Madeira East Island Tour and Levada Walk

Madeira’s east side packs a remarkable amount into one day: high mountain roads, cloud-level views, an easy forest walk, traditional cottages, and a rugged coast. The highlight for me is the change in scenery, from Pico do Arieiro at 1,818 meters to the shaded laurel forest at Ribeiro Frio, then down to the sea.

I like the small minibus groups of 8 to 14 people, which make the day friendlier and less clumsy than a big coach tour. I also like the mix of guided stops and free time, plus the included three-course lunch and drinks on the shared tour. The catch is that the schedule is full, so some stops can feel brief, and the levada walk costs an extra €3.

Key points at a glance

• Reach Pico do Arieiro: Visit Madeira’s third-highest peak for dramatic mountain views, often above the clouds.
• Walk through Laurissilva forest: Follow the levada path toward Balcões at Ribeiro Frio, with a trout farm visit nearby.
• Eat near Santana: Enjoy a three-course meal with drinks on the shared tour, then see Santana’s famous A-framed cottages.
• Follow the northeast coast: Stop at Miradouro do Guindaste, Faial’s skywalk, Porto da Cruz, and viewpoints toward São Lourenço.
• Taste local rum: Visit the rum factory in Porto da Cruz, where tasting is free.
• Expect a busy day: The tour runs about eight hours, with pickup generally between 8:00 and 9:00 and return to Funchal around 17:00.

Why this east Madeira tour works so well

This is a sightseeing day for you if you want a broad introduction to Madeira without renting a car or worrying about steep roads, parking, weather changes, and navigation. For $63 per person, the shared option covers transport, a guide, lunch with drinks, and a free rum tasting. You also get a short walk, several viewpoints, mountain scenery, villages, and the northern coast.

That is strong value, especially if your time on Madeira is limited. A rental car might give you more freedom, but it would not give you a local guide, arranged lunch, or the ease of being driven along mountain roads. You also avoid trying to fit all these stops together yourself.

The tour is not designed for slow, deep exploration. It is a highlights day. You will see many places, but you will not spend hours at each one. That trade-off works for me because the scenery changes so quickly, but you should know what you are choosing.

From Funchal views to Pico do Arieiro

Pickup is available from hotels in Funchal and Caniço. Cruise passengers on private tours can arrange harbor pickup, while shared cruise passengers meet at the CR7 Museum. Your pickup time may fall between 8:00 and 9:00, depending on your location, and the exact time is confirmed after booking.

The day begins with a viewpoint above Funchal. This gives you a useful first look at the capital and its steep setting before the minibus climbs inland. The road journey toward the mountains takes about 70 minutes, so this is also your first chance to settle into the group and listen to your guide explain Madeira’s scenery, plants, roads, and local life.

At Pico do Arieiro, you get about 35 minutes for photographs and fresh mountain air. At 1,818 meters, it is Madeira’s third-highest peak. The views here are dramatic, with sharp ridges and deep valleys, and on a good day the clouds sit below you.

Bring a jacket even if Funchal feels warm. The temperature can be much cooler at this height, and weather can change quickly. The mountain stop is one of the best parts of the day, but it is also weather-dependent. If cloud closes in, your guide may need to adjust the route or offer a different viewpoint.

The short stop is enough for photographs and a quick look around. It is not enough for a serious mountain hike, so hikers hoping to spend half a day on the high trails should book a dedicated walking tour instead.

Ribeiro Frio and the Balcões levada walk

The road then drops into Ribeiro Frio, one of the most appealing parts of the day. This area sits inside Madeira’s Laurissilva forest, the island’s famous laurel woodland. The forest gives you a completely different mood from the exposed summit: cooler, shaded, and full of dense greenery.

You visit a trout farm and then take a levada walk toward Balcões. A levada is one of Madeira’s historic water channels, built to carry water across the island. The path follows the channel through the forest, giving you a taste of Madeira’s walking culture without committing to a long mountain route.

The walk is a major reason to choose this tour. It adds time on foot and lets you see the forest at a slower pace than you can from a minibus window. The route to Balcões is generally treated as a short walk, but you still need comfortable shoes and a reasonable level of mobility.

There is an extra €3 entrance charge for the levada walk, paid on the day. That cost is small, but it is worth knowing before you book because the advertised price does not cover it. The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and anyone uncomfortable on uneven paths should consider this carefully.

The tour has a busy rhythm, so your time on the path may be limited. You are getting a taste of the forest rather than a full-day hike. For many people, that is the right balance: you see Balcões, enjoy the trees, and still have time for the coast later.

Santana’s cottages and the included lunch

Santana is the next major stop, with about an hour and a half for a mixture of sightseeing, free time, food, and local scenery. The town is famous for its traditional A-framed cottages, with steep thatched roofs and colorful facades.

These houses are one of Madeira’s most recognizable sights. The stop is useful because you can see them close up, take photographs, and browse the small attractions and shops around the Santana Centre. Some of the cottages have been turned into tourist shops, so do not expect to find a fully untouched old village. Still, the shape and style explain a lot about Madeira’s rural past.

On the shared tour, lunch is a three-course meal with drinks. The meal is served in the northern part of the island, and the food is generally described as a pleasant part of the day rather than an afterthought. This included meal makes the $63 price easier to justify.

There has been a change in the lunch location. The meal is no longer at Grutas do Faial, a cave restaurant that some older descriptions may still mention. The current stop is elsewhere, so confirm the restaurant details if the cave setting matters to you.

Private tours work differently. Lunch is not included in the private price, so you will need to pay for your own meal. That distinction matters when comparing the shared and private options. A private vehicle gives you more control, but the shared tour has the better all-in value.

Faial’s skywalk and views over the coast

After lunch, the route continues along the northern coast toward Faial. Miradouro do Guindaste is scheduled as a short photo stop of about 15 minutes, followed by a visit to the Faial skywalk. The skywalk adds a modern viewing platform to a day otherwise filled with old roads, forest, cottages, and coastal villages.

You should expect more than one viewpoint during this part of the route. The northeast of Madeira is marked by steep slopes, ocean-facing villages, and long views along the coast. The stop at the skywalk is brief, so take your photographs first and explore second.

The changing weather can make a real difference here. On a clear day, views may extend toward Ponta de São Lourenço, Machico, the Desertas Islands, and even Porto Santo. On a cloudy day, you may see much less. This is one reason the tour includes several viewpoints rather than relying on one single lookout.

Porto da Cruz and the free rum tasting

Porto da Cruz is a smaller coastal stop with about 35 minutes for a visit, photographs, and a drink or tasting. The rum factory visit is included, and the rum tasting is free.

This is a useful local touch because Madeira’s sugar-cane traditions are tied to its older farming and food culture. The tasting is short, not a full spirits workshop, but it gives you a chance to try a regional product and see another side of the island beyond viewpoints.

Do not plan on a long lunch here. The main meal comes earlier, and Porto da Cruz is one of several stops packed into the afternoon. If you do not drink alcohol, the stop still gives you time to look around and take in the coastal setting.

Guides make the difference

The route is attractive on its own, but the guide can shape the quality of the day. Guides named in the tour feedback include Lucy, Carlos, Tony, Fernando, Marco, Luciano, Miguel, and Michael.

Lucy is especially good at pointing out fruit, flowers, trees, and other plants along the road. Fernando is described as taking time to explain the island and stopping to show flowers up close. Carlos is praised for safe driving, humor, extra viewpoints, and keeping a mixed-language group involved.

That range of comments tells you what to look for: a guide who does more than announce the next stop. A strong guide explains why the island looks the way it does, answers questions, and uses the drive between stops well. Since the tour is available in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, check your preferred language when booking.

Some guides may add a short extra stop if road conditions, time, and the group allow. Treat that as a bonus, not a promise. The route can change because of traffic restrictions or weather.

Transport, group size, and the pace of the day

The tour uses a modern, air-conditioned minibus for about 8 to 14 people. That size is a good middle ground. You get more personal contact than on a large coach, but the price remains far lower than a fully private day.

The minibus is clean and comfortable according to the available information, although one comment found the air-conditioning less effective than expected. In warm weather, that could matter because you spend several hours on the road. The vehicle also has to handle steep and winding roads, so anyone prone to motion sickness should prepare accordingly, although no specific motion-sickness provision is listed.

The schedule is full. You move from Funchal to the summit, forest, Santana, the northern coast, Porto da Cruz, and back toward Funchal in about eight hours. I like the efficiency, but you should not expect long quiet breaks.

The best approach is to arrive ready for a day of short bursts: listen in the minibus, photograph the summit, walk in the forest, eat lunch, see the cottages, stop at viewpoints, and return to town. Wear shoes that are comfortable for the levada path, and bring a jacket for the high points.

Is $63 a fair price?

For the shared tour, yes. The $63 price includes transport, a live guide, a three-course meal with drinks, and the rum tasting. You still pay €3 for the levada walk, and personal purchases are extra, but the main costs are covered.

The value is strongest if you are staying in Funchal or Caniço and want to see the east without hiring a car. It is also a sensible choice for a short Madeira visit, since it combines several types of scenery in one day.

Private tours are a different calculation. Cruise pickup is available for private tours, but lunch is not included. Santa Cruz hotel pickup carries an additional charge, with the supplied details showing different amounts for some private and group arrangements, so confirm the exact fee before paying.

Cruise passengers should also check the timing carefully. Shared cruise passengers meet at the CR7 Museum, and your ship must arrive by 8:00 or earlier and depart at 17:00 or later. The tour returns to Funchal around 17:00, so this is not a good choice if your ship has a tight departure schedule.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you want one efficient day of Madeira highlights and prefer not to drive. It suits first-time visitors, cruise passengers with enough time, couples, small groups, and anyone who wants a guided introduction to the east.

It is also a good choice if you want a short forest walk but are not looking for a strenuous hiking day. The levada path adds genuine time outdoors without taking over the whole schedule.

I would look elsewhere if you want to linger at each village, spend hours hiking, or set your own timetable. People with mobility impairments should also avoid it because of the walking conditions and the number of stops.

Book it for the range: summit, forest, cottages, coast, food, and rum in one day. Skip it only if a full-day schedule and short stops sound tiring rather than useful.

FAQ

How long does the Madeira East Island Tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours. Pickup generally takes place between 8:00 and 9:00, with return to Funchal planned for around 17:00.

What is the price of the tour?

The shared tour costs $63 per person. The supplied details do not state the full price for a private group.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is included on the shared tour as a three-course meal with drinks. Lunch is not included for private tours.

Is the levada walk included in the price?

The walk has an additional €3 entrance charge, paid on the day.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is available from hotels in Funchal and Caniço. Private tours can arrange free pickup from the cruise harbor. Santa Cruz hotel pickup has an additional charge.

Where do shared cruise passengers meet?

Shared cruise passengers must meet at the CR7 Museum. Private tour cruise passengers can receive harbor pickup.

What languages are available?

The tour is offered with a guide in English, French, German, Portuguese, or Spanish.

Is the rum tasting included?

Yes. The visit to the rum factory in Porto da Cruz is included, and the rum tasting is free.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes for the levada walk and a jacket for the higher elevations. Funchal may be warm while Pico do Arieiro is much cooler.

Can the route change?

Yes. Weather, traffic restrictions, and other unforeseen conditions can change the route or stops.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The activity is listed as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments, partly because of the levada walk and the walking required at the stops.