SANTANA Combo Expedition (Jeep & Levada Walk) – Shared Tour

Madeira’s appeal is its sharp change of scenery, and this jeep and levada tour packs a lot of it into one day. You rise to Pico do Arieiro, visit Santana’s old thatched houses, follow a quiet water channel at Referta, and finish with coastal views at Ponta de São Lourenço.

I like the easy transport plan, with pickup and drop-off in central Funchal, and I like the mix of road travel and walking. The guide also keeps the day moving at a good pace, and the off-road sections add some fun without feeling reckless. The main drawback is that several stops are brief, and the optional lunch has received mixed marks.

Key points to know before booking

• Pico do Arieiro reaches 1,818 meters: You get wide mountain views early in the day, with only about 20 minutes at the viewpoint.
• Santana provides the longest stop: Allow 90 minutes for the famous thatched houses, lunch, and a little free time.
• The levada walk is short and easy: Referta offers about 30 minutes beside one of Madeira’s traditional water channels.
• Off-road driving adds access and excitement: The 4WD vehicle reaches outdoor areas that are less convenient by ordinary car.
• Lunch costs extra: You can choose a fish, meat, or vegetarian meal for €15, or arrange your own food.
• Pickup begins before 9 a.m.: Central Funchal pickup runs from 8:45 to 9:00, while the port pickup runs from 8:40 to 8:50.

Why this tour works for a first day in Madeira

Madeira is not a place where every worthwhile sight sits neatly along one road. The island rises quickly from the sea, roads twist through steep valleys, and some paths are easier to reach with a local driver. This 7.5-hour outing solves much of that planning problem.

You ride in a shared 4WD vehicle, but this is not only a driving trip. The day includes a high mountain viewpoint, a traditional village, a rum distillery, a short walk beside a levada, and an eastern coastal stop. That range gives you a useful first look at Madeira’s interior and northern side without asking you to organize several separate excursions.

I especially like the balance between activity and sightseeing. The Referta walk is short enough for most people who can walk comfortably, while the jeep portions give your feet a break. One passenger described the day as well paced, with enough time at the stops and a guide who moved between Portuguese, English, and German to keep the group included.

You should keep your expectations realistic. This is a shared tour with a maximum of 99 people, so the exact feel of the day can depend on the group and vehicle arrangement. You are also covering a lot of ground. If you prefer long hikes or quiet time at one place, a focused walking tour may suit you better.

Pico do Arieiro at 1,818 meters

The day begins high above the coast at Pico do Arieiro, one of Madeira’s best-known mountain viewpoints. At 1,818 meters, the air and scenery can feel very different from Funchal, and the view gives you an immediate sense of how steep and rugged the island is.

You have about 20 minutes here, so think of this as a viewpoint stop rather than a mountain hike. Use the time for photos, a quick look around, and a chance to take in the scale of the peaks. The stop is included in the price.

The short timing is both a strength and a limitation. You get a dramatic opening to the day without spending hours on a trail, but you will not have time for a long walk or a slow café break. Mountain weather can also change quickly. The operator says the tour runs in all weather, so bring a jacket and wear shoes that can handle damp ground.

The early pickup helps make this stop practical. Central Funchal pickup is scheduled between 8:45 and 9:00 a.m., with port pickup between 8:40 and 8:50. You should be ready before the stated window, since a shared vehicle cannot wait long for late arrivals.

Santana’s thatched houses and lunch break

Santana is the longest stop, with about 90 minutes. That gives you time to see the village’s old thatched-roof houses, take photographs, and eat lunch without rushing through the meal.

These houses are among Madeira’s most recognizable traditional buildings. Their steep roofs and compact shape reflect older rural building methods, and some have remained in use for more than 250 years. You get a stronger sense of Madeira’s past here than you would from a quick roadside photo stop.

The tour leaves lunch open rather than forcing one meal into the schedule. A fish, meat, or vegetarian lunch is available for €15 per person, but food and drinks are not included in the base price. You may prefer the convenience of the set option, especially on a busy day, but you should not assume lunch is part of the advertised fare.

I would treat this as the best point in the day to eat. The stop is long enough to avoid swallowing a meal in ten minutes, and the village gives you something to look at before or after lunch. Still, food quality can vary. One direct account found the restaurant meal disappointing, although the staff were friendly. If lunch matters a great deal to you, ask the guide about the available choices or plan to bring a snack.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can take part, but remember that this is a full day with early pickup, vehicle travel, and outdoor stops.

Porto da Cruz and the sugar cane tradition

The visit to Porto da Cruz lasts about 20 minutes and focuses on the local rum distillery. Madeira’s sugar cane industry is closely tied to its food and drink traditions, and this stop gives you a quick look at how cane becomes rum.

It is a compact visit, not a long tasting session or a full factory tour. Snacks and drinks are not included, and the schedule does not promise a tasting. Consider it a short cultural stop that breaks up the drive rather than the main event of the day.

If you enjoy local production and regional drinks, you will likely find the visit worthwhile. If you are avoiding alcohol, there is no need to build your expectations around this stop. The tour includes the distillery visit as part of the route, but alcoholic beverages are not included in the price.

The Referta levada walk

Referta is where the tour shifts from riding to walking. You spend about 30 minutes on an easy levada walk, following one of the narrow water channels that carry irrigation water through Madeira.

This is a useful introduction to levadas because it gives you the experience without demanding a long hike. You can walk, look at the vegetation, and let the guide point out the route while still keeping enough energy for the rest of the day. The walk is listed as easy, but you should still wear proper footwear and prepare for wet conditions if the weather turns.

The short distance is ideal if you want a taste of Madeira’s walking culture but do not want a strenuous trail. It is less suitable if you are booking specifically for a serious hike. You will not spend hours in the forest, and this stop is designed as one part of a wider sightseeing day.

The forest setting also adds a different mood after the open mountain views and village visit. Madeira’s Laurisilva forest is one of the reasons a guide helps. A local driver-guide can keep you on the right path and explain what you are seeing while managing the day’s schedule.

Ponta de São Lourenço in a short final stop

The final listed stop is Ponta de São Lourenço, on Madeira’s eastern peninsula. Its scenery has a more exposed, coastal character than the humid forest and high mountain stops earlier in the day.

You have about 15 minutes here. That is enough for a quick look and photographs, but not enough for the full Ponta de São Lourenço hike. If you have seen photographs of people walking far along the peninsula, remember that this tour does not provide that kind of extended walking time.

I like the contrast it adds to the route. You see high peaks, rural Madeira, inland forest, and the open coast within one outing. The tradeoff is clear: the tour gives you variety, not deep time at every location.

What the jeep ride adds

The 4WD vehicle is more than a theme. It helps the tour reach outdoor places that may be awkward to connect by ordinary public transport, and the off-road sections give the day a little energy. One account praised the clean, comfortable jeep and found the rougher driving exciting while still feeling safe.

You should expect some bumps. This is part of the point, but anyone prone to motion sickness may want to prepare carefully. The tour is shared, so you do not control the route or timing. In exchange, you avoid the stress of mountain-road driving and parking.

The driver-guide is central to the experience. The guide handles the roads, explains the stops, and keeps a multilingual group together. The strongest praise focuses on the guide’s ability to speak English, Portuguese, and German during the same outing. The operator also notes that the guide may speak several languages, so the language mix can vary.

Price, timing, and what you really receive

At $78.10 per person, the price is fair if you want a broad introduction to Madeira in one day. You are paying for roughly 7.5 hours, hotel or accommodation transfers, a driver-guide, the 4WD transport, and required insurance. You also avoid arranging separate transport to mountain, village, forest, and coastal stops.

The value is strongest for a first visit, a short stay, or anyone who does not want to drive Madeira’s steep roads. It is less compelling if you already have a rental car and plan to spend a full day at one specific area.

Budget extra for lunch and personal drinks. The optional meal is €15, and alcoholic drinks are not included. The base price also does not turn the short walks into full hikes, so serious walkers may want a separate trail day.

The tour is free to cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. Because the experience depends on good weather, a cancellation caused by poor conditions brings the choice of another date or a full refund.

Who should book this Madeira day tour

I would recommend it to you if you want variety without transport planning. It suits first-time visitors, cruise passengers using the port pickup, couples, families with older children, and anyone who wants both scenery and a light walk.

It is also a good fit if you want to test your interest in Madeira before committing to a longer levada hike. You get a short forest walk, but the day does not revolve around strenuous exercise.

I would think twice if your priority is a quiet, uncrowded experience or a long stay at each sight. The 20-minute mountain visit, 20-minute distillery stop, and 15-minute coastal stop are efficient but brief. A large possible group also means the day may feel more social and less personal than a private tour.

Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring layers. The summit can be cool, the forest can be damp, and the coast may feel exposed. Since the tour runs in all weather, a light rain layer is a practical choice even when Funchal looks sunny.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. Free pickup in central Funchal is scheduled between 8:45 and 9:00 a.m. Pickup at Funchal’s port is scheduled between 8:40 and 8:50 a.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel or accommodation pickup and drop-off are included. Central Funchal and Funchal port pickup details are provided for the morning departure.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is optional and costs €15 per person, with fish, meat, or vegetarian choices. Food and drinks are not included in the tour price.

How long is the levada walk?

The Referta levada walk lasts about 30 minutes and is described as easy.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

The tour operates in all weather, so you should dress appropriately. If poor weather causes the experience to be canceled, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Can children join the tour?

Most people can participate, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Should you book the Santana Combo Expedition?

Book it if you want one well-filled day that covers Madeira’s mountains, village traditions, inland paths, local rum production, and eastern coast. The combination of hotel transfers, a 4WD ride, and a short levada walk gives you a useful range of experiences for $78.10.

Skip it if you want long hikes, extended time at Ponta de São Lourenço, or a carefully paced private outing. For everyone else, it is a practical first look at the island, with enough adventure to keep the drive interesting and enough structure to remove the usual Madeira transport headaches.