Shore Excursion – Santana & Peaks 4×4 tour

Madeira’s eastern side makes a fine full-day outing, especially when you can trade a standard bus for an open-top 4×4 and reach mountain viewpoints, small villages, and rougher roads. You’ll visit Santana’s famous traditional houses, Porto da Cruz, Ribeiro Frio, and Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s third-highest peak.

I like the easy cruise-terminal pickup and drop-off, and I like the mix of scenery and local stops rather than one long push to a single viewpoint. The main thing to check is lunch: the tour summary says it is included, while the inclusion list says lunch is not included. The group size also needs clarification, since one section says up to eight people and another gives a maximum of 24.

Key points at a glance

• Open-top 4×4 travel: You get a more exposed view of Madeira’s mountain roads than from a normal coach.
• Santana’s traditional homes: The tour makes time for the well-known steep-roofed houses and the surrounding town.
• Pico do Arieiro finish: At about Madeira’s third-highest peak, you can expect some of the day’s strongest mountain views.
• Porto da Cruz rum stop: A short visit adds a local food-and-drink element to the scenic route.
• Small-group feel: The tour is advertised for groups of up to eight, though the maximum booking size is listed as 24.
• Useful port logistics: Pickup and return at the cruise terminal make this practical for a day in Funchal.

Why this eastern Madeira route works

This is not simply a viewpoint tour. The route links the southeast coast, northern villages, forested mountain roads, and high peaks in one long loop. That variety is the main reason to choose it over a shorter Funchal sightseeing trip.

You begin at 8:30 am, a useful start for a cruise day because it leaves a generous part of the morning for the drive inland. The advertised duration is about eight hours, so you should treat this as your main shore excursion rather than a quick outing before lunch.

The 4×4 format matters. Madeira’s roads can be steep and winding, and the open roof gives you a broader view when the vehicle is moving through the hills. It also means you are more exposed to sun, wind, and changing mountain weather. Bring a light layer and protect yourself from the sun, even if Funchal feels warm at the port.

The tour comes with a driver-guide and a local guide. Names are not fixed in the tour details, but past outings were led by Nelson and Spencer. Nelson was praised for safe, skilled driving and a good sense of humor, while Spencer was described as explaining the island in detail. You should not assume either guide will lead your departure, but the examples suggest that the guide can add plenty of local context to the drive.

Machico gives you a quick first look

The first stop is Machico, with about 10 minutes set aside. That is enough to stretch your legs, take a quick look around, and begin seeing Madeira beyond the cruise port.

Do not expect a full town visit here. Ten minutes is a brief photo stop, so the value is mainly in breaking up the drive and introducing the eastern side of the island. Admission is free.

From Machico, the route heads toward Miradouro da Portela. The viewpoint stop is also listed at about 10 minutes. Portela is the kind of place where the reward comes quickly: a wide mountain view, fresh air, and a clear sense of Madeira’s steep terrain.

An admission fee is not included for this stop, though the details do not state the amount. Carry some money or ask the operator what, if anything, you will pay on the day.

Porto da Cruz adds coast, village life, and rum

Porto da Cruz is one of the more interesting parts of the day because it combines a local settlement with a short food-and-drink visit. The stop itself has no admission charge listed, and it gives you a change from the high mountain viewpoints.

You then visit Madeira Rum House for about 15 minutes. This is a short stop, not a long tasting tour, so keep your expectations in proportion. It offers a glimpse into Madeira’s sugar-cane and rum tradition and gives the day a distinctly local flavor.

Admission is not included for Madeira Rum House. The details do not say what the fee covers or whether purchases are expected, so ask your guide before committing to anything. If you do not care for rum, the stop may feel less important than the scenery, but it still breaks up the drive and adds cultural interest.

Faial brings brief stops and road-trip variety

The itinerary includes Fortim do Faial and Kartodromo do Faial. Both are listed without admission charges, but no stop duration is provided for either one.

That uncertainty matters. These may be quick photo stops, orientation points, or places to look at the surroundings before continuing. You should see them as flexible parts of the route rather than major attractions with a long visit.

The inclusion of Faial helps keep the outing from feeling like a checklist of only famous sights. You pass through places that many short excursions skip. The tradeoff is that several stops are brief or lightly described, so the day’s quality will depend partly on the guide’s choices and the pace of the road journey.

Santana’s houses are the cultural centerpiece

Santana is the main village stop and one of the clearest reasons to book this outing. The town is known for its traditional Madeira houses, with steep thatched roofs and bright painted details. They are closely tied to the island’s rural past and make a welcome contrast to the modern streets of Funchal.

The schedule gives about 15 minutes at Santana, followed by another 15-minute Santana stop and a separate visit to Casas Tipicas de Santana. The exact arrangement is not fully explained, so the total time in the area may be spread across several nearby points.

Admission is free for one Santana stop, while another Santana entry and Casas Tipicas de Santana do not include admission. Check with the guide about which house or display requires payment. You will want enough time for photos, but the listed timing suggests this is an introduction rather than a slow village exploration.

Santana is also where the tour feels most connected to everyday Madeira. You are not only looking at a postcard view. You are seeing a style of home that reflects the island’s weather, farming traditions, and older rural life. For me, that makes the stop more valuable than another generic lookout.

Ribeiro Frio brings the native forest

The route continues to Ribeiro Frio, a mountain area associated with Madeira’s native forest. The wider forest is UNESCO-listed, and this portion of the tour gives you a chance to see the island’s greener, cooler interior.

No stop duration is provided, and admission is listed as free. That makes it hard to know if you will have time for a walk or simply pause for views and photos. Do not plan on a long hike unless the guide confirms one.

Ribeiro Frio is important because it changes the mood of the outing. Earlier stops focus on towns, coast, and viewpoints. Here, the attention turns to forest and mountain air. In an open vehicle, that shift should be especially noticeable, though weather can also change quickly at higher elevations.

Poiso and Pico do Arieiro reach the high country

The tour passes through Poiso before reaching Pico do Arieiro. Poiso is listed as a stop in Madeira’s interior, but no visit length or admission cost is given. It may serve as a mountain crossing or a short pause on the way to the peak.

Pico do Arieiro is the day’s big finish. At roughly 1,818 meters, it is Madeira’s third-highest peak and one of the island’s best-known high viewpoints. The tour schedules about 15 minutes there, which is enough for a quick look and photographs if the weather is clear.

The high viewpoint is also the part most affected by conditions. Cloud, mist, wind, or rain can reduce visibility. Even on a warm day in Funchal, the summit may feel cool. Wear shoes suitable for uneven ground and bring an extra layer.

Admission is not included at Pico do Arieiro. The details do not explain the charge, so confirm it before departure. The short scheduled visit also means you should not expect to walk far along the famous mountain paths. This is a viewpoint stop, not a full hiking excursion.

What the 4×4 format really adds

The vehicle is not just a marketing detail. An open-top 4×4 makes the trip feel more like a road adventure, especially on mountain roads and less-visited routes. You get open views above you and a stronger sense of the terrain around you.

That format also has limits. Eight hours in an open vehicle can be tiring, and winding roads may not suit anyone prone to motion sickness. You should also expect less protection from weather than you would have in a closed minibus.

The tour is advertised as a small group of up to eight, which is a real advantage if that is the group size for your departure. A smaller vehicle usually makes it easier to hear the guide, ask questions, and move through stops without the slow shuffle of a large coach.

Still, the booking details also list a maximum of 24 participants. That may refer to the total activity rather than each 4×4, but you should ask Green Devil Safari to confirm the vehicle and group size before paying. This is one detail that can change the feel of the day.

Price, lunch, and what you receive

At $75.24 per person, the outing offers strong value if you want a full day of transport, a guide, several parts of eastern Madeira, and cruise-terminal pickup and return. Renting a vehicle or arranging separate transport to Santana and Pico do Arieiro could cost more and would require handling Madeira’s steep roads yourself.

The value is less clear if you want long visits at each attraction. Several stops last only 10 or 15 minutes, and some have extra admission costs. This is a broad sample of the east, not a slow, single-village tour.

Lunch needs special attention. The overview says lunch is included, but the included and not-included sections say lunch is not included. Since those details conflict, contact the provider before booking and ask precisely what the $75.24 covers. If lunch is not included, budget separately for it.

The tour includes pickup and drop-off at the cruise terminal, a driver-guide, a local guide, and the 4×4 ride. Admission charges listed as not included may apply at Miradouro da Portela, Madeira Rum House, one Santana attraction, Casas Tipicas de Santana, and Pico do Arieiro.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should choose this excursion

I would choose this tour if you want to see much more than Funchal during a single port call. It suits you if mountain views, village stops, local products, and a lively road ride appeal more than museums or a relaxed café day.

It is also a good fit if you prefer a guide to handle the driving. Madeira’s steep, twisting roads are not the place to lose time or confidence behind the wheel, especially when your ship is waiting at the end of the day.

I would hesitate if you need a slow pace, long meals, or plenty of time at each sight. The route covers a lot of ground, and 15 minutes at Pico do Arieiro or Santana may feel rushed. Anyone sensitive to sun, wind, or winding roads should also think carefully about the open-top vehicle.

Should you book Santana and Peaks?

Book it if you want a wide sample of eastern Madeira in one shore day and like the idea of moving between coast, villages, forest, and high peaks. The combination of Santana, Porto da Cruz, Ribeiro Frio, and Pico do Arieiro gives you more range than a simple Funchal tour.

Before you commit, confirm two points with Green Devil Safari: the actual group size and the lunch arrangement. If the vehicle holds no more than eight and lunch is included, the price looks particularly appealing. If lunch and several entry fees are extra, the value is still reasonable, but you should budget for those costs and expect a brisk schedule.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is offered at the cruise terminal in Funchal. The listed start time is 8:30 am.

How long does the excursion last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Is lunch included?

The tour information is inconsistent. The overview says lunch is included, while the inclusion list says lunch is not included. Confirm this directly with Green Devil Safari before booking.

What type of vehicle is used?

The tour uses a 4×4 vehicle with an open-top roof.

How large is the group?

The tour is described as a small group of up to eight people, but the maximum activity capacity is also listed as 24. Confirm the vehicle group size before booking.

Which major places does the tour visit?

The route includes Machico, Miradouro da Portela, Porto da Cruz, Madeira Rum House, Faial, Santana, Ribeiro Frio, Poiso, and Pico do Arieiro.

Are admission fees included?

Some stops are listed as free, while charges are not included at Miradouro da Portela, Madeira Rum House, one Santana stop, Casas Tipicas de Santana, and Pico do Arieiro.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded.