Porto Moniz & Fanal Forest Jeep Tour: West Madeira off-road

Four waterfalls, a volcanic black sand beach, and a forest of centenary trees on the backroads of Madeira's west coast.

An 8-hour Jeep tour of western Madeira with a local driver-guide, combining coastal stops at Ribeira Brava, Porto Moniz and Seixal with highland terrain through Paul da Serra and the Fanal Forest. The route uses narrow backroads and off-road sections, with photo stops, a levada walk, and time to swim in natural pools if conditions allow. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off are included. Lunch at a local restaurant is arranged separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Madeira West by Jeep

• Stop at Ribeira Brava viewpoint
• Drive through Ponta do Sol on off-roads
• Lunch and swim at Porto Moniz
• Levada walk with scenic views
• Visit volcanic black sand beach and swim
• Stop at waterfall between Seixal and Sao Vicente
• Walk in Forest Fanal among centenary trees

The experience

Ricardo Off Road Madeira, run by local brothers Ricardo and Vitor, builds this tour around the roads most visitors miss. You start with a viewpoint over Ribeira Brava and Campanário, then follow narrow backroads and off-road tracks toward the coast. The drive to Porto Moniz takes roughly an hour, passing through Ponta do Sol while your guide shares stories about island history and the plants and animals you pass. This is not a highway run. The route itself is the point.

Porto Moniz sits where the tour pauses for lunch at a local restaurant (you pay separately, typically €15–€20 for a three-course meal with a drink). After eating, you can walk into the natural swimming pools carved into the volcanic rock if you bring swimwear and the conditions are safe. From there, the Jeep climbs inland through Paul da Serra at 1,400 meters, a high plateau crossed on rough tracks. A levada walk, one of Madeira's famous water-channel trails, breaks up the drive before you descend toward Seixal, where a black sand beach and more natural pools appear before the final push toward Fanal.

The last stretch passes four waterfalls on the run from Seixal to São Vicente. You stop at one. Fanal Forest closes the day: a place of centenary trees wrapped in mist where you walk among the old growth before the drive back to your hotel or port. The whole loop runs eight hours, with your guide handling the wheel and the navigation on terrain that would be difficult to cover on your own.

What’s included

• Hotel or port pickup and drop-off.
• a live guide in English or French who drives and narrates the route.
• scenic photo stops at viewpoints and waterfalls.
• a levada walk through the highlands.
• access to natural swimming pools at Porto Moniz and Seixal (subject to conditions).

Options for this experience

3 options

A full-day West Adventure Tour across Madeira, PortugalUp to 7 people · Guide in English or French · 09:00Jeep tour with a local guide, lasting 7 hours. Off-road travel in a 4x4 is included; not included: pickup is included

2-3 peopleUp to 3 people · Guide in English or French · 09:00Includes pickup

Jeep tour for two, privateUp to 2 people · Guide in English or French · 09:00Private tour: an exclusive jeep and guide for 2 guests. Pickup is included

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 09:00, from € 65 per person, with a live guide in English and French, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Ricardo Off Road Madeira

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a driver handling the rough terrain and navigation while you focus on the scenery. The small group means your guide can stop for whatever catches your interest.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

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 Fanal Forest like when we get there?

Fanal Forest is a natural woodland of ancient trees, some over a hundred years old, set in the highlands where mist often clings to the canopy. You walk through it as part of the tour's final stop, experiencing the landscape that gives the western plateau its character.

Can we actually swim in the pools at Porto Moniz?

Porto Moniz has natural swimming pools formed in the volcanic rock, and you're welcome to swim if you bring swimwear and a towel. Whether it's safe to enter depends on local conditions on the day, your guide will advise when you arrive.

How much of the tour is on rough tracks versus normal roads?

The route mixes narrow backroads and off-road sections throughout the day. The Jeep is built for both, and your driver knows which stretches use the rougher terrain, typically the climbs through Paul da Serra and the approaches to Fanal involve the most challenging ground.

What happens during the lunch stop?

Lunch is at a local restaurant in Porto Moniz, and you pay for your meal separately (usually €15–€20 for three courses with a drink). The stop gives you time to eat and then visit the natural pools before the Jeep heads inland toward the highlands.

How many people fit in the Jeep?

The tour runs as a private booking for 2–3 people in a single classic 4x4 Jeep with your driver-guide, so the group stays small and the vehicle stays nimble on the backroads.