Madeira: Waterfalls & Fanal Forest West Coast Tour

The Fog Rolls In: Madeira's Hidden Forest & Coastal Cliffs

You get picked up from your hotel and spend a full day driving the west coast of Madeira with a local guide in a small group, visiting Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão's sea cliffs, the mysterious Fanal Forest, natural pools at Porto Moniz, and Bridal Veil waterfall. Lunch and stops are built in, and the guide decides in real time whether the forest walk happens based on weather. You're back in Funchal by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Cabo Girão25m
2. Porto Moniz2h

West Tour: Villages, Forest, and Coast

• Visit Câmara de Lobos fishing village
• Optional visit to Cabo Girão Skywalk
• Explore Ribeira Brava town and church
• Stop at sunny village Ponta Do Sol
• Walk in Fanal Forest, weather permitting
• Drive zigzag road to Porto Moniz natural pools
• Lunch at Porto Moniz promenade restaurants
• Travel north coast route to Brides Veil waterfall
• Visit São Vicente town and mother church
• Pass through Serra de Água mountain landscape

The experience

You're standing in Câmara de Lobos, the fishing village where Winston Churchill set up his easel in 1949, and the light is already doing something strange to the water. Your guide points out the stacked houses tumbling down to the harbor, then mentions that most people skip this stop entirely. They're too eager to get to the famous bits. But this is where the day actually starts: a small moment, a real place, a reason to slow down before the drive climbs into the mountains.

The road west hugs the coastline like it's holding on, and after Ribeira Brava (a 16th-century town built where a wild river meets the sea) you're heading inland toward Fanal Forest. This is the part people come for, though nobody quite knows what they'll find. The forest sits high on the plateau, and depending on the weather, it either reveals itself or it doesn't. On a clear day you see the 600-year-old laurel trees with their twisted, gnarled branches reaching out like they're still growing sideways. On a foggy one (which is often). You walk into something that feels less like a forest and more like a dream someone forgot to finish. Your guide will know which it is, and whether the 15-minute walk through the trees is worth doing that day. It's optional, which means you're not forced into it if the mist is too thick or the ground too wet.

Porto Moniz comes next, and it's the kind of place that looks like someone carved swimming pools straight out of the black rock. The natural pools sit right on the promenade, and you can eat lunch at one of the restaurants overlooking them: fresh seafood, local wine, nothing fancy, just what's good. Then the drive turns north along the coast, and you're traveling the famous route toward Bridal Veil waterfall, a thin ribbon of white falling from the cliffs near Seixal. The road itself is the attraction here. It winds through villages that feel untouched, past mountains that drop straight into the ocean. São Vicente, a charming little town with white-washed houses and narrow streets, is your last real stop before the drive back through Serra de Água, where the mountain peaks open up in every direction.

The whole tour runs with a maximum of 15 people, which means you're not herded through it. Your guide is local, speaks English, and knows which stops matter and which ones are just photo ops. Hotel pickup from Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, or Caniço is included, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. Something you'll appreciate on the climb up to the plateau. The day is long but not rushed, and you cover a lot of ground without feeling like you're being driven through a checklist.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, or Caniço.
• an air-conditioned vehicle for the full route.
• a professional local guide who speaks English.
• entrance to all attractions.
• and stops at Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol, Fanal Forest (with an optional 15-minute walk weather permitting), Porto Moniz natural pools, Bridal Veil waterfall, and São Vicente. Lunch is not included, but time is built in to eat at Porto Moniz or another stop.

Options for this experience

4 options

Guide in English and pickup08:30Includes pickup, English

Guide in French and pickup08:30Includes pickup, French

Guide in Spanish and pickup08:30Includes pickup, Spanish

Guide in Portuguese and pickup08:30Includes pickup, Portuguese

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site€ 8

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Madeira Island Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Madeira's west coast and mountain interior in one day without renting a car or planning the route yourself: the small group size and local guide mean you stop where it matters and skip the tourist traps.

Traveler reviews

4.71★★★★★★★★★★

543 verified traveler reviews

5 ★427

4 ★87

3 ★22

2 ★4

1 ★3

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5).

How long is the tour?

A full day. Pickup and drop-off times depend on your hotel location, but expect to be out from morning until early evening.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the air-conditioned vehicle, a professional local guide, and all entrance fees. Lunch is not included, but you'll have time to eat at Porto Moniz or another stop.

Is the Fanal Forest walk guaranteed?

No. The 15-minute walk through the laurel forest is optional and weather-dependent. If fog is too thick or ground conditions are poor, your guide will let you know on the day.

What's the group size?

Maximum 15 people per tour, usually 8-12. This keeps the pace manageable and the guide able to answer questions.

Can I skip Cabo Girão?

Yes, the Skywalk at Cabo Girão is optional. You'll still see the views from the road, but the glass platform is not mandatory.

What should I bring?

Comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket (it's cooler at altitude), sunscreen, and a camera. The forest can be wet and muddy depending on recent rain.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

No. Most of the day is spent in the vehicle. The optional Fanal Forest walk is gentle and takes 15 minutes on a marked path.