Madeira East Island Tour and Levada Walk

Madeira’s east side packs a remarkable amount into one day: high mountain air at Pico do Arieiro, shaded paths in the Laurissilva forest, old-style Santana cottages, and a rugged coast where the sea seems to drop away beneath you. This is a sightseeing tour with real variety, not eight hours of stopping at lookouts.

I like the small minibus groups, usually around 8 to 14 people, because you get a more personal guide than on a large coach. I also like the route itself. You move from mountains to forest, village, coast, food, and local rum without having to drive Madeira’s steep, winding roads yourself.

The trade-off is time. You see a great deal, but some stops feel brisk, especially if you want long walks or plenty of time for photographs. Weather can also change the route, and the €3 levada entry fee is paid separately. Still, with an average rating of 4.5 from 787 ratings, this is a strong first-day choice for seeing the east.

Key points at a glance

• Pico do Arieiro reaches 1,818 meters: Expect cooler air and dramatic mountain views, but bring a jacket even if Funchal is warm.
• The Balcões levada walk is the day’s best gentle outing: You enter the Laurissilva forest and walk toward a famous viewpoint near Ribeiro Frio.
• Lunch is included on the shared tour: The three-course meal includes drinks, while private tours do not include lunch.
• You see Madeira’s east in several different moods: Mountain, forest, village, northern coast, sugar-cane country, and the São Lourenço area all appear in one route.
• The small group makes a difference: Guides such as Lucy, Carlos, Tony, Marco, and Fernando have been praised for clear explanations, humor, safe driving, and extra viewpoints.
• Cruise passengers need to check timing carefully: Shared cruise pickups meet at the CR7 Museum, while private cruise pickups are available from the harbor.

Why this route works so well in one day

If you have only one full day for Madeira, this tour gives you a useful first look at the island’s eastern half. It is not designed around one major attraction. Instead, it shows how quickly Madeira changes as the road climbs inland and then curls back toward the Atlantic.

You begin with a view above Funchal, then head toward the central mountains. From there, the route drops into forest, crosses the north side of the island, and continues toward Porto da Cruz, Faial, Machico, and the eastern viewpoints. That contrast is the main appeal.

The minibus matters here. Madeira’s roads can be narrow, steep, and full of sharp bends. You can watch the scenery instead of concentrating on traffic, parking, and directions. The air-conditioned vehicle is also a welcome break between stops, although one account noted that the vehicle’s air conditioning was not perfect.

The group size is another plus. With 8 to 14 people, you are not moving a crowd through every stop. Several guides have been singled out by name, including Lucy, Carlos, Tony, Toni, Fernando, Marco, and Luciano. Their approach seems to vary, but the strongest pattern is clear: the best guides add stories about island life, point out fruit and plants beside the road, and adjust the pace when possible.

From Funchal to the high point at Pico do Arieiro

Pickup usually takes place between 8:00 and 9:00, depending on your hotel and location. The exact time is reconfirmed after booking, so do not assume every pickup begins at 8:00. Hotels in Funchal and Caniço are included, and the full day generally returns to Funchal by about 17:00.

The first view is above Funchal. It gives you a quick sense of how the capital sits between the Atlantic and the steep interior. I like this opening because it helps you understand Madeira’s shape before the road carries you higher.

The drive toward Pico do Arieiro takes about 70 minutes according to the planned schedule. This is not dead time. You pass through changing vegetation and mountain country, and a good guide will explain what you are seeing along the way.

At 1,818 meters, Pico do Arieiro is Madeira’s third-highest peak. The scheduled stop lasts about 35 minutes, enough for photographs and a short look around. Clouds can sit below the viewpoint, leaving the peaks and ridges appearing above a white blanket. On another day, mist may limit the view. That is simply mountain weather, not a fault in the tour, but you should keep your expectations flexible.

You will need a jacket here. Funchal may be mild or even warm, yet the summit can feel much colder. Comfortable shoes are sensible for the rest of the day, too.

This is a photo stop rather than a serious mountain hike. If your main goal is a long trail on Pico do Arieiro, you will need a separate walking trip. The benefit here is access without the work of arranging transport to a high, remote starting point.

Ribeiro Frio and the Balcões levada walk

After the mountain stop, the route continues to Ribeiro Frio, one of the most appealing parts of the day. Here, the road enters the Laurissilva forest, Madeira’s famous laurel forest, where the atmosphere changes from open mountain views to shade, moss, and dense greenery.

The walk follows a levada toward Balcões. Levadas are Madeira’s historic water channels, built to carry water across difficult ground. Walking beside one lets you experience the island at a human pace after several hours in a vehicle.

The Balcões route is not presented as a demanding hike, but the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. You should be comfortable walking on a forest path and wearing proper shoes. The path and weather can affect how easy it feels on the day.

Ribeiro Frio also includes a trout farm visit. It is a small stop, but it gives the forest section some local character rather than making it only a viewpoint and photo opportunity. Guides may also point out plants, fruit, and trees along the way. Lucy, in particular, has been praised for bringing the island’s plant life into the tour with simple explanations and personal interest.

The levada walk has an additional entrance cost of €3, paid on the day. This is easy to overlook when comparing prices, so add it to your budget. You do not need to bring special hiking equipment, but comfortable shoes are important.

Santana’s cottages and the northern coast

The tour then reaches Santana, best known for its small, A-framed houses with steep thatched roofs. These cottages are one of Madeira’s most recognizable sights. The stop is scheduled for about 1.5 hours, which is longer than many of the quick photo stops.

You have time to see the houses, look around, and eat regional food. Do not expect a completely untouched village scene. Many of the traditional cottages around the main visitor area now serve as shops or tourist displays. Even so, the stop helps explain the island’s older building style and gives you a break from the minibus.

Lunch is included on the shared tour and consists of three courses with drinks. The meal is taken in the northern part of the island, and the food has generally been considered a strong part of the day. The exact restaurant and setting can change. One former lunch location at Grutas do Faial was no longer being used, so you should not book expecting a meal inside a cave.

That is worth noting because the setting may be part of your expectations. The meal itself remains useful: it gives you a proper pause in the middle of a long route rather than asking you to rely on snacks between viewpoints.

Private tours work differently. Lunch is not included in the private-tour price, so confirm the plan and cost before booking. Shared tours offer the simpler value calculation, especially if you want transport, guide service, and food bundled together.

Faial Skywalk and views across the east

After Santana, the minibus follows the northern coastal road toward Faial. The Miradouro do Guindaste, or Guindaste viewpoint, is scheduled as a 15-minute photo stop. The viewing platform, often called the Faial Skywalk, puts you above the coast for broad views along Madeira’s northeastern shore.

This is a quick stop, so have your camera ready when you arrive. The point is not to spend an hour walking around. It is to step out, look across the cliffs and ocean, and understand the scale of the coast before getting back on the road.

The route continues to Porto da Cruz, with about 35 minutes for a visit, photographs, and a drink or tasting. Porto da Cruz is linked to Madeira’s sugar-cane tradition, and the tour includes free rum tasting at a rum factory. This is a pleasant local touch, particularly if you want to try a small island product rather than spend the whole day at scenic overlooks.

You do not have to turn the tasting into a buying stop. Treat it as a short introduction to Madeira’s sugar-cane spirits. If you do not drink alcohol, the visit still gives you time to see another part of the island’s working culture, though the supplied details do not specify a separate non-alcoholic tasting.

Caniçal, São Lourenço, and the return toward Funchal

The final section carries you farther east, with views toward Caniçal and the São Lourenço area. These eastern points have a drier, more exposed appearance than the forested interior. That change is one of the most interesting visual lessons of the tour.

On a clear day, you may see the Desertas Islands and Porto Santo, Madeira’s nearby island neighbor. The wording matters: these distant islands depend on visibility. Haze, cloud, or coastal weather can erase them completely.

The schedule includes a final visit and photo stop of about 25 minutes, followed by a scenic drive back toward Funchal. The tour ends at the meeting point, with listed drop-off locations in Funchal, including Caminho do Lombo Segundo 6.

The day can feel full by this stage. That is the price of covering so much ground. One guide may add an extra viewpoint or stop, while another may keep closely to the schedule. Some visitors have found the day slightly rushed, but also felt that the pace was what made such a wide route possible.

Is the $63 price good value?

At $63 per person, the shared tour offers good value if you want a ready-made day of transport, guiding, lunch, and tastings. You would otherwise need to arrange a rental car, fuel, parking, meals, and a route that includes high mountain roads and scattered coastal stops.

The strongest value comes from the combination. A mountain viewpoint alone would not justify the price for me. Add the Ribeiro Frio walk, Santana, lunch, Faial, Porto da Cruz, rum tasting, and eastern viewpoints, and the cost begins to look sensible.

Remember the small extras. The levada walk costs €3, and private tours do not include lunch. Santa Cruz pickup has an added fee. The supplied details list different Santa Cruz amounts in different places, so confirm the exact charge before paying. Private cruise pickup is free, while shared cruise passengers meet at the CR7 Museum.

The tour allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and offers reserve-now, pay-later booking. Those terms are helpful when your Madeira plans depend on weather or cruise timing.

Who should choose this Madeira tour?

I would choose it if you are visiting Madeira for the first time, have limited time, or do not want to drive. It suits you especially well if you prefer many scenic stops, short walks, local food, and guide commentary over one long hike.

It is also a sensible cruise excursion if your ship arrives by 8:00 or earlier and departs at 17:00 or later. Confirm the timing carefully because pickup may be between 8:30 and 9:00, and the tour needs to return before departure.

I would not choose it if you want a slow day. You will spend substantial time in the minibus, and the stops are shaped by a fixed route. It is also a poor fit if you have mobility limits or want a strenuous mountain walk.

The guide can make a real difference. Lucy has been praised for her energy, plant knowledge, and willingness to add viewpoints. Carlos is noted for safe driving, humor, and care with a multilingual group. Tony and Toni are also praised for clear information and a friendly manner, while Marco has offered flexible pacing on private tours. Guide assignments can change, so book for the route rather than expecting one particular person.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the best broad introduction to eastern Madeira in one day. You will see high peaks, laurel forest, levadas, traditional houses, coastal cliffs, sugar-cane country, and distant islands without handling the driving.

Skip it if you want long, quiet time at each place or a serious hike. For most first-time visitors, though, the mix is hard to beat for the price. Bring a jacket, wear comfortable shoes, keep a little time in hand for weather changes, and budget the extra €3 for the levada walk.

FAQ

How long does the Madeira East Island Tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours. Pickup begins between 8:00 and 9:00, depending on your location, and return to Funchal is expected around 17:00.

Where is pickup available?

Pickup is available from hotels in Funchal and Caniço. Private tours can pick up cruise passengers at the harbor. Shared cruise passengers must meet at the CR7 Museum.

Is lunch included?

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

Is the levada walk included in the price?

The walk is part of the tour, but it has an additional entrance fee of €3, paid on the day.

What languages are available?

The excursion is offered with a qualified guide speaking English, French, German, Portuguese, or Spanish.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and a jacket. The high areas, especially Pico do Arieiro, can be cold even when Funchal is warm.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, partly because of the levada walk and the varied terrain at the stops.