Pico do Arieiro & Laurissilva Forest tour: Mountain peak & UNESCO

Climb to Madeira's third-highest peak and walk among UNESCO-listed forest in a single day

A full-day guided tour of Madeira's east side that climbs to Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) and passes through the UNESCO-listed Laurissilva Forest, starting at Cristo Rei viewpoint and stopping at Ponta de São Lourenço, Santana's traditional houses, and Porto da Cruz. You travel by air-conditioned vehicle with a professional guide, hotel pickup included, and see the island's northern coastline from multiple vantage points.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Pico do Arieiro45m
2. Santana1h 30m
3. Ponta de São Lourenço35m

Explore Madeira's east side highlights

• Visit Cristo Rei Viewpoint
• Explore Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula
• Visit Porto da Cruz village and rum tasting
• Stop at Guindaste Viewpoint
• Discover Santana's traditional houses
• Walk in Laurissilva Forest at Ribeiro Frio
• Hike or view from Balcões Viewpoint
• Ascend to Pico do Arieiro peak

The experience

The day starts at Cristo Rei viewpoint overlooking Funchal and the Atlantic, then heads east along the coast to Ponta de São Lourenço, the island's easternmost point. This volcanic peninsula has a semi-arid landscape unlike anywhere else on Madeira: low-growing vegetation and dramatic rock formations frame views of both the north and south coasts simultaneously. On clear days, the island of Porto Santo appears on the horizon.

Moving inland, you reach Porto da Cruz, a traditional village at the foot of Penha d'Aguia rock, where a visit and tasting of local Madeira rum happens at the only operating sugar mill on the north coast. From there, the route climbs toward Pico do Arieiro. The landscape shifts as you ascend: green woodland gives way to bare rock, and knife-edge ridges and sheer cliffs open up in all directions. At 1,818 m, Madeira's third-highest peak sometimes offers the rare experience of witnessing all four seasons in a single day.

Before the final descent, you stop at Ribeiro Frio, a spot set within the Laurissilva Forest, which UNESCO designated a World Heritage site in 1999. An optional short walk to Balcões Viewpoint is available here (entrance fee separate). The tour also includes Santana, famous for its triangular A-frame houses with colored thatched roofs: traditional structures that once housed both families and livestock, now preserved as a window into rural Madeira life. Guindaste viewpoint, with its glass walkways, provides a final panoramic sweep of the rugged northern coastline before the return journey.

What’s included

• Professional guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Funchal, Canico or Camara de Lobos.
• all taxes and fees.

Options for this experience

4 options

English-speaking guide, with pickup08:30Pickup is included, English

French-speaking guide, with pickup08:30Pickup is included, French

Spanish-speaking guide, with pickup08:30Pickup is included, Spanish

Portuguese-speaking guide, with pickup08:30Pickup is included, Portuguese

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

Before you book

Lasts 8h, runs every day at 08:30, from € 33.90 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, in groups of up to 15 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

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.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Madeira Island Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day and want to see the east side's highest points and forests as a continuous journey: the drive between stops reveals how the landscape shifts from coast to mountains to villages.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

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

What is Ponta de São Lourenço like when you arrive there?

Ponta de São Lourenço is Madeira's easternmost point, a semi-arid volcanic peninsula where low-growing vegetation and distinctive rock formations create a landscape different from the rest of the island. On clear days you can see both the north and south coasts at once, and sometimes Porto Santo island to the northeast.

Can I walk around at Pico do Arieiro, or do we just stop for photos?

The tour reaches Pico do Arieiro at 1,818 m and includes time to take in the views from the peak itself. The landscape shifts dramatically as you climb (green woodland gives way to bare rock and knife-edge ridges), and the summit sometimes offers the rare chance to experience all four seasons in a single day.

What happens at Santana?

Santana is known for its traditional triangular A-frame houses with colored thatched roofs. You visit one of these structures to see how spacious they are inside. They were originally built by local farmers as both homes and livestock shelters, and they remain a distinctive feature of the village landscape.

Is there a walk in the Laurissilva Forest?

The tour stops at Ribeiro Frio, located within the UNESCO-listed Laurissilva Forest. An optional short walk to Balcões Viewpoint is available, though the entrance fee for that walk is not included in the tour price.

How long is the full day, and what's included in the price?

The tour runs for 8 hours and includes a professional guide, air-conditioned vehicle, and hotel pickup and drop-off in Funchal, Canico, or Camara de Lobos. All taxes and fees are covered. Lunch and gratuities are not included, and if you visit the Balcões Walk, that entrance fee is separate.