Madeira West Coast Vintage Sidecar Tour: 5-Hour Private Ride

A vintage sidecar hugs the cliffs while you watch the Atlantic from Europe's highest sea-cliff.

A 5-hour private vintage sidecar tour along Madeira's west coast, departing from your hotel with a local guide who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French. You ride in the sidecar or on the motorcycle behind the driver, stopping at Cabo Girão (a 580-meter sea-cliff with a glass platform), the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos, Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol, and Calheta's golden sand beach and rum factory. Helmets, rain ponchos, insurance and gas are included. Food and drinks are optional.

Step-by-step itinerary

Madeira West Coast Vintage Sidecar Tour

• Explore Câmara de Lobos village
• Visit Cabo Girão sea-cliff viewpoint
• Enjoy Serra D'agua valley viewpoint
• Drive old roads with mountain and ocean views
• Visit Calheta golden sand beach and rum factory

The experience

How do you see a coastline without spending the day in a tour bus? A vintage sidecar lets you feel the road and the salt air while stopping where a guide knows the story. You get picked up from your hotel and ride either in the sidecar or on the motorcycle seat behind the driver. The sidecar holds two passengers total, so you choose your spot. The tour runs 5 hours, which means you leave the morning or early afternoon open for the rest of Madeira.

The route climbs and descends the west coast, moving between mountain views and ocean views through banana and sugar cane plantations. Cabo Girão is the centerpiece: a 580-meter sea-cliff (the highest in Europe) with a glass platform that lets you stand out over the drop. From there you drop into Câmara de Lobos, a working fishing village where colorful boats sit in the harbor and the air smells like the sea. The guide stops at viewpoints toward Serra d'Água valley, then continues to Calheta, where you walk the biggest artificial golden sand beach on the island and visit the rum factory. Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol are stops along the way: small towns where the guide can point out what matters and you can stretch your legs.

Your guide is a local who speaks your language (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or German). The sidecar comes with a helmet for each rider and disposable rain ponchos if the weather turns. Insurance and gas are covered in the price. If you want lunch, you can arrange it separately at one of the stops. Otherwise, the tour is the ride and the views.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• a local guide fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or German.
• helmet and disposable rain poncho for each rider.
• insurance.
• and gas.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 13:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Madeira Sidecar Tours

Is this one for you?The 5-hour duration means you ride the west coast and see five distinct stops without eating the whole day: morning or early afternoon departure leaves the rest of Madeira open. If you want to cover the coast without driving yourself or sitting in a group van, the sidecar is the alternative.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German 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.

What's the difference between riding in the sidecar and riding on the motorcycle?

The sidecar holds one passenger with an open view of the road and the coast. The motorcycle seat behind the driver is the second spot on the same bike. Both riders wear helmets and rain gear. You choose which position suits you when you book.

Can I bring my partner or a friend on the same sidecar?

The sidecar holds two passengers total. You and one other person. If you're traveling with two companions, you'd need to book two sidecars (one for you and your partner, one for your friend with the driver).

What is Cabo Girão like when you get there?

Cabo Girão is a 580-meter sea-cliff, the highest in Europe, with a glass platform built out over the edge so you can look straight down at the ocean. It's a photo stop and a moment to stand in the scale of the place.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but you can arrange an optional meal at one of the stops along the route: Câmara de Lobos, Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol or Calheta all have places to eat.

Do I need to be fit to ride a sidecar for 5 hours?

The tour suits all fitness levels. You're seated the entire time, and the guide stops regularly at viewpoints and villages so you can get out and walk around.