Around The Island – Two Days Tour From 9am To 5pm (Each Day)

Madeira is the sort of island that can make a rental car feel like a bad idea. Roads twist up cliffs, clouds roll over mountain passes, and the best viewpoints are scattered far beyond Funchal. This two-day island tour handles the driving while taking you from Cabo Girão and Porto Moniz to Santana and Pico do Arieiro.

I like the wide range of scenery packed into the route, and I like the generous stops in Porto Moniz and Santana, where you get about 90 minutes to two hours for lunch and free time. The main caution is pace: you see much of Madeira, but short stops and long winding roads leave limited time for walks.

The tour costs $72.56 per person and runs roughly from 9am to 5pm on each day. Pickup is offered in central Funchal and the main tourist area, with pickup in Caniço de Baixo and Garajau for bookings of at least two people. The van carries no more than 16 people, so you get a smaller group than on a big coach.

Key points to know before booking

• Two full days cover both sides of Madeira: Day one focuses on the southwest and northwest, while day two covers the east, northeast, and high mountains.
• Porto Moniz includes possible swimming time: Bring a swimsuit if the weather is good, though the stop also includes lunch and free time.
• Mountain weather changes quickly: Pack extra layers for Fonte do Bispo, Pico do Arieiro, and other high points.
• The roads are winding: If you suffer from motion sickness, ask for a front seat when possible and bring your own precautions.
• The guides are a major part of the experience: Lionel, Renato, Gloria, Paulo, Luís, and others are praised for humor, local insight, and careful driving.
• Fanal Forest is not part of the route: You may see a viewpoint toward the area, but this tour does not take you into the forest.

Why two days make sense on Madeira

A single day can show you a slice of Madeira. Two days give you a useful first picture of the whole island without asking you to plan a maze of roads, viewpoints, villages, and mountain stops yourself.

The route is not a hiking trip. Think of it as a guided island survey with short walks, photo stops, village visits, and plenty of time in the van. You get context along the way, including stories about Madeira’s settlement, sugar cane, fishing villages, churches, farming, and mountain ecology.

The tour is especially useful if you are staying in Funchal without a car. It also works well for solo visitors, since pickup, transport, and sightseeing are arranged in one package. The tradeoff is that you will not linger long enough to explore each place in depth.

Different guides may lead the two days. Names that appear repeatedly in the tour team include Lionel, Renato, Gloria, Paulo, Luís, and Pedro Coelho. Lionel and Renato receive especially strong praise for mixing humor with information, while Gloria is noted for confident driving on older, difficult roads.

Day one: cliffs, bananas, volcanic pools, and the northwest

Cabo Girão, Madeira’s glass-bottom cliff viewpoint

The first major stop is Cabo Girão, a cliff rising about 580 meters above the sea. Its glass viewing platform gives you a dramatic look straight down the rock face and across the coast.

You have about 30 minutes here. That is enough for the viewpoint and photos, but not for a long walk. Admission is not included, so check the current entry arrangement when booking.

Cabo Girão is a strong opening stop because it immediately shows Madeira’s vertical character. You are not easing into a flat coastal tour. You are looking from a high cliff over the Atlantic, with Funchal and the southern shore spread below when visibility is good.

Cloud can change the experience. On a clear morning, the view is excellent. On a gray one, the glass platform still gives you the unusual sensation of standing over the drop, but the wider panorama may disappear.

Ribeira Brava and a 15th-century church

The tour then follows the coast to Ribeira Brava, a small village where you have around 30 minutes. The main cultural point is a church dating from the 15th century.

This is a brief stop rather than a full town visit. I would use the time to look at the church, stretch your legs, and get a feel for a smaller Madeiran settlement. The contrast with Cabo Girão is useful: first the island’s height and drama, then a closer look at its built heritage.

Madalena do Mar and Madeira’s banana country

At Madalena do Mar, you spend about 25 minutes walking through or near lush banana plantations. It is a short stop, but it adds something that viewpoints cannot: a look at working agriculture and the crops that shape daily life on the island.

Do not expect a long farm visit or a formal tasting. The value here is visual and local. You see how intensely green the lower coastal slopes can be, and you get a quick break from the van.

Some people may find this stop less memorable than the cliffs or mountain peaks. If you prefer major sights only, this is the place most likely to feel modest. If you like seeing how a place functions beyond its postcard views, it earns its place.

Fonte do Bispo and the high Paúl da Serra plateau

The road climbs toward the Paúl da Serra area, between roughly 1,300 and 1,500 meters above sea level. At Fonte do Bispo, you stop for about 20 minutes at a viewpoint connected with the high plateau and the levada walking routes.

The levadas are Madeira’s famous water channels, built to carry water across the island. The route does not turn this stop into a levada hike, but your guide can place these paths in the wider story of Madeira’s mountains, forests, and farming.

This is one of the points where weather matters most. Mountain air can be cold even when Funchal feels warm, and cloud can cover the views without warning. Bring a light jacket or extra layer. That advice came up often for good reason.

Porto Moniz and the volcanic swimming pools

Porto Moniz gets the longest break on day one, about one hour and 45 minutes. In practice, the stop is described as roughly 90 minutes to two hours for lunch and free time.

The town is known for natural pools formed by volcanic rock along the sea. In good weather, you may swim, so pack a swimsuit and perhaps a small towel. Admission to the stop itself is listed as free, but do not assume every optional facility or pool service is covered in the tour price.

This is the day’s main pause. You can eat, look at the pools, take photos, and enjoy a slower hour after the morning’s stops. I appreciate that the schedule allows real free time here rather than reducing Porto Moniz to a five-minute photo pullout.

The drawback is choice. Some people would prefer more time at viewpoints and less time for lunch. If you want to swim, the longer stop is useful. If you are focused on photography, you may wish the time were divided differently.

Véu da Noiva and the Seixal coast

After Porto Moniz, the van passes waterfalls and heads toward the Seixal viewpoint. The main feature is Véu da Noiva, or Bridal Veil Waterfall, where water drops down the steep cliff toward the sea.

You have about 20 minutes. This is a quick photo stop, not a long coastal walk. The waterfall and the dark rock cliffs give you another version of Madeira’s coast, one shaped by rain, erosion, and volcanic stone.

The road itself is part of the show. You pass through sections where the mountains press close to the sea, with waterfalls appearing beside the road. Keep your camera ready, but also listen to the guide, since the driver cannot stop at every attractive bend.

São Vicente and the north coast

São Vicente offers about 30 minutes to explore a picturesque village and see a church dating from the 17th century. It is a compact cultural stop after the natural drama of Seixal.

The pace here is gentle. You can walk around the village center, look at the church, and take a short break before the return toward Funchal. The stop helps show that Madeira is more than cliffs and pools. Villages, churches, and older settlement patterns are part of the island’s character too.

Câmara de Lobos and Churchill’s painting spot

The final stop of day one is Câmara de Lobos, only about five kilometers from Funchal. This fishing village became famous as a favorite painting place of Winston Churchill.

You have around 30 minutes to see the harbor and village setting. It is an easy final stop because you are close to Funchal and do not need a major climb or hike. The fishing boats and compact waterfront give you a last taste of coastal Madeira before drop-off.

Day two: eastern cliffs, Santana houses, and mountain peaks

Cristo Rei at Garajau

Day two begins at the Cristo Rei viewpoint in Garajau, on Madeira’s east coast. The statue is one of the island’s best-known monuments, and the position gives you broad views over the Atlantic and the coastline.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes and is free. It is a good early viewpoint, though the exact order can change. The tour operator may rearrange stops depending on conditions and the day’s route.

Machico, Madeira’s first capital

Machico is a historic city and Madeira’s second most populous city. It served as the island’s first capital from 1440 to 1496, before Funchal took that role in 1508.

You have about 20 minutes here. That is enough for a quick look at the town, but not a full museum visit or a deep historical walk. The important point is the setting: this is where early settlers established themselves in the 15th century.

For me, Machico adds needed historical grounding to a day otherwise packed with viewpoints and nature. If your main interest is scenery, the stop may feel short. If you want to understand how Madeira developed, it is worth paying attention to the guide’s explanation.

Ponta do Rosto and the São Lourenço peninsula

At Ponta do Rosto, you reach the eastern end of Madeira’s São Lourenço area. The nature reserve has exposed rock formations, broad Atlantic views, and a much drier, more open appearance than the heavily wooded north coast.

You get around 30 minutes. The tour does not turn this into a full hike, so do not book it expecting the long trail to the peninsula’s far end. Instead, you get a taste of the reserve and its unusual geology from an accessible viewpoint.

This is one of the most rewarding contrasts in the two-day plan. Madeira is famous for green mountains, but São Lourenço shows a harder, more wind-shaped side of the island.

Porto da Cruz and the old rum distillery

Porto da Cruz is a small northeastern village where you can visit Engenhos do Norte, an old rum distillery connected with Madeira’s sugar cane industry. The original steam machinery remains in working order, and entry is free.

You have about 30 minutes. That is enough for a compact visit and a look at the equipment, though opening conditions can always affect what you see. The stop gives useful context about the island’s economy and the role sugar cane played in Madeira’s past.

This is a particularly good stop for anyone who likes working heritage rather than another viewpoint. It also breaks up the day before lunch in Santana.

Santana and the triangular thatched houses

Santana receives the day’s longest stop, about 90 minutes to two hours for lunch and free time. The village is known for colorful triangular houses with thatched roofs, a building style that dates back to the 16th century.

These houses are now a major attraction, but the stop is not only about taking a picture beside one. Santana gives you a chance to see a different side of Madeiran culture, with local architecture, mountain views, and time to eat without rushing.

The lunch break is useful, though the same practical point applies as on day one: you may prefer more time for photos if you are not interested in a long meal. Plan your priorities before arriving. Decide if you want food, house photos, a short walk, or a little of each.

Ribeiro Frio and the laurel forest

Ribeiro Frio sits in a deep northern valley surrounded by mountains. You have about 30 minutes to see the trout pools and take a gentle stroll along the nearby nature paths.

The area is associated with Madeira’s laurel forest, including laurel trees and native birds such as the Madeira pigeon, chaffinch, and bis-bis. The bis-bis is described as Madeira’s smallest bird.

This is not a full levada walk. You get a short nature break, not a major trek. Wear sensible shoes, but you do not need hiking equipment for the planned stop. If you hoped for a longer forest walk, you may find the time limited.

Pico do Arieiro at 1,818 meters

The final major stop is Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s third-highest peak at 1,818 meters. On a clear day, you may see the south coast, Curral das Freiras, and possibly Porto Santo. Clouds often hover around the rock formations, creating a very different view when the summit is partly obscured.

You have about 30 minutes at the top. The road makes the peak accessible without a long hike, but the mountain conditions can be cold, windy, or cloudy. Take extra layers, even if the day began warm in Funchal.

The route may also point out Poço da Neve, a stone structure once used to store ice, snow, and hail. An air-defense radar was installed at the summit in 2011. The peak is also linked with famous trails toward Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo, but those hikes are not part of this tour.

Pico do Arieiro can be the grand finale, but it is also the stop most controlled by weather. Do not judge the tour harshly if clouds hide the view. The operator cannot move the mountain, and conditions can change between Funchal and the summit.

What the $72.56 price gives you

At $72.56 per person, the value comes mainly from transport, route planning, and access to a wide spread of sights over two days. You avoid rental-car costs, fuel, navigation, parking, and the stress of Madeira’s steep and twisting roads.

You also get a guide who explains what you are seeing. That matters at places such as Machico, the rum distillery, the levada country, and Santana, where a quick glance does not tell the whole story.

The price does not mean every possible attraction is included. Cabo Girão admission is not included, and optional costs at swimming facilities or elsewhere should be checked. Lunch is also your responsibility during the free-time stops.

The small group limit of 16 is a real plus. It is not a private tour, but it should feel more manageable than a full-size coach. You still need to accept a shared timetable and the possibility that the two days will have different guides.

Practical advice for a smoother two days

Pickup is available from Funchal city center and the main tourist area. Pickup from hotels in Caniço de Baixo and Garajau requires at least two people. If you stay outside those areas, you will be directed to a meeting point in Funchal.

Bring a light jacket or extra sweater for the high areas. Pack a swimsuit for Porto Moniz if swimming appeals to you, and consider binoculars for distant views and bird spotting.

Motion sickness deserves attention. The roads are winding, and one passenger found the back of the van particularly difficult. Ask about a front seat early, eat something before departure, and carry whatever personal remedy you normally use. Do not count on the vehicle having sick bags.

The tour is listed as suitable for most people, and service animals are allowed. It is not designed as a hiking tour, and the time at each viewpoint is limited. The order of stops can change, with updated information sent if the sequence is altered.

Who should book this Madeira tour?

I would choose this tour if you want to see most of Madeira in two days, do not want to drive, and value commentary from a local guide. It is also a smart choice for a short stay, a solo visit, or a first trip when you want to learn which areas deserve a longer return visit.

You may want another option if you prefer long hikes, independent meals, slow photography, or a fixed route that includes Fanal Forest. Fanal is not part of this itinerary, although a nearby viewpoint may provide a panorama toward the area.

The high rating of 4.7 from 796 ratings, with 94 percent recommending it, fits the tour’s strengths: broad coverage, friendly guides, and practical transport. Still, the experience depends on weather, seat position, and your comfort with a full day of road travel.

For most first-time visitors, I think the tour is worth booking. Choose it for the island overview, the mountain roads, and the chance to hear local stories from guides such as Lionel, Renato, Gloria, and Paulo. Just pack layers, prepare for bends, and treat the two days as an introduction rather than the final word on Madeira.

FAQ

How long is each day of the tour?

Each day runs approximately from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $72.56 per person.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from Funchal city center and the main tourist area. Hotel pickup in Caniço de Baixo and Garajau is available for a minimum of two people.

What if my accommodation is outside the pickup area?

You will be directed to the nearest meeting point in Funchal.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 16 participants.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

Is lunch included?

The itinerary provides free time for lunch in Porto Moniz and Santana, but it does not state that lunch is included in the tour price.

Can I swim at Porto Moniz?

Swimming is possible in good weather at the natural volcanic pools. Bring a swimsuit if you want that option.

Is Fanal Forest included?

No. Fanal Forest is not included in the itinerary. A nearby viewpoint may offer views toward the area.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.