North Madeira tour: Wine tasting at Quinta do Barbusano

Drive the north coast from Funchal to taste wines where the vines grow

A guided 4x4 tour of Madeira's north coast departing Funchal, visiting Porto da Cruz, Santana, and ending at Quinta do Barbusano for wine tasting. The route strings together a working sugar cane mill with its original steam engine, a viewpoint over the entire northern coastline, traditional thatched-roof houses still lived in, and red, white and rosé wines from a local quinta. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese, pickup is included, and the day runs eight and a half hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

North Madeira tour with tastings

• Start from Funchal
• Visit Santa Cruz: church and market
• Stop at Engenho de Cana-de-Zucker mill
• Taste traditional Poncha drink
• Cross Laurissilva forest paths
• Visit Santana and local thatched houses
• Enjoy panoramic view at Boca das Voltas
• Lunch break at Arc de S. Jorge restaurant
• Short walk after lunch
• Pass through Boaventura, Ponta Delgada, São Vicente
• Visit Quinta do Barbusano for wine tasting
• Return to Funchal in late afternoon

The experience

The tour leaves Funchal and moves north through Santa Cruz toward Porto da Cruz, where you stop at a sugar cane mill that still operates with Europe's oldest steam engine. You can taste the regional poncha, a watermelon-based spirit, here if you choose to order it. From there the route climbs through the Laurissilva forest on winding paths toward Santana, where you walk through the village's typical houses with their distinctive thatched roofs, many still inhabited. The driver stops at smaller settlements along the way: Boaventura, Ponta Delgada, São Vicente.

The Boca das Voltas viewpoint is the visual anchor of the day: a mirador overlooking the entire north coast, where local fruit sellers often set up. Lunch happens at a local restaurant nearby with homemade food. A short walk afterward helps settle the meal. At Quinta do Barbusano, the final major stop, you visit the property and taste red, white and rosé wines from their own production. The afternoon returns you to Funchal as the light shifts.

You travel in a small-group 4x4, which is what the winding northern roads and the tight village streets demand. Your guide is live (English, Spanish or Portuguese depending on the departure you book), and pickup from your Funchal hotel is included. The day is full but not rushed. The route itself is the point, and the stops let you step out and stand in the places rather than pass through them.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Funchal.
• a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• visits to the sugar cane mill in Porto da Cruz and the water mill.
• entry to see the typical thatched-roof houses of Santana.
• the Boca das Voltas viewpoint.
• a visit to Quinta do Barbusano with tasting of red, white and rosé wines.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Infant (under 12)

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish, Spanish 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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Adventureland Madeira

Is this one for you?A small-group 4x4 tour suits travelers who want the north coast's full arc (the working mill, the forest, the villages, the viewpoint and the wine) without driving themselves or piecing together separate stops. The winding roads and tight village streets are why the 4x4 matters. The guide's knowledge of where to stop and what to linger on is what turns a long drive into a day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 12).

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 is the Boca das Voltas viewpoint like on this tour?

Boca das Voltas is a mirador overlooking the entire north coast of Madeira, and it is the panoramic high point of the day. Local fruit producers often sell their harvest there, and the stop gives you time to take in the view and rest before continuing.

Can I taste the poncha at Porto da Cruz, and what is it?

Poncha is a traditional Madeiran drink made with watermelon, and you can taste it at the sugar cane mill in Porto da Cruz if you order it. It is not included in the tour price, so you pay separately if you choose to try it.

What do I see at Quinta do Barbusano?

Quinta do Barbusano is a wine property where you visit the grounds and taste red, white and rosé wines made on the quinta. It is the final major stop before the return to Funchal in the late afternoon.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. The guide can help you book a meal at a local restaurant during the lunch break, and you pay for it separately on the day.

How long does the tour run, and what time do I return to Funchal?

The tour runs eight and a half hours total. It departs from your Funchal hotel in the morning and returns in the late afternoon, so you have a full day on the road and at the stops.

What are the typical houses in Santana like?

Santana's houses are built in a traditional style with distinctive thatched roofs and are painted in bright colors. Many are still inhabited, and you walk through the village to see them as part of the tour.