REVIEW · MADEIRA
Madeira : East Tour – Santana North Side
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Eight hours, five big Madeira moments. This east-side route strings together high viewpoints, a real forest stop, and north-coast cliff views in a tight day that still feels like you’re seeing the island rather than driving past it.
I especially like the stop at Pico do Areeiro for the high-mountain perspective, and then Santana’s famous thatched houses for a change of pace and scenery. One consideration: this is a rain-or-shine day with walking that can be uneven, so if you’re sensitive to slopes or don’t want to move much on foot, plan carefully.
In This Review
- Key things I’d zero in on
- Price and what you’re actually buying for around $41
- Camacha first: where Madeira’s football story starts
- Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 meters: the view stop that drives the whole day
- Ribeiro Frio Forest Park: trout nurseries and Laurissilva details
- Faial to Santana: the north-side transition
- Porto da Cruz and the sugar cane rum factor
- Ponta do Rosto at Ponta de São Lourenço: cliffs, wind, and big edges
- Pico do Facho and the Machico valley on the way back
- The guide and group vibe: why the small group matters
- Weather, walking, and who should think twice
- Tips to get the most out of the day
- Should you book this Madeira east tour?
Key things I’d zero in on
- Pico do Areeiro (1,818 m) for wide views over the island’s central mountains
- Ribeiro Frio Forest Park with trout nurseries and Laurissilva forest details like the laurel tree
- Santana’s thatched houses in the north’s only town
- Porto da Cruz for a sea-side break and a sugar cane rum factory visit
- Ponta do Rosto at Ponta de São Lourenço for dramatic north-coast cliff sightlines
- Small group up to 15 means you’re not stuck waiting behind a huge bus crowd
Price and what you’re actually buying for around $41
At about $41 per person for an 8-hour outing, this tour can be good value if you like structure. You get hotel pickup and drop-off, a live guide in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and a small group capped at 15, which usually keeps the pace realistic.
The trade-off is what’s not included: food and drinks. So to make the day feel smooth, I’d treat this as a sightseeing day and plan snacks/water on your own.
Also, expect the day to run rain or shine. Madeira’s weather can change fast, and this route includes exposed viewpoints and forest walks, so your comfort will depend on what you pack.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Madeira.
Camacha first: where Madeira’s football story starts
The day kicks off in the parish of Camacha. This isn’t a random start point; it’s where football was played for the first time in Portugal. It’s a quick historical note, but it adds a human angle early, before you head upward into the island’s big natural scenes.
Why I like starting here: it breaks the usual pattern of starting at the first viewpoint. It also helps you think of Madeira as a living place with culture, not just scenery.
Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 meters: the view stop that drives the whole day
Next comes Pico do Areeiro, the island’s third highest peak at 1,818 meters. The payoff here is that you look across the island’s central mountainous massif rather than just seeing one single valley. On a clear day, that height makes everything feel bigger.
The main thing to consider is weather. A high peak means you can get fog, mist, or colder air even when lower areas feel warm. Bring layers and expect that conditions can change quickly. This is one of those stops where you’ll feel glad you listened to the rain-or-shine rule.
If you enjoy panoramic viewpoints and don’t mind a bit of walking for the best angles, Pico do Areeiro is one of the most satisfying moments on the itinerary.
Ribeiro Frio Forest Park: trout nurseries and Laurissilva details
After the heights, the tour shifts down toward Ribeiro Frio Forest Park, and that’s where the experience gets more grounded. You can visit the trout nurseries, which is a surprisingly interesting contrast to all the mountain drama you just saw.
Then comes the living detail: the Laurissilva forest. You’re encouraged to observe endemic species, including the laurel tree (Laurus novocanariensis). Even if you’re not a plant nerd, learning a few names helps you look longer instead of just taking a quick photo and moving on.
Why this stop matters for you: the tour isn’t only built around viewpoints. It gives you at least one “slow down” portion where the island’s unique ecosystem is part of the experience. That makes the day feel more complete.
Faial to Santana: the north-side transition
From Ribeiro Frio, you continue through the parish of Faial and head toward Santana on the north of the island. This is the kind of drive where you can start noticing how the island’s character changes by direction—more rugged, cooler in feel, and less “resort central” as you move toward the north side.
In Santana, the highlight is its famous thatched houses. This is the point where the tour shifts from nature and ecosystem to architecture and local identity.
If you love destinations where the houses actually look different from what you’re used to, Santana is a strong match. It’s not just pretty buildings; it’s a distinct way of life you can read in the design.
Porto da Cruz and the sugar cane rum factor
On the return trip, the route heads down toward Porto da Cruz, a sea-side parish. This is a nice reset after the higher altitude stops because you get the sound and feel of the coast again.
You’ll also have the chance to visit a sugar cane rum factory. If you like connecting food and drink to place, this kind of stop is worth it, because you’re not just buying a product—you’re seeing the industrial side of what grows on the island.
Practical note: this is one of those tours where timing matters. If you’re hoping for a long sit-down meal, this isn’t built for that. It’s built for short, meaningful stops.
Ponta do Rosto at Ponta de São Lourenço: cliffs, wind, and big edges
The tour continues to the Miradouro da Ponta do Rosto in Ponta de São Lourenço, the eastern end of the island. The viewpoint is famous for sweeping views over the cliffs of the north coast, and it’s a strong ending because it ties together what you’ve seen all day: height, rugged terrain, and raw coast.
This stop can be windy and exposed. Even on a day that seems mild in town, you may feel cooler at the viewpoint. I’d dress for the air, not for the forecast you checked back home.
If you want one last moment that feels cinematic, this is it.
Pico do Facho and the Machico valley on the way back
Before returning to Funchal, the route passes the Pico do Facho viewpoint. From here you get views over the Machico valley.
This doesn’t have the same “grand finale” intensity as Ponta do Rosto, but it’s a good way to close the loop. You finish with a view of the island’s shape and movement—valley to coast, mountains to settlement—so the day lands with context rather than ending abruptly.
The guide and group vibe: why the small group matters
This is a small-group tour limited to 15 participants, and that number really changes the day. With fewer people, you spend less time waiting and more time actually looking and asking questions.
The quality of the people leading the trip is also a big part of the experience. Multiple accounts highlight friendly, helpful guidance, including praise for a guide named Heinz for explaining things well. That matters because this itinerary has several stops where a little context helps you spot what’s special.
One caution: on at least one day, there was a negative note about the guide being very pushy with an add-on massage offer during the hotel drop-off. That doesn’t sound like a dealbreaker for most people, but if you dislike any sales pressure, you may want to politely hold your boundary early.
Weather, walking, and who should think twice
The tour runs rain or shine, and it includes viewpoints and natural areas. I wouldn’t treat this as a “sit the whole time” excursion. You should be comfortable with some outdoor walking and changing ground surfaces.
It’s also not suitable for people with mobility impairments and not suitable for pregnant women, based on how the day is set up.
If you’re traveling with someone who gets uncomfortable on uneven terrain or can’t handle long periods outdoors, the tour may feel stressful rather than fun.
Tips to get the most out of the day
- Dress in layers for the peaks and viewpoints, especially since conditions can shift quickly.
- Bring your own snacks and water, since food and drinks aren’t included.
- Keep your camera ready for viewpoints, but also take time to listen at stops like Ribeiro Frio where names (like laurel tree varieties) make it easier to understand what you’re seeing.
- If you want a smoother experience at the end of the day, be prepared for potential add-on offers when you return.
Should you book this Madeira east tour?
Book it if you want a day that hits big variety: high elevation viewpoints, a forest ecosystem stop with real details, Santana thatched houses, a rum-factory flavor stop, and a final north-coast cliff view. The small-group cap and hotel pickup also make it feel efficient without being hectic.
I wouldn’t book it if you strongly prefer minimal walking, if rain makes you miserable, or if you need a tour that’s easier on mobility.
If you’re the type who likes seeing several distinct sides of Madeira in one go and you pack for changing weather, this one is a solid choice.
