbled to life and suddenly we were weaving through narrow streets, sea air mixing with the smell of morning coffee drifting from open windows. I kept grinning like an idiot every time we rounded a bend and the Atlantic just exploded into view.

Câmara de Lobos was our first real stop. It’s this fishing village where the boats are painted every color you can imagine — blue, red, green — and old men sit by the harbor mending nets or just watching the world go by. João waved to one of them and they exchanged a few words in Portuguese I couldn’t catch. We had coffee at a tiny café by the water (I probably put too much sugar in mine but nobody seemed to mind). There was this salty tang in the air and the sound of gulls fighting over fish scraps — I still think about that moment sometimes, honestly.

Pico da Torre gave us this wild view back over Câmara de Lobos — houses stacked up like someone had shaken them into place — and then came Cabo Girão. That glass skywalk is higher than it looks in photos; my knees wobbled a bit but João just laughed and said even locals get vertigo up there. The cliffs drop straight down to terraced vineyards and tiny patches of farmland clinging to impossible angles. After that we rolled through Campanário (felt like time slowed down there) and Ribeira Brava, where river meets sea and people seem to move at their own pace. I lost track of how many times I wanted to ask João to pull over for another photo but he always seemed to know the best spots anyway.

The whole thing felt less like a tour and more like being shown around by someone who actually loves these roads — which maybe sounds cheesy but it’s true. By the end my hair was a mess from the wind and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. If you’re even half-curious about seeing Madeira by sidecar, don’t overthink it — just go for it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Coastal and hillside Madeira tour

• Explore Câmara de Lobos village
• Visit Pico da Torre viewpoint
• Admire views at Cabo Girão cliff
• Pass through Campanário village
• Discover Ribeira Brava town

Top questions

How long does the Madeira sidecar tour last?

The private sidecar tour lasts approximately 3 hours.

Is pickup included for this Madeira sidecar adventure?

Yes, pickup is available within Funchal, Caniço, and Câmara de Lobos areas.

What are the main stops on this Madeira sidecar motorcycle tour?

The main stops include Câmara de Lobos village, Pico da Torre viewpoint, Cabo Girão skywalk, Campanário village, and Ribeira Brava town.

How many people can ride in one sidecar?

The sidecar allows two passengers—one in the sidecar itself and one riding behind the driver on the motorbike.

Is this tour suitable for children or infants?

Infants can join; specialized infant seats are available and infants must sit on an adult's lap if needed.

Is this Madeira sidecar tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces on this tour are wheelchair accessible.

Are helmets provided during the tour?

Yes, helmets are provided for all passengers as part of the inclusions.

Does this private Madeira island tour include insurance?

Yes, insurance is included for all participants during the tour.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from your hotel or meeting point within Funchal, Caniço or Câmara de Lobos; all taxes and fees; fuel; insurance; helmets (plus disposable rain ponchos if needed); plus your friendly local driver-guide showing you around at your pace before dropping you back at your starting point.