MADEIRA · PORTO MONIZ NATURAL POOLS TOURS
The pools at Porto Moniz are lava basins that the Atlantic refills at every tide, at the far north-west corner of the island. These 15 cover the crossing, what else the day picks up on the way, and how long you actually get in the water.
Spend eight hours crossing Madeira’s west in an open-roof Land Rover, from Cabo Girão and Seixal to Porto Moniz, Fanal Forest, and Paúl da Serra. You’ll have time to swim in volcanic pools and ride an off-road trail. Guides may include Victor, Gil, Tony, or Miguel.
“amazing trip, our tour guide gil was brilliant and made our trip so good, highly recommend”
Travel from Funchal in a small open-roof 4X4 with a local guide such as Miguel, Graham, José, or Robert. See Porto Moniz, Seixal, Fanal Forest, São Vicente, and Cabo Girão, with time for swimming, views, and an optional lunch. Expect mountain roads, forest tracks, and a lively full-day ride.
“This is a fantastic tour. Highly recommend to everyone. Great communication with company and Miguel was a great tour guide.”
Spend about seven hours exploring western Madeira in an open Jeep with a local guide. Visit Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, Fanal, Porto Moniz, Seixal, and Véu da Noiva. Guides such as Ernesto, Pedro, Tyrees, and Miguel are praised for safe driving, humor, and island knowledge.
“What a brilliant trip. Highly recommend. Tyrees was a fantastic guide. Really enjoyed everything. Made a Welsh couple feels at home.”
Spend about eight hours touring western Madeira in a small 4x4 group of up to eight people. Guides such as Justino and Jake combine major sights with narrow mountain roads, off-road shortcuts, swimming stops, Porto Moniz, Seixal, Fanal Forest, and Madeira wine tasting.
“Amazing experience with a fantastic guide, in a powerful reliable Land Rover 4x4. You get to visit the stunning west and north Madeira with quite a few adrenaline rushes going off road . Highly recommended!!!”
Spend eight hours seeing Madeira’s west coast in a small jeep group of up to eight. Your guide takes you from Funchal to Cabo Girão, Seixal, Porto Moniz, and Paul da Serra, mixing ocean views, village stops, off-road tracks, and time for a swim.
“A fun day out and a good way to see more of the island. Our guide Gabrielle was a very good driver. Thanks Gabriel from Nigel, Ann and Jamie (30).”
Join a small group of up to eight for a seven-hour west Madeira tour with hotel pickup in Funchal. Guide Dino or another local driver-guide may lead you through Ribeira Brava, Fanal Forest, Porto Moniz, Cabo Girão, and Ribeira da Janela. Swimming, lunch, and some entry fees cost extra.
“This was a brilliant trip. Alberto was a wonderful host, a fountain of knowledge and an excellent driver. The stops on the tour were fantastic, and the time at the lava pools was truly special, I'll treasure that experience forever. Also the stop at Fanal Forest was truly amazing. I would highly recommend taking this tour! Great way to cover the west of the island. Great to sit back and relax and enjoy the scenery.”
Spend eight hours in a small Land Rover group exploring Madeira with guides such as Justino, Felipe, or Patricia. Expect steep mountain roads, off-road tracks, Cabo Girão’s skywalk, Fanal Forest, Porto Moniz pools, a black-sand beach, and a stop for wine or poncha.
“Excellent day. Our guide was amazing - friendly, professional and fun! Never felt rushed, despite visiting so many locations and the drive between each stop was all part of the great experience.”
Ride from Funchal in a small 4x4 group of up to eight, stopping at Seixal Beach, Porto Moniz, Poças das Lesmas, Fanal Forest, Paul da Serra, and Cabo Girão. Expect steep roads, off-road driving, local food, and guides such as Diogo, Andre, Romero, or Tony.
“Mauriso was very nice. Stopping at good places for pictures. It was a rainy day so some places were closed, but we had a great time anyway. We met some great people and we had fun together!”
Spend eight hours exploring Madeira with a guide such as Ricardo, João, or Nuno. Travel in a small group of up to seven through Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, Seixal, Porto Moniz, Fanal Forest, and Paul da Serra, with off-road tracks, photo stops, local stories, and time to swim.
“The Tour was amazing. We saw many different places, some famous sightseeing spots but also some hidden treasures. Our guide Joao was very knowledgable and had many stories to tell. And most importantly he made the trip a fun adventure.”
At Aquário da Madeira in Porto Moniz, you learn scuba skills with instructor Abílio, practice in a natural ocean pool, then enter the main tank beside sharks, rays, and mantas. A guided aquarium and technical-zone tour is included. Groups are limited to four.
“Abilio Sousa was outstanding!He’s playfully genuine, extremely knowledgeable and highly trustworthy in his scuba diving craft. His knowledge about Madeira, the aquatic plants and animals is top notch and rich with history. He provided a lively, focused and exceptionally rewarding first ever scuba diving experience for my family (myself, daughter and grandma) to enjoy and remember. Abilio went above and beyond to ensure our experience felt safe, comfortable and fun. We highly recommend him to any individual or family (even if you’re a bit frightened) !!!”
Spend 7 to 8 hours exploring Madeira in a private open-top Jeep for up to five people. Your guide can shape the day around Santana, Porto Moniz, São Vicente Caves, volcanic pools, forests, villages, viewpoints, and local food stops. Guides may include Tiago, Diego, Tobias, Edgar, Nico, or Ricardo.
“This tour was really seeing and feeling Portugal! Edgar, our guide, absolutely made the trip! He was as enthusiastic as we were as first timers even though he knew every step of the way like his own hand. We felt safe and in great hands even on some pretty steep climbs.”
Spend eight hours with a local guide such as Richard exploring Madeira’s west in a group of up to eight. Ride the steep Achadas da Cruz cable car, swim at Porto Moniz, see Seixal’s black sand, walk Fanal Forest, and finish with poncha and coffee.
“This was the best last minute decision I’ve made so far. The day trip was amazing. It started out slowly with a typical coffee in a small town and some interesting information about the island and its culture and history. Afterwards we went to a lot of lovely places. Some of them far away from the more touristy areas. I won’t spoil too much but I could’ve spend the whole day just watching the waves in Achada da Cruz…such a stunning place. Seixal and Fanal was also a highlight. Finally, we finished the day with the best Poncha to be had on the island. Richard was a great guide. This…”
Join a local guide such as Rui, Mauricio, or Diogo for an eight-hour 4x4 tour from Funchal. Swim in Porto Moniz’s volcanic pools, walk through misty Fanal Forest, visit São Vicente, and look down from Cabo Girão’s glass platform.
“Lovely guide and a good trip to see the west coat. I would recommend this tour. You see a lott and have enough time to get out the car and make some pictures”
Spend about eight hours touring Madeira’s northwest in a 4x4 with an English-speaking driver-guide. You’ll visit Serra de Água, Encumeada, Fanal Forest, Ribeira da Janela, Porto Moniz, Seixal, and volcanic pools, with pickup from Funchal or Caniço included.
“You really need to do this! The tour was save and fun with lots of great views. Also swimming in the volcanic pools was awesome.”
Join a small group of up to eight for a full-day 4x4 tour from Funchal or Caniço. Your guide takes you over Madeira’s high plateau, to Ponta do Sol, a Paul da Serra levada walk, Porto Moniz’s natural pools, and a northern fishing village. Ricardo is one named guide.
“Foi um dia inesquecível e aventureiro. Ricardo foi um grande guia. Só o podemos recomendar. Muito obrigado!”
Pick a coast, a ridge or a cellar.
