Private Tour: Santana Biosphere & Waterfall

See the Waterfall Drop Straight Into the Ocean

You're driven from your hotel to the UNESCO Biosphere in Santana with a private guide who knows the northern coast; you walk through the protected parish and see the contrast between the vegetation and the ocean; you end at Quinta do Furão to watch one of Madeira's largest waterfalls pour directly into the sea; hotel pickup and transport are included, and the private format means you move at your own pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Santana and Quinta do Furão

• Travel to northern side of the island
• Explore Santana Biosphere heritage site
• Admire green vegetation and blue sky
• Visit Hotel Quinta do Furão
• See large waterfall flowing to sea

The experience

The moment you round the curve toward Quinta do Furão and see water falling from the mountainside directly into the sea, you realize why this part of Madeira feels different. It's not just the waterfall itself. It's the sheer volume of it, the way it catches light, the fact that it exists at all in a place where the land meets the Atlantic so abruptly. This private tour of Santana and the UNESCO Biosphere takes you to that exact spot, and to the northern parish where the green is so thick it almost hums.

The drive from Funchal heads north across the island, and your private guide navigates the roads while you watch the landscape shift. Santana sits on the northern coast, and it's been designated a UNESCO Biosphere since 1999, which means the vegetation, the water systems, the whole ecology is protected and intact. You're not walking through a curated trail. You're moving through a place where the ecosystem is still doing what it's supposed to do. The contrast between the green hillsides and the blue sky is the kind of thing photographs flatten, so you need to be there to feel how much space it takes up in your vision.

The tour ends at Hotel Quinta do Furão, where the waterfall is the main event. It's one of the biggest on the island, and the water pressure is strong enough that you can hear it from a distance. Standing there, you understand why the hotel was built in that exact spot: the view isn't a bonus, it's the whole point. Your guide can explain the geology, the water source, why it flows year-round, and what you're actually looking at. The private format means you set the pace. If you want to linger, you linger.

Hotel or apartment pickup is included, so you don't arrange transport yourself or navigate the northern roads alone. The driver handles the route, the guide handles the context, and you handle the camera. Free WiFi is onboard if you need it, though most people don't once they see where they're going. The whole experience runs as a private tour, which means no schedule pressure and no waiting for a group to gather.

What’s included

• Private guide and driver.
• hotel, port, or apartment pickup and drop-off.
• transport by private vehicle.
• free WiFi onboard.
• access to Santana parish and the Quinta do Furão waterfall viewpoint.

Options for this experience

10 options

For 1 to 4 people, Funchal and CaniçoUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup from Funchal, Canico and Camara de Lobos, not Funchal Port. Private, 3 hours, includes pickup

For 1 to 4 people, North/South EastUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup from the Machico, Santa Cruz, Santana, Faial, Porto da Cruz and Caniçal area. Private, 3 hours, includes pickup

For 1 to 4 people, Funchal PortUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup from the Funchal Port harbor. Private, 3 hours, includes pickup

See 7 more options

For 1 to 4 people, South WestUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup from the Calheta, Ponta do Sol and Ribeira Brava area. Private, 3 hours, includes pickup

For 1 to 4 people, North WestUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup from the Porto Moniz, Seixal and São Vicente area. Private, 3 hours, includes pickup

For 5 to 8 people, Funchal and CaniçoUp to 8 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup from Funchal, Canico and Camara de Lobos, not Funchal Port. Private, 3 hours, includes pickup

For 5 to 8 people, Funchal PortUp to 8 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup from the Funchal Port harbor. Private, 3 hours, includes pickup

For 5 to 8 people, North/South EastUp to 8 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup from the Machico, Santa Cruz, Santana, Faial, Porto da Cruz and Caniçal area. Private, 3 hours, includes pickup

For 5 to 8 people, South WestUp to 8 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup from the Calheta, Ponta do Sol and Ribeira Brava area. Private, 3 hours, includes pickup

For 5 to 8 people, North WestUp to 8 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup from the Porto Moniz, Seixal and São Vicente area. Private, 3 hours, includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Pearl of the Atlantic

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to see the northern coast and the waterfall without driving yourself or joining a group: the private guide and fixed pickup mean you skip the logistics and move at your own pace.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What's included in the price?

Private guide, hotel or apartment pickup and drop-off, transport by private vehicle, and free WiFi onboard. Entry fees or meals are not mentioned in the itinerary.

Can children go on this tour?

Yes. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with very young children.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Most of the experience involves being driven and standing at viewpoints rather than hiking or climbing.

What if I'm staying at a port or apartment instead of a hotel?

Pickup is available from hotels, ports, or apartments, so you can arrange collection from wherever you're staying in Funchal.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

What's the waterfall at Quinta do Furão like?

It's one of the largest waterfalls on Madeira, with a strong flow of water that drops from the mountainside directly into the ocean. The hotel sits at the viewpoint.

Why is Santana a UNESCO Biosphere?

Santana was designated a UNESCO Biosphere in 1999 because of its intact ecosystem, vegetation, and water systems. The tour takes you through the protected parish where that biodiversity is still active.