Around The Island – Two Days Tour From 9am To 5pm (Each Day)

Madeira rewards a good road trip. This two-day tour links dramatic cliffs, mountain peaks, fishing villages, and volcanic swimming pools without asking you to master the island’s steep roads. I like the wide range of scenery and the relaxed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. I also like the small group size, capped at 16 people, which gives guides room to explain the island and answer questions.

The main tradeoff is time. You see a great deal, but some stops last only 20 or 30 minutes. The mountain roads also twist sharply, so sit near the front if you get carsick, bring layers for changing temperatures, and pack a swimsuit for Porto Moniz.

Key points to know before booking

• Two full days cover Madeira’s west and east: The route takes you from Cabo Girão and Porto Moniz to Santana, Ribeiro Frio, and Pico do Arieiro.
• Porto Moniz allows the most free time: You get roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes for lunch and a look around, with swimming possible in suitable weather.
• The group is limited to 16 people: That is small enough for a more personal feel than a large coach tour.
• Guides are a major strength: Lionel, Renato, Gloria, Paulo, Luís, and others receive repeated praise for clear explanations, humor, and safe driving.
• Mountain weather can change fast: Pico do Arieiro and the high plateau may be cloudy even when Funchal is sunny.
• Pickup is limited to certain areas: Funchal and the main tourist zone are covered, with some pickup in Caniço de Baixo and Garajau for at least two people.

Why two days make sense on Madeira

Madeira looks compact on a map, but its mountains, tunnels, old roads, and steep coast make island sightseeing slower than you might expect. Trying to see the western and eastern highlights in one long day would turn the outing into a blur of van windows and rushed photographs.

This tour splits the island into two long days, each running from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. That gives you time to stop, hear some local context, and step away from the vehicle at viewpoints and villages. You will not hike major trails or spend hours in one town. This is a sightseeing tour designed to help you understand Madeira’s shape, culture, and main attractions.

The price is $72.56 per person for both days, which is strong value if you are not renting a car. It includes transport, pickup where available, and guiding. Most stops are free, though admission to the Cabo Girão glass platform is not included. Lunch is also your responsibility, and the longer lunch breaks give you time to choose your own meal.

Day one: Cabo Girão to Câmara de Lobos

Cabo Girão, a high glass viewpoint

The first stop reaches one of Madeira’s most dramatic viewpoints. Cabo Girão rises about 580 meters above the sea, and its glass balcony gives you a direct look down the cliff face and across the coast.

You get about 30 minutes here. That is enough to take in the view and photograph the platform, but it may feel short if the weather is clear and you want time at the viewpoint. Admission is not included, so allow for that extra cost.

This is a strong opening stop because it immediately shows why Madeira’s roads and towns are built in such unusual places. The cliffs are not a gentle backdrop. They shape nearly every part of island life.

Ribeira Brava and its old church

The route then follows the coast to Ribeira Brava, a pleasant village where you can visit a church dating from the 15th century. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and admission is free.

This is less about ticking off a grand attraction and more about seeing a real Madeiran settlement. The church adds a little historical context, while the coastal setting gives you a chance to stretch your legs after the first mountain and highway sections.

Madalena do Mar banana plantations

At Madalena do Mar, you spend about 25 minutes walking through or viewing the banana-growing area. Madeira’s warm southern coast supports banana cultivation, and the thick green plantations offer a different kind of scenery from the bare cliffs and high peaks.

Keep your expectations in check. This is a brief agricultural stop, not a farm visit with a long demonstration or tasting. Some people find it interesting as a glimpse of everyday island production, while others may find it less memorable than the viewpoints.

Fonte do Bispo and the high plateau

The van climbs to the Paúl da Serra area, at roughly 1,300 to 1,500 meters. At Fonte do Bispo, you get about 20 minutes to look across the high country and hear about the levadas, Madeira’s famous water channels and walking routes.

The change in temperature can be striking. You may leave the coast in warm sunshine and find cool air, mist, or strong wind at altitude. Pack a light jacket even in summer.

The Paúl da Serra stop also adds useful geographic context. Madeira is not only cliffs and ocean. Its interior has a broad, open high area, while the levadas carry water through forests and valleys. The tour does not turn into a levada walk here, so you should not expect a proper hiking session.

Porto Moniz and the volcanic pools

Porto Moniz is the longest stop of the first day, with about 1 hour and 45 minutes for lunch and free time. The town is best known for natural pools formed by volcanic rock, where seawater collects along the shore.

If the weather is good, you can swim, so bring a swimsuit and perhaps a small towel. The tour details do not promise swimming conditions, and the sea, wind, or pool access may affect what is practical on the day.

I like the amount of time here. You can eat, see the pools, and enjoy the coastal setting without having to choose only one. Still, the break is shared between lunch and sightseeing, so a slow restaurant meal could reduce your time by the water.

This is one of the places where the tour’s value becomes clear. Getting to Porto Moniz independently takes planning, especially if you want to combine it with the north coast and mountain plateau. Here, the transport is handled and you can focus on the scenery.

Véu da Noiva and the Seixal coast

After Porto Moniz, the route makes a short stop near Seixal, with about 20 minutes at the viewpoint associated with Véu da Noiva waterfall. Water drops down the cliff toward the sea, creating one of the north coast’s most recognizable views.

The drive itself is part of the appeal. Waterfalls appear along the steep rock faces, and the road reveals how sharply the island rises from the Atlantic. You will want your camera ready, although changing weather can affect visibility.

São Vicente, a quiet northern village

São Vicente receives about 30 minutes. You can visit a beautiful church dating from the 17th century and get a brief look at the village before the return journey.

This stop gives the first day a calmer finish. After the cliffs, pools, and waterfalls, São Vicente offers a small-town pause. It is not a long independent visit, but it helps show the different character of Madeira’s northern coast.

Câmara de Lobos and Churchill’s view

The final stop is Câmara de Lobos, only about 5 kilometers from Funchal. This fishing village is famous for its harbor and for having been a favorite painting place of Winston Churchill.

You get around 30 minutes here. The stop is short, but the village works well as an easy final glimpse of Madeira’s fishing traditions before returning to the city. The setting is more intimate than the high viewpoints, and it gives you a chance to see boats, waterfront buildings, and the local coastal character.

Day two: Garajau to Pico do Arieiro

Cristo Rei in Garajau

The second day begins at the Cristo Rei statue in Garajau, an important monument on Madeira’s east coast. The viewpoint is known for its unusual position and broad views over the Atlantic.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes and costs nothing. It is a gentle start before the route moves farther east. You can take photographs and get your bearings without needing a hike.

Machico and Madeira’s early settlement

Machico is the island’s second most populous city and an important historical place. It served as Madeira’s first capital from 1440 to 1496, before Funchal took that role in 1508. The first settlers arrived here in 1420.

The stop is only about 20 minutes, so think of it as a quick introduction rather than a full city visit. The value comes from the guide’s explanation of how Madeira developed, not from a long list of buildings or museums.

Ponta do Rosto and the eastern tip

At Ponta do Rosto, you look toward Ponta de São Lourenço, Madeira’s easternmost point. This area is a nature reserve with broad Atlantic views and striking rock formations.

The scenery here differs sharply from the wetter, greener north and west. The eastern tip is more exposed and rugged, with open ocean and sculpted volcanic rock. You get about 30 minutes, enough for photographs and a short look around, but not enough for the full Ponta de São Lourenço hike.

That distinction matters. This is a sightseeing stop, not a walking tour. If hiking the eastern peninsula is a major goal, you would need a separate day.

Porto da Cruz and the rum distillery

Porto da Cruz is a small northeastern village with a working reminder of Madeira’s sugar-cane past. Engenhos do Norte is an old rum distillery with original steam machinery, maintained by former workers and open for free visits.

You get about 30 minutes here. The distillery adds substance to the day because it connects the island’s scenery with its industry. You are not simply looking at cliffs and ocean. You are also seeing how sugar cane shaped local work and production.

The short timing means the visit may be more of a quick look than a full tour of the factory. Still, it is one of the more distinctive stops on the route.

Santana’s thatched houses and lunch break

Santana is the main break on day two, with about 1 hour and 30 minutes for lunch and free time. The town is known for its colorful triangular houses with thatched roofs, a building style that dates back to the 16th century.

The houses are now a popular attraction, but the stop offers more than a photograph. Santana is presented as one of the best places to get a sense of northern Madeiran culture and village life. The surrounding views are also among the more appealing parts of the eastern route.

You will need to budget the time sensibly. Eat first or explore first, depending on what matters more to you. As with Porto Moniz, the lunch break is useful but can feel long if you would rather have more time at the viewpoints.

Ribeiro Frio and the Laurissilva forest

Ribeiro Frio sits in a deep northern valley surrounded by mountains. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and includes the chance to see trout pools and short nature paths.

The area is associated with Madeira’s Laurissilva forest, where laurel trees and native birds such as the Madeira pigeon, chaffinch, and bis-bis can be found. The bis-bis is described as Madeira’s smallest bird.

You may find this stop especially appealing if you like plants, birds, and cooler wooded settings. It is not a long forest walk, so comfortable shoes are still useful but hiking equipment is unnecessary for the planned visit.

Pico do Arieiro at 1,818 meters

The final major stop reaches Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s third-highest peak at 1,818 meters. On a clear day, you may see the southern coast, Curral das Freiras, and even Porto Santo. Clouds often hover around the rock formations, creating a view that can change by the minute.

Weather is the great unknown here. A cloudy summit is not a failure of the tour, but it can change the feel of the day. Bring extra clothing, since temperatures at the top can be much lower than in Funchal.

The route also passes the Poço da Neve, a stone structure similar to an igloo that was built to store mountain ice, snow, and hail. An air defense radar was installed at the summit in 2011, and the peak is also known for trails toward Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo.

You will not complete those famous hikes during this 30-minute stop. Instead, you get a scenic introduction and the chance to understand where longer mountain walks begin.

Guides, vehicles, and the pace of the days

The guiding is one of the tour’s strongest features. Lionel is repeatedly praised for his humor, clear explanations, and ability to keep a group involved. Renato is also singled out for entertaining commentary and attentive care, while Gloria, Paulo, Luís, and other guides receive warm comments for their friendliness and driving.

You may have a different guide on each day. That can be a benefit because each guide brings a different style, but the quality of the explanation may vary. One guide was described as new and nervous, so do not expect identical commentary on both days.

The vehicles use winding Madeira roads, including older, challenging sections. If you are prone to motion sickness, ask for a front seat when possible and avoid arriving with an empty stomach. One unfortunate experience involved a tall passenger who was uncomfortable in the back and later had difficulty continuing after feeling ill. It is sensible to carry your own motion-sickness supplies and a small bag.

The tour is not built around long walks. You normally get out, look around, take photos, and return to the van. That makes it suitable for most people, including solo visitors who do not want to rent a car, but it will not satisfy anyone seeking a serious hiking program.

Pickup, weather, and practical planning

Pickup is offered in Funchal city center and the main tourist area. Hotels in Caniço de Baixo and Garajau can be included when at least two people are taking the tour. If you stay outside those zones, you will be directed to a meeting point in Funchal.

The start time is 9 a.m., and each day runs to about 5 p.m. The order of stops can change, so keep your plans flexible and do not arrange a tight evening commitment immediately afterward.

Madeira’s weather is famously changeable, especially between the coast and the mountains. Wear layers, carry sun protection, and bring a swimsuit on the west day. You may also want binoculars for the coast and mountain views.

Cabo Girão is the only listed stop with an admission charge. The other attractions are free, but you still need to pay for lunch. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will get the most from this tour?

I would choose this tour if you have only a few days in Madeira and want a solid first look beyond Funchal. It is also a smart option if you do not drive, dislike planning complex routes, or want a guide to explain the island’s history, agriculture, churches, and natural features as you go.

Solo visitors can benefit from the shared transport and easy social setting. Couples and families may appreciate having the driving handled, though young children or anyone needing long breaks should remember that the schedule includes many stops and winding roads.

I would look elsewhere if your main goal is Fanal Forest, a full levada walk, or the complete Pico Ruivo route. Fanal is not part of this two-day route, and the mountain stops are short sightseeing visits rather than hikes.

Should you book the two-day island tour?

Yes, if you want a practical overview at a fair price. For $72.56 per person, you get two full sightseeing days, transport, pickup in selected areas, and access to a wide mix of Madeira’s best-known scenery. The guides add real value, especially when they explain what you are seeing instead of simply pointing at it.

Book with realistic expectations. You will spend plenty of time in the vehicle, lunch breaks take a substantial part of each day, and weather may hide the highest views. But if you prepare for winding roads, bring layers and swimwear, and accept that this is sightseeing rather than hiking, the tour is an efficient and enjoyable way to get acquainted with Madeira.

FAQ

How long does the tour last each day?

Each day runs from approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How much does the two-day tour cost?

The listed price is $72.56 per person.

Is pickup available from my accommodation?

Pickup is available from Funchal city center and the main tourist area. Pickup is also available from hotels in Caniço de Baixo and Garajau when at least two people are participating.

What happens if my accommodation is outside the pickup area?

You will be directed to the nearest meeting point in Funchal.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 16 travelers.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not listed as included. The tour allows about 1 hour and 45 minutes for lunch and free time in Porto Moniz, and about 1 hour and 30 minutes in Santana.

Can I swim during the tour?

Swimming may be possible at the volcanic pools in Porto Moniz when the weather is suitable. Bring a swimsuit if you want to take that opportunity.

Are entrance fees included?

Most listed stops are free. Admission to the Cabo Girão viewpoint is not included.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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