Full Day Open Roof 4×4 Unforgettable Northwest of Madeira

The best reason to choose this full-day 4×4 tour is the route: it links Madeira’s cool mountain interior with its rugged north coast in one long day. You’ll pass through Serra de Água, Paul da Serra, Fanal Forest, Ribeira da Janela, Porto Moniz, Seixal, and several excellent viewpoints without arranging your own transport.

I like the mix of ancient laurel forest and volcanic coast, and I like that pickup is free from Funchal and Caniço. The tour also gives you time at Porto Moniz, where you can choose to swim in the famous natural pools.

The main caution is important: the advertised open-roof and off-road experience may not always happen. A detailed account describes the roof staying closed, Bica da Cana being skipped, and several Green Devil vehicles moving together. Confirm the exact route and roof arrangement before you pay the premium over a van tour.

Key points to know before booking

• Fanal Forest is the star of the mountain section: ancient laurel trees and a quiet, misty setting give this stop a special Madeira feel.
• The route covers both sides of the northwest: you get high country, deep valleys, volcanic pools, sea cliffs, and waterfalls in one day.
• The open roof is not guaranteed in practice: weather, operating choices, or vehicle conditions may keep it closed.
• Bica da Cana needs confirmation: it is shown as a stop, but one detailed account says the vehicle passed nearby without stopping there.
• Porto Moniz includes a paid swimming option: admission to the natural pools costs about €3 and is not included.
• Pickup costs rise outside Funchal and Caniço: extra charges range from €5 to €20 per person, depending on your location.

What this Madeira 4×4 day is really about

This is a long scenic circuit rather than a quiet private outing. From an 8:30 a.m. start, you spend roughly eight hours crossing the island’s northwest, with short photo stops and longer pauses at Porto Moniz.

The route is especially useful if you cannot drive. Madeira’s mountain roads and scattered viewpoints are difficult to connect by public transport, and Bica da Cana, Fanal, Ribeira da Janela, and Véu da Noiva are not simple places to combine on your own.

The vehicle is supposed to add a little adventure. An open roof can give you a better view of steep slopes and forest canopy, while a 4×4 may reach rougher tracks than a standard coach. But you should treat those features as part of the intended format, not a firm promise of constant off-road driving.

The group limit is listed as 50 people, though the practical vehicle arrangement may be much smaller. A detailed account described nine people in one jeep, with two to four other Green Devil vehicles following the same route. That can make the outing feel less intimate and can lead to several vehicles arriving at viewpoints together.

Serra de Água and the Ribeira Brava valley

The day begins by heading toward the west-central mountains. Serra de Água takes its name from a historic watermill used for sawmilling. The name later came to describe the whole parish.

This is a useful early look at Madeira’s steep interior. The road climbs through the Ribeira Brava ravine and river valley, which cuts from the mountains toward the southwest coast. You get a sense of how Madeira’s settlements fit into narrow valleys, with roads and homes pressed between high slopes.

The route descriptions do not give a fixed stop time here, so think of this section as part of the scenic drive rather than a scheduled visit. If you want detailed context about the valley, ask your guide early in the day. No guide names are provided in the tour information, so you will need to confirm who is leading your departure.

Tabua, a quick stop with a local name

Tabua receives about 15 minutes. Its name comes from a plant that once grew widely in the area and was used to make mats and chair backs.

This is a brief pause, likely best used for a photograph and a stretch. It is not a major attraction on the scale of Fanal or Porto Moniz, but it gives the day a local connection beyond scenic lookouts.

With a schedule this full, short stops matter. Keep your camera and water close, and do not expect time for a long walk at every place.

Bica da Cana and the high Paul da Serra

Bica da Cana Viewpoint sits at about 1,580 meters and can provide wide views over Madeira’s mountain peaks. On a clear day, you may also see across to the São Vicente valley on the north coast.

This should be one of the strongest high-altitude stops on the route. It offers a different view of Madeira from the coastal viewpoints, with broad mountain space replacing the tight ravines below.

But this is also the stop I would verify before booking. One detailed account says the vehicle did not stop at Bica da Cana, despite the planned 15-minute visit. The explanation given was poor weather and muddy conditions, but the account described a paved two-lane road and clear conditions nearby.

Conditions can change, and a guide may alter a route for safety. Still, if Bica da Cana is your main reason for booking, ask the operator directly on the morning of the tour. Do not assume that seeing the name in the route guarantees a stop.

Paul da Serra is Madeira’s high central plateau and an important groundwater recharge area. Its flatter form lets rain soak into the ground instead of rushing straight to the sea. The scenery here feels more open than the steep valleys, and weather can shift quickly at this altitude.

Fanal Forest and the Madeira laurel trees

The Fanal section is the most distinctive part of the day. At the Posto Florestal Fanal, you get about 15 minutes among ancient trees. Another 15-minute stop follows at Vereda do Fanal.

Fanal belongs to Madeira’s laurel forest, a surviving forest type from a much older period. About 90 percent of the forest is considered primary, and it supports plant and animal life found nowhere else. The Madeiran long-toed pigeon is one notable endemic species associated with this habitat.

You do not need a long hike to appreciate Fanal. The old trees, open grass, and changing mountain mist create the mood. If fog rolls in, the forest can feel almost theatrical. If the air is clear, you get more structure and depth between the trunks.

The short stop is the limitation. Fifteen minutes is enough for photographs and a quick look, but not for a serious walk. If your priority is hiking through Fanal, this tour may feel rushed. If you want a sampler of the forest as part of a wider driving day, the timing works better.

Ribeira da Janela and its offshore rocks

The tour then heads toward the north coast, stopping at Miradouro Ribeira da Janela for about 10 minutes. Ribeira da Janela is Madeira’s most extensive watercourse, running from the island’s interior mountains toward the Atlantic.

The viewpoint gives you a strong sense of the river’s route through the valley. The next stop, Ilhéus da Ribeira da Janela, also lasts about 10 minutes, followed by a five-minute pause at another viewpoint over the islets.

These offshore rock formations sit close to the coast and make striking subjects for photographs. The stops are short, so you will want to move quickly from the vehicle to the viewpoint. This is scenic sightseeing, not a coastal walk.

The repeated stops around Ribeira da Janela may feel slightly redundant if you prefer fewer, longer visits. I still like the sequence because the river valley, shore, and offshore rocks show different parts of the same volcanic setting.

One hour at Porto Moniz

Porto Moniz is the main coastal break, with about one hour in town. The area is known for volcanic pools, steep green mountains, and the strong presence of the sea.

The natural swimming pools are the obvious choice. They formed where seawater enters volcanic rock, creating saltwater bathing areas with views across the Atlantic. Admission is not included and costs about €3.

One hour gives you a choice, but not much room for everything. You can swim, eat a quick lunch, photograph the pools, or simply sit by the sea. Lunch is also not included, so plan your spending and do not count on a long restaurant meal if you want time in the water.

The pools are a good value if you want a swim during a sightseeing day. If you prefer not to pay for entry, Porto Moniz still offers coastal views and a chance to walk around town. The stop is free to visit, but the main bathing facility has its own charge.

Poça das Lesmas and Seixal

Poça das Lesmas receives about 30 minutes. This coastal area brings together dark volcanic rock, the sea, and steep mountain scenery. It is a good place to slow down after the rapid viewpoint stops.

The longer half-hour pause makes Poça das Lesmas more useful than a five-minute photo pullout. You might find enough time for photographs, a short look around, and a quiet break by the water. No admission charge is listed.

The tour then reaches the Naval Club pools at Seixal for about 10 minutes. This is a place to enjoy the sea and, depending on the day’s timing and conditions, take a dip or watch water sports.

Ten minutes is too short for a relaxed swim, so I would treat this as a quick coastal stop rather than your main bathing opportunity. Porto Moniz is the better place to plan a proper swim because it has the longer scheduled visit.

Véu da Noiva waterfall

The final listed stop is Miradouro do Véu da Noiva, with about 10 minutes. The waterfall drops roughly 30 meters from the mountains toward the Atlantic, resembling a white bridal veil.

This is one of Madeira’s classic north coast views because the water appears to fall directly toward the ocean. The stop is quick but worthwhile, especially if the waterfall is flowing strongly.

As with the other viewpoints, visibility and weather matter. Cloud can cover the mountains, while rain may strengthen the waterfall but make the viewing area less comfortable. Keep a light layer handy for the high country and a rain shell for changing conditions.

Open roof, off-road claims, and the biggest caveat

The title and vehicle format suggest a more adventurous ride than an ordinary minibus tour. The 4×4 may use rougher tracks, and the open roof can make the drive feel more connected to the surroundings.

Still, the most important practical warning is that the roof may remain closed for the whole day. One detailed account describes sunny weather, no one standing through the roof, and only one short section that felt different from a normal road tour. Most viewpoints were reportedly accessible to vans, with other vehicles from the same company arriving at the same stops.

That does not mean every departure will operate exactly the same way. But you should ask three direct questions before confirming:

• Will the roof be open if the weather is dry?
• Is Bica da Cana definitely included that day?
• Will the vehicle travel alone or in a convoy with other Green Devil 4x4s?

If the answer is uncertain, compare the cost with a standard van tour. At $82.82 per person, this is reasonable for a full day of transport, a local guide, and a broad route. It is less convincing if you are paying mainly for off-road driving, a small group, or guaranteed access to Bica da Cana.

Pickup, extra charges, and who gets the best value

Pickup is free from hotels, Airbnbs, and the cruise dock in Funchal and from Caniço. The listed meeting point is near the Cristiano Ronaldo statue on Avenida Sá Carneiro in Funchal, and the tour returns there at the end.

Pickup outside those areas costs extra:

• €5 per person from Machico, Santa Cruz, Câmara de Lobos, Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol center, or the cruise dock
• €10 per person from Camacha, Santo da Serra, Jardim da Serra, Calheta, Caniçal, or São Vicente
• €15 per person from Ponta Delgada, Faial, or Porto da Cruz
• €20 per person from Porto Moniz, Prazeres, Jardim do Mar, Paul do Mar, Fajã da Ovelha, Santana, and several other listed locations

These charges can change the value quickly. If you are staying in Funchal or Caniço, the base price is easier to justify. If you are already staying near Porto Moniz or Santana, paying €20 per person for pickup makes little sense when the route passes through your area.

The tour is offered in English, confirmation is sent at booking, and most people can take part. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. The stated maximum is 50 people, though the vehicle convoy issue means you should not assume a tiny independent group.

Should you book this northwest Madeira tour?

Book it if you want one full day covering Madeira’s northwest and you do not have a car. Fanal Forest, Ribeira da Janela, Porto Moniz, Seixal, and Véu da Noiva make a strong collection of stops, and the route gives you both mountain and ocean scenery.

I would also recommend it to someone who values convenience over long walks. The day moves quickly, but you get a useful first look at places spread across difficult roads and valleys.

I would hesitate if Bica da Cana is your essential stop, or if the open roof and off-road driving are the whole reason you are paying $82.82. Confirm those details before booking, and compare the price with a van tour that includes the stops you most want.

The best decision comes down to your priorities: choose this for broad coverage and easy transport, but choose another option if you need a guaranteed route, a genuinely small group, or a roof that stays open.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours and starts at 8:30 a.m. It returns to the meeting point in Funchal.

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is Estátua de Cristiano Ronaldo, Avenida Sá Carneiro 27, São Martinho, Funchal. Pickup is available from Funchal and Caniço.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is free from hotels, Airbnbs, and the cruise dock in Funchal, as well as from Caniço. Pickup from other areas costs between €5 and €20 per person, depending on the location.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you should budget for your own meal during the day.

Does the price include Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools?

No. Admission to the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools costs approximately €3 and is paid separately.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English and includes a local guide.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.