Bestselling Wine Tour, Tasting Experience & Skywalk 4×4 Adventure

The best part of this half-day outing is the switch from paved roads to rough vineyard tracks. An open-top 4×4 carries you through Madeira’s mountain country, where cliffs, waterfalls, terraced vines, and tiny roads provide the scenery. The wine stop at Quinta Barbusano adds a local taste to what could otherwise be just a sightseeing drive.

I like the small-jeep format, with up to eight people per vehicle, and I like the chance to see several parts of southwest Madeira in one short trip. Guides such as Eddie, Miguel, and Louis have been singled out for making the ride fun and adjusting the route when needed. The main catch is cost and organization: the €24 wine visit and €5 Cabo Girão Skywalk fee are extra, and one serious scheduling problem has affected a booking.

Key points at a glance

• Open-top 4×4 ride: Expect rough tracks, narrow country roads, and a more entertaining trip than a standard coach tour.
• Six local wines: Quinta Barbusano serves six samples with toast cheese, but the winery visit costs €24 per person.
• Cabo Girão Skywalk: The glass viewing platform gives you a high coastal viewpoint, with a separate €5 admission fee.
• Small groups: Each jeep carries a maximum of eight people, while the full outing can reach 24 participants.
• Several villages in one route: The drive passes through Câmara de Lobos, Quinta Grande, Campanário, Ribeira Brava, Serra de Água, and São Vicente.
• Pickup limits: Free pickup is offered in Funchal and Caniço. Cruise-dock pickup costs an extra €5 per person.

Why the 4×4 ride is the real star

Madeira is not a flat island made for easy driving. Roads climb sharply from the coast into narrow valleys, and the best views often appear along small side roads rather than major routes. This outing uses that setting well.

The open-top 4×4 gives you a higher, more exposed view than a regular car. You can look across the slopes, spot waterfalls, and watch the road twist through vineyards and scrub. The off-road section is not a technical expedition, but it is rough enough to feel like an adventure. Expect jolts, dust, and a vehicle that may feel more workmanlike than polished.

That last point matters. One account described the jeeps as old, and another found the ride great fun despite concern about the vehicle beforehand. I would book this for the route and guide, not for luxury transport. If you prefer a quiet, smooth ride, a standard wine excursion may suit you better.

The guides make a major difference. Eddie has been praised for taking the jeep off road and keeping the outing enjoyable. Miguel has been credited with giving a good vineyard tour, while Louis adjusted the plan for a group that had already seen Cabo Girão. Those details suggest a useful strength: the day can feel personal when the guide pays attention to the group.

Cabo Girão gives you the big coastal view

Cabo Girão is one of Madeira’s most dramatic viewpoints. The cliffs rise above the Atlantic, and the glass Skywalk puts you close to the edge without requiring a hike. You get a broad view over the water and the steep coast below.

The stop is scheduled for about 30 minutes. That is enough time for the viewing platform and photographs, but it is not a long visit. The entrance fee is not included, so add €5 per person to your budget.

Some people consider Cabo Girão the highlight. Others choose the tour mainly for the vineyard and off-road route. If you have already visited the Skywalk, tell the guide at the start. A group once received extra time in Câmara de Lobos instead, which worked well because everyone had already seen the viewpoint.

Do not assume that alternative will always be available. The advertised route includes Cabo Girão, and the guide decides how the timing works. Still, it is worth mentioning your priorities early, especially if you have limited time in Madeira or have visited the viewpoint before.

São Vicente and Serra de Água show Madeira’s mountain side

The route reaches São Vicente, a northern parish known for steep green slopes and a rural setting. The stop is listed at about 45 minutes, with no separate admission fee. The appeal here is the drive itself: mountain roads, high slopes, and views that change quickly as the jeep moves between the coast and the interior.

Serra de Água is the most important mountain section of the route. The parish lies in a broad valley surrounded by high peaks, with terraced vineyards and old watermills. It is also connected with the Encumeada viewpoint, though the tour information does not promise a separate stop there.

You should think of this part as a scenic drive rather than a walking tour. There is no listed hike or long village visit. The reward is seeing how Madeira’s farming areas fit into the island’s steep terrain, with the 4×4 able to use smaller roads than a large coach.

The route also passes near several southern villages:

• Câmara de Lobos has a colorful harbor and a long fishing tradition. It is a useful substitute stop if you have already seen Cabo Girão.
• Quinta Grande is surrounded by vineyards and terraced fields, making it a fitting lead-in to the winery visit.
• Campanário sits between the mountains and the sea, with traditional buildings and coastal views.
• Ribeira Brava has a promenade, pebble beach, and a church in the town center.

These places are part of the wider route, but not every one is listed as a formal stop with a set amount of free time. You may see them from the jeep rather than explore each one on foot. That distinction helps set your expectations.

Six wines and cheese at Quinta Barbusano

The winery is the reason to choose this outing over a general 4×4 safari. At Quinta Barbusano, you sit at a prepared table and sample six local wines with toast cheese. The visit also includes a walk around the vines and an explanation of the wine-making setting.

The vineyard location makes the tasting more useful than sampling wine in a city bar. You see the slopes where grapes are grown, then taste the result. The rural surroundings also help explain why Madeira’s wine culture is tied so closely to small estates and terraced land.

Still, keep your expectations measured. The tasting is described as table wine, not as a premium cellar flight. One account found the wines mediocre, while others enjoyed the samples and snacks. Wine taste is personal, and the quality of the winery visit can depend on the guide and the group, but you should not book this expecting an exclusive luxury tasting.

The winery’s guided explanation is given in English. That may be a problem if you need another language. The tour company’s response explained that using several languages would make the talk much longer, but the practical point remains simple: confirm that English works for you before booking.

The €24 fee is separate from the tour price and covers the winery visit and six table wine samples. Read the cost carefully. The advertised price of $66.01 looks attractive, but adding €24 for the winery and €5 for Cabo Girão changes the total. If you are being collected at the cruise dock, add another €5 per person.

What the route feels like in three and a half hours

The full outing lasts about 3 hours and 30 minutes. That is a good length for a port day, a first look at Madeira, or a morning when you want scenery without giving up the entire day.

The pace is fairly brisk. You are combining a 4×4 ride, a mountain route, a major viewpoint, and a winery visit. The benefit is variety. The drawback is that no single village receives much time, and traffic or pickup delays can reduce time at the stops.

The jeep can carry up to eight people, while the full activity has a maximum of 24. Small vehicles are useful on Madeira’s narrow roads, but the overall group may still include several jeeps. You will not necessarily have a private guide or a quiet winery table.

Pickup is free in Funchal and Caniço. If you are staying elsewhere, the meeting arrangement is less convenient. People outside those areas are directed to a pickup point in Funchal center near the Cristiano Ronaldo statue, while cruise passengers pay €5 for pickup at the dock.

One booking had a delayed start because the pickup instructions did not arrive. That is not a reason to reject the tour outright, but it is a reason to confirm the meeting point and time before the day begins. If you are on a cruise, leave a generous margin before your required return to the ship.

The main risk: winery coordination

The most important caution concerns the wine stop. One outing reached the winery when it was closed, and the planned tasting had not been reserved. The group was offered a bar visit with three small Madeira wine samples instead of the promised winery experience.

That is a major problem if wine is your central reason for booking. The operator did not handle that situation well, and the substitute did not match the advertised six-wine tasting. It appears to be an isolated organizational failure rather than the normal plan, but it is still worth protecting yourself.

Contact the provider before the tour and confirm three things:

• Quinta Barbusano is open on your date.
• The six-wine tasting is booked.
• The €24 fee covers the winery visit and tasting as expected.

You may not get a perfect guarantee, but asking these questions gives you a written record and can expose a scheduling issue early. The experience provider is Green Devil Safari, and confirmation is sent at booking.

The cancellation policy allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and changes are not accepted. The operator also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation by the company can result in another date, another activity, or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this Madeira outing

I would recommend it to you if you want several Madeira highlights in a short window and prefer an active ride to a formal coach excursion. It suits people who enjoy rough roads, big views, small villages, and a casual tasting rather than a serious wine seminar.

It is also a good option if you want a guide to handle the steep roads. You get access to countryside that would be awkward to reach on your own, plus a simple introduction to local wine. The open-top jeep adds fun, and the group size per vehicle is manageable.

I would be more cautious if you are sensitive to jolting, need a polished vehicle, or want a quiet tasting led by a specialist. The tour has had mixed reports on the wine quality, and the winery communication may be in English only.

Families and older participants may be able to join because the activity says most people can participate, but the provided information does not give detailed mobility guidance. If you have back problems or find uneven roads difficult, ask the operator before paying.

Is the price fair?

At $66.01, the base price is reasonable for a 3.5-hour guided 4×4 outing with pickup in Funchal or Caniço. You are paying for the driver, transport, insurance, and access to a route that combines coast, mountains, villages, and vineyard tracks.

The extras change the calculation. Add €24 for the winery and €5 for Cabo Girão, then another €5 if you need cruise-dock pickup. That makes the final cost noticeably higher than the headline figure. The value is strongest when you want both the off-road ride and the winery. If you only want the Skywalk, visiting Cabo Girão separately may be simpler.

The tour earns its price through variety, not depth. You see many places, but you do not get extended time in each one. That is a fair trade for a short outing, as long as you know you are buying a sampler of southwest Madeira rather than a detailed village tour.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if your ideal Madeira morning includes a bumpy open-top jeep ride, mountain scenery, Cabo Girão, and a casual wine tasting. Guides such as Eddie, Miguel, and Louis have shown the kind of flexibility that can turn a standard route into a more enjoyable outing.

Before booking, decide how much the winery matters. If it is the main point, confirm the reservation and opening date directly with Green Devil Safari. Also budget for all three possible extras, and allow plenty of time if you need to return to a cruise ship.

My verdict: this is a worthwhile, good-value introduction to Madeira when the route runs as planned. The 4×4 adventure and scenery are the safest reasons to choose it. The winery can be enjoyable, but the wine quality and organization deserve a little caution.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Where is pickup available?

Free pickup is available in the Funchal area and Caniço.

Can cruise passengers join the tour?

Yes. Pickup at the cruise dock costs an additional €5 per person. People staying elsewhere can meet near the Cristiano Ronaldo statue in Funchal center.

Is the wine tasting included in the advertised price?

No. The winery visit and six wine samples at Quinta Barbusano cost €24 per person.

Is the Cabo Girão Skywalk fee included?

No. Entry to Cabo Girão costs €5 per person.

How many people fit in each jeep?

Each open-top 4×4 jeep carries a maximum of eight people. The full activity has a maximum of 24 participants.

What language is offered?

The tour is offered in English. The winery explanation is also given in English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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