Things to do in Madeira
Sort
Madeira: Porto Moniz, Seixal & Fanal Forest Jeep TourYou’ll ride out from Funchal with a local guide into Madeira’s wild north — from São Vicente’s waterfall to Seixal’s black sand beach and Porto Moniz volcanic pools. Feel ancient forest mist at Fanal and test your nerve on Cabo Girão’s glass skywalk. It’s equal parts laughter, scenery, and small surprises along the way.
Madeira Dolphin & Whale Watching: Hybrid-Electric CatamaranYou board a purpose-built catamaran in Funchal and spend 2.5 to 3 hours cruising Madeira's southern coast with land-based spotters directing the boat to dolphins and whales. The hybrid-electric engines run silent so the animals stay calm, and your certified guide explains what you're seeing while the boat passes Cabo Girão, a traditional fishing village, and other coastal landmarks. Two viewing decks, trampoline nets at the bow, and onboard bars mean you're comfortable the whole time.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see dolphins and whales without the guilt of disturbing them — the silent engines and land-based spotters mean the animals stay calm and you get a genuine encounter instead of a chase scene.
Madeira Jeep Safari: Porto Moniz, Seixal & Cabo Girão Day TripYou’ll ride through Madeira’s wildest corners by jeep—standing over cliffs at Cabo Girão, swimming in Porto Moniz’s lava pools, wandering Seixal’s black sands. With a local guide sharing stories (and maybe poncha), every stop feels personal. Expect laughter, sea air, bumpy roads—and moments that stick with you long after you’re home.
Madeira: Food & Wine Walking Tour with Market TastingsYou’ll wander Funchal’s winding lanes with a local guide, tasting fresh fruit at the market, warm custard tarts from a bakery, chewy honey cake, and sipping madeira wine as you go. With every stop comes another story or laugh — it’s more like spending time with friends than ticking off sights.
Madeira Jeep Safari: Pico do Areeiro, Santana & Rum TastingYou’ll ride up winding roads in a 4x4 jeep from Funchal to Pico do Areeiro’s wild summit, walk ancient levadas through laurel forest, share lunch in Santana’s colorful village houses, taste fiery Madeira rum by the sea and end with Atlantic views that linger long after you leave.
Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran from FunchalA 3-hour catamaran cruise from Funchal Marina along Madeira's south coast where you search for dolphins, whales and occasionally turtles with a qualified guide, and swim in the waters below Cabo Girão if weather and sea conditions permit. The crew uses binoculars and experience to locate marine wildlife and shares details about the species you encounter. If no cetaceans are spotted, you receive a complimentary return trip valid for a year.Is it for me?Departing from Funchal Marina means you don't need a car or a hotel pickup arrangement—the boat leaves from the harbor in town, reachable by local transport or a short taxi ride. That settles the logistics for a free afternoon or a first morning in Madeira without renting anything or coordinating a pickup window.
Funchal Old Town Walking Tour & Wine TastingYou walk through Funchal's oldest neighborhoods with a university-trained guide, starting at the 1940s Farmers' Market with its hand-painted tiles, moving through 16th-century churches filled with baroque art, and ending with wine tasting at a traditional lodge. The whole thing takes two hours, includes your guide and escort, and you don't have to arrange transport or figure out which streets matter — the guide does that.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand how Funchal's oldest neighborhoods actually work — the market where people shop, the churches with real art inside, the streets where locals live — rather than hit the main sights in isolation. The university guide is what makes the difference; they know why these places matter to the city, not just what year they were built.
Madeira: Waterfalls & Fanal Forest West Coast TourYou 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.Is it for me?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.
Madeira East: Pico do Arieiro Peaks & Santana Lunch Day TripYou’ll ride up twisting roads to Pico do Arieiro’s wild summit, walk among ancient trees at Ribeiro Frio, share lunch in Santana’s colorful village houses, and catch your breath at dramatic viewpoints like Ponta de São Lourenço—all with easy hotel pickup from Funchal and stories from your local guide along the way.
Madeira Whale & Dolphin Watching with Marine BiologistsYou board a boat from Funchal with a marine biologist and a crew that uses land lookouts to track cetaceans in real time. The vessel is equipped for whale and dolphin observation, snorkelling gear is on hand, and the guide provides live commentary throughout. Small groups mean better sightlines and a steadier pace than crowded tours.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Madeira's whales and dolphins without spending the day arranging your own boat or wondering where to look — the land lookouts and marine biologists do the navigation and spotting for you, which is what makes a small group tour worth the price.
Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo: Self-Guided Sunrise Hike & TransferYou get picked up at your Funchal hotel, transferred to Pico do Arieiro with a map and route notes, then hike at your own pace to Pico Ruivo over roughly three hours. The return transfer from the Ecological Park brings you back to your accommodation. No guide, no fixed schedule, no group rhythm — just the mountain and your own timing.Is it for me?Right for hikers who want mountain views and freedom of pace without arranging transport or hiring a guide — the transfers handle the logistics so you can focus on the walk itself.
Madeira: Jeep Safari to Cabo Girão & Boca dos Namorados ViewsYou’ll ride through Madeira’s wild hills by open-roof jeep with a local guide, pausing at Câmara de Lobos Bay and stepping out onto Cabo Girão’s dizzying glass skywalk before climbing up to Boca dos Namorados for silent valley views you might not expect. Includes pickup and drop-off so you don’t have to worry about logistics — just bring your nerves for heights.
Madeira: Pico Ruivo Mountain Walk & Heather Forest TrekYou walk 10 kilometers to Madeira's highest peak through ancient heather forest and dramatic rock formations, with a professional guide managing the pace and timing. Hotel pickup from Funchal is included, as is the guide; you bring your own picnic and prepare for changing mountain weather. If conditions close the trail, you get a reschedule or refund.Is it for me?Right for experienced hikers with strong fitness who want to reach Madeira's highest peak and walk through ancient forest in one outing. Plan for a full day on the mountain with uneven terrain and exposure to weather — that's what makes the views and the forest walk possible.
Madeira: Scuba Diving Lesson & Sea Dive with InstructorYou’ll start with a relaxed pool lesson before heading into Madeira’s wild Atlantic for your first real dive — all with an experienced instructor by your side. Learn how the gear works, practice underwater signals, then explore up to 12 meters deep among local fish. Includes all equipment and a certificate so you can keep diving elsewhere. That first breath underwater? You’ll never forget it.
Madeira: Dolphin & Whale Watching Speedboat Tour FunchalYou’ll race across Madeira’s coast by speedboat with local guides who know where to find dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and seabirds. Expect salty air on your skin, honest laughter from your crew, and moments when wildlife gets close enough to make you forget your camera. This isn’t just sightseeing — it’s feeling part of the ocean for a while.
Madeira Eco Catamaran Dolphin & Whale Watching Hybrid BoatYou board a quiet hybrid catamaran in Funchal and head offshore while land-based spotters radio in dolphin and whale locations. You watch from two decks or the bow nets, listen to certified guides explain the species and Madeira's coastal history, then cruise past Cabo Girão and traditional fishing villages on the way back. The whole experience takes 2.5 to 4 hours depending on which departure you choose, and includes onboard commentary, a professional guide, and local taxes.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see dolphins and whales from a boat designed to keep them calm—the hybrid engines and the spotters on land are what make the sightings reliable instead of random—and you're willing to spend a morning on the water without arranging your own transport or timing.
Madeira Canyoning: Beginner Rappel & Waterfall JumpsYou get picked up from Funchal, driven to the canyon, fitted with full safety gear, and guided through rappels, swims and jumps at 1,500 meters elevation over 5 hours. Professional guides (at least two) handle all technical instruction and safety, and you receive photos from the day. No experience required, though you need to be comfortable in water and have moderate fitness. The fixed schedule means transport, equipment and timing are all arranged — you just show up ready to move.Is it for me?Right for anyone curious about canyoning but nervous about trying it — the Level 1 difficulty and beginner-focused guides mean you learn as you go, and the pickup from Funchal removes the logistics of finding the canyon yourself. Requires moderate fitness and comfort in water, and works best if you're ready to be wet and moving for several hours straight.
Madeira East: Pico do Arieiro, Santana Houses & Rum Tasting TourYou’ll ride up to Pico do Arieiro for wild mountain air, wander through Santana’s rare triangle houses with a local guide, taste fresh-made rum in Porto da Cruz, and catch coastal views from Pico do Facho—all with hotel pickup from Funchal. Expect honest moments: wind in your face, laughter over lunch breaks, maybe even a wave from a local gardener.
Madeira: Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Hike & Morning TransferYou're picked up from your Funchal or Caniço hotel and driven to Pico do Arieiro, where you hike 11 kilometers to Pico Ruivo (1,862m), Madeira's highest peak, passing through clouds and the famous "stairs to heaven" stone steps. The hike takes around 4.5 hours at your own pace, with no guide, and ends at Achada do Teixeira where the van collects you for the return drive to your accommodation.Is it for me?This works for independent hikers who want the logistics handled but prefer to walk at their own pace without a guide. The shared transfer removes the need to rent a car or negotiate a taxi, which saves time and money on a morning when you want to focus on the hike itself.
Madeira: Pico Ruivo Sunrise Hike & Peak TransferYou're picked up before sunrise in Funchal or Caniço, driven to Pico do Arieiro, and released onto an 11-kilometer trail that crosses Madeira's highest peak and descends through cloud cover and tunnel sections. You walk at your own pace, rejoin the group at the bottom, and get driven back to your hotel. The whole day takes around six to seven hours door-to-door, with the hike itself lasting four and a half.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to hike Madeira's highest peak without booking a guide or arranging their own transport — the shared van and fixed pickup time handle both, leaving you free to move through the trail at whatever pace suits you.
