Funchal to Porto Moniz Jeep Tour: Cliffs & Swimming

You climb from sea level to a 1,640-meter plateau, then descend to swim in natural pools carved into the volcanic coast.

This full-day jeep tour from Funchal travels the west coast of Madeira, climbing through mountain villages, crossing the Paul da Serra plateau, and descending to natural swimming pools in Porto Moniz. The route includes Cabo Girão's suspended glass platform at 580 meters, the Laurissilva forest at Fanal, and a volcanic beach at Seixal with waterfalls. Pickup is included from Funchal; a live guide leads the tour in your choice of five languages. Lunch at a local restaurant is optional.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Jeep tour from Funchal

• Depart from Funchal
• Visit Câmara de Lobos village
• See viewpoint of Rancho on Câmara de Lobos
• Stop at Cabo Girão cliff and glass platform
• Pass through Ponta do Sol village
• Visit Cascatas Gémeas waterfalls
• Drive through small village
• Pass Paul da Serra plateau
• Explore Fanal laurel forest
• Descend to Ribeira da Janela village and waterfall
• Stop at Porto Moniz for lunch and swim in natural pools
• Visit volcanic beach at Seixal village
• Enjoy mountain and waterfall views
• Return and drop off in Funchal

The Experience

Câmara de Lobos, the fishing village where the tour begins, sits on the south coast marked by traditional wooden boats called Xavelhas. From here the jeep climbs to Cabo Girão, Europe's highest cliff at 580 meters, where a glass platform extends over the edge—the viewpoint itself has become one of Madeira's most photographed spots. The coastal plain below, Fajã do Cabo Girão, was once reachable only on foot, goods carried on backs over the steep rock walls that still frame it.

The route then turns inland through old mountain paths where banana terraces step down the hillsides and local life unfolds as it has for generations. The jeep climbs to Paul da Serra, the island's only plateau at approximately 1,640 meters, where on clear days both the north and south coasts come into view. The landscape shifts again at Fanal, where a centuries-old Laurissilva forest—indigenous to Madeira and dating back before the archipelago's discovery—creates a mystical terrain marked by a winter lagoon and designated as a Rest and Silence Reserve.

The descent to the coast brings you to Ribeira da Janela, where the island's longest river meets the sea and rock formations rise offshore with a natural window carved into one of them. Porto Moniz sits at the end of this stretch, famous for its natural swimming pools formed in the volcanic rock—you stop here for lunch at a local restaurant (optional) and to swim. The final stop is Seixal Village's black sand beach, where a waterfall drops toward the shore and vineyard terraces climb the verdant cliffs behind it. The jeep returns you to Funchal by evening. The route is flexible and adjusted for weather and road conditions to find the best conditions for the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Funchal.
• a live guide in your choice of five languages.
• stops for swimming in the natural pools at Porto Moniz and Seixal.
• views from Cabo Girão's glass platform viewpoint.
• passage through the Paul da Serra plateau and the Laurissilva forest at Fanal.
• lunch at a local restaurant (optional).

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Just Go Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move through Madeira's full range of landscape in one day—coast, cliff, plateau, forest and volcanic beach—without arranging your own transport or navigating the mountain roads. The jeep handles the driving and the guide knows where to stop for the best views and swimming; you show up in Funchal and return by evening.

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Top questions

What is Cabo Girão and why is the viewpoint there so famous?

Cabo Girão is Europe's highest cliff at 580 meters above sea level, located on Madeira's south coast near Câmara de Lobos. Its viewpoint features a suspended glass platform—called a skywalk—that extends over the edge, making it one of the most visited and photographed attractions in the region.

Do we actually swim in the natural pools, or just look at them?

You stop at Porto Moniz's natural swimming pools and swim in them; the tour also includes a stop at Seixal's natural pools. Both are volcanic formations where you can enter the water during the tour.

What is Paul da Serra and what makes it different from the rest of the island?

Paul da Serra is Madeira's only plateau, situated at approximately 1,640 meters altitude. It offers unobstructed views of mountain peaks and deep valleys; on clear days you can see both the north and south coasts from the same vantage point.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch at a local restaurant in Porto Moniz is optional—you choose whether to add it when you book. The tour stops there regardless, giving you time to eat or rest before swimming.

How many languages does the guide speak?

The live guide leads the tour in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and one additional language, so you can book in your preferred language.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of the tour?

The route is flexible and adjusted based on weather and road conditions; the operator looks for the best conditions available on the day to ensure you see the most and stay safe on the mountain roads.