East Madeira Tour with Pico do Arieiro and Santana

Overview

Embark on a comprehensive exploration of eastern Madeira on a 7-hour shared excursion. Starting from your hotel, the tour takes you through eucalyptus and mimosa forests to reach Pico do Arieiro, peaking at 1,800 m (5,906 ft). The itinerary includes a stop at Ribeiro Frio to see the trout hatchery and an optional 45-minute easy, flat walk through the forest. You will then visit the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Santana, where a visit to a traditional thatched-roof house is included. A lunch break is scheduled in this village (meals not included). The journey continues through sugarcane villages with a tasting of rum biscuits, followed by a visit to Machico, where the first Portuguese settlers arrived in the 15th century. The day concludes with the striking rock formations of Ponta de São Lourenço, the island's easternmost point, before returning to your accommodation.

Itinerary

1. Belvédère Du Terreiro Da Luta

   Terreiro da Luta - above 700m from monte A visit to the is highly recommended, overlooking the capital of Funchal course, but also for the importance of the historical landmark in this space. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peace, the largest monument on the island, measuring five meters in height. This statue was a promise made to the locals carried out as part of the promise made to the Madeirans during the bombings carried out by German submarines on Funchal, in 1917. Crafted in marble, in honor of Nossa Senhora do Monte is part of the emotional heritage of the people of the island. Around the statue, you will find the biggest rosary beads in the world, bringing many people to pray for peace. At this stop there is also a coffee shop and rest rooms paid for.

   · 15 min

2. Pico do Arieiro

   After driving through the national park, flowers growing wild on the side of the roads, the black forest with the tall christmas pines brings us to the famous, skywalk to heaven. One of the islands most popular walks bringing visitors from all over the world. Pico Arieiro. At 1818 meters above sea level, the third highest point on the island of Madeira. From this elevated location, the view from all sides of Madeira, from Funchal, down to the nuns valley, To the western side, Ponta de São Lourenço, Porto Santo island, and the deserted islands the unique grandeur of the Madeiran Mountain Massif, with the Atlantic Ocean in the background. When weather permits, beautiful photos can be taken of the beautiful colours and rock formations, overlaping one another. At this stop there are also restaurantes and rest rooms also paid for.

   · 40 min

3. Balcoes de Ribeiro Frio

   Descending from the mountain, into the green rainforest (laurissilva)of ribeiro frio (cold river), springs, waterfalls, along the river bed covered by intense endemic vegetation, protected by unesco, world heritge, this ecosystem allows the observation of bird life such as the bis-bis/Firecrest (Regulus madeirensis), the chaffinch (Fringila coelebs madeirensis) or, more rarely, the long toed pigeon (Columba Trocaz) the Ribeiro Frio Aquaculture Station, whose rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, repopulate the island's waterways. While you're visiting this forest park, you can enjoy some walking trails such as the Balcões, short easy walk of 45 minutes along the waterchanel (levada)into an amazing viewpoint, with a mountain view, riverbed of Faial village, the sea and the eagles rock muntain, that serves as a bridge to separate the two villages; Faial and Porto da Cruz. (Please note the walk of 45 minutes is not compulsory). Please book walk Pr11 Balcões through simplifica slot 11h00.

   · 50 min

4. Miradouro do guindaste

   Guindaste Viewpoint, along the old roads or Faial, enjoying the green scenery of all the vegetation, steep slopes of agriculture terraces, where the vegetables and fruits, wine and sugarcane cover every piece of land. Between Faial and Santana. Guindaste the unmissable beauty of its surroundings, marked by the harmony between the verdant mountains, the imposing cliffs that mark the coastal geology and the clear sea waters. Pebble beach of Foz da Ribeira do Faial and the peculiar geological structure that lies beside it. A prismatic, or columnar, disjunction resulting from lava flows. This viewpoint also allows you to look at the north coast of Madeira, which forms a queeue from Faial to Ponta de São Lourenço, Eagles Rock. On a good day , it is also possible to see the island of Porto Santo. The glass bridges show you further down into the sea. Considered to be the romantic point of the island, where people go even further and propose to their partners.

   · 13 min

5. Casas Típicas de Santana

   Around lunch time, we arrive at Santana, covered by a green blanket of laurel forest, vineyards and houses that once told the many stories of the population of this city. Small triangular houses, covered with wheat thatch. Small spaces, where numerous families lived without luxury. When passing by these houses, we can see houses that are over 240 years old. On the weekends, the farmers get together to sell their crops in the farmers market. A stop for lunch of one and half hours will give guests the oportunity to have something to eat and drink. Meals such as wheat soup, special santana bread, Pregos (Maderian steak sandwich on the bolo do caco bread with garlic butter.), fried maize are typical of this region. A visit to the square of Santana with more typical houses and the garden that surrounds this square is also a must during this stop.

   · 1 h 30 min

6. Porto da Cruz

   The name of Porto da Cruz comes from a cross that the first settlers erected in that harbor, making it one of the first places on the north coast of Madeira to be inhabited. The landscape, majestic Penha D’Águia, which separates the parishes of Porto da Cruz (Machico) and Faial (Santana), and by the lush Laurissilva Forest in the Ribeiro Frio mountains. The production of sugar cane used to produce white rum, brandy represents the great production of that location, contributing to the production of rum that is used in our famous poncha cocktail. Porto da Cruz distillery, is one of 4 that operates on very old machinery. During the winter season from March to May, the sugarcane is cultivated, crushed and transformed into rum. During this visit, rum tasting is included, a visit to the village. Outdoor activities and adventure sports, including surfing, paragliding and mountain biking, are some of the examples that make the parish of Porto da Cruz a true reference at a regional level.

   · 30 min

7. Ponta de São Lourenço

   Driving through the first Capital Machico, on the otherside of the tunnel is the dry part of Madeira, Caniçal the fishing village for the big tuna fish, seafood. On the harbor the boats all lined up ready to go out. This Village tells the story of our whales once hunted in this region. Ponta de São Lourenço, is undoubtedly the biggest local reference for people coming in by ship or plane or car, true geological and natural cult landscape, with unique scenes that show the outline of the peninsula, the hidden bays and the beaches of natural sand. On a clear day a view of Porto Santo Island and the deserted island are visible. This is considered the cherry on top of cake attraction.

   · 25 min

8. Machico

   Machico, our old capital, served as capital for almost ninety years, the sugarcane fields, cultivated teraces overlooking the old harbor and the beach (white sand from Maroco), the monuments such as the church, fortress. The runway that joins two cities together Machico and Santa Cruz, the old and new part of the airport is a great attraction on our way back to Funchal.

   · Non-stop passage

Pickup

Pickup included.

Please note we dont pick up from Hotels in Machico, Ponta do Sol and Calheta. Only for groups of 8 there is an aditional cost. Pick ups for Santa cruz will have an aditional cost of 6.00€ per person paid to the driver in cash as from the 13.01.2025.

What to know before you go

• Special needs child seats available.
• Prams or pushchairs accepted for babies and young children.
• Accessible for people with reduced mobility.
• Assistance animals accepted.
• Public transport available nearby.
• Fully accessible for people with reduced mobility.
• Suitable for all fitness levels.
• Babies must not sit on the towers.
• No public transport nearby.
• Not suitable for animals.
• Pick-up is not provided for hotels in Machico, Ponta do Sol, and Calheta, except for groups at an additional cost.
• Small animals are admitted; large animals are only accepted on private tours.
• For shared tours, the meeting point is at the edge of the CR7/Museum bus stop.
• Cancellation with a refund is possible up to 24 hours before the tour.
• A supplement of €6 per person, payable in cash on the day, applies for pick-ups in Santa Cruz.
• Since 11 January 2025, an additional fee of €3 payable in cash is required for the Balcões levada walk.
• Please bring comfortable shoes and a jacket, as it can be cold in the mountains.
• Excursions may be altered due to bad weather, closed roads, heavy rain, or snow.
• The activity can accommodate a maximum of 19 travellers.
• Confirmation is received immediately upon booking.

Travelers

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation for a full refund at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure.

• No refund available less than 24 hours before departure.
• The activity may be cancelled in case of bad weather or insufficient participants.

Who is it for?

• Travellers of all ages and fitness levels.
• People with reduced mobility.
• Families with babies and young children.

What makes it different

• Pick-up and drop-off included from Funchal, Caniço, and Camara Lobos centre.
• Included visit to a traditional house in Santana.
• Rum biscuit tasting included.

Frequently asked questions

Reviews

Product code: 251572P6

Activity offered by Secret Madeira Lda via Viator.