The Best Tours in Madeira

Madeira’s mountain roads are steep and winding, and its best sights are spread across the island, so a good tour makes a huge difference. Here are the best tours and excursions in Madeira, from sunrise above the clouds to whale watching, jeep safaris and levada walks.

Quick answer: the most popular tours are a west island tour (Cabo Girão, Porto Moniz’s lava pools, the Fanal forest), an east island tour (Santana’s houses and Ponta de São Lourenço), a Pico do Arieiro sunrise trip, a guided levada walk, a jeep safari and whale and dolphin watching from Funchal.

Why take a tour in Madeira

Driving in Madeira is hard work: steep hairpins, narrow village lanes and fast-changing mountain weather. A tour lets you enjoy the views instead of watching the road, and local guides know which side of the island has the best weather that day. Tours also solve the logistics of one-way hikes and trail bookings. If you only have three or four days, two full-day tours (west and east) plus one activity cover the island well.

The best Madeira tours

West island tour

Cabo Girão’s glass skywalk, the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos, the natural lava swimming pools of Porto Moniz, the waterfalls of Seixal and the misty laurel forest of Fanal. The skywalk sits on one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs, about 580 metres above the sea. Fanal’s twisted old laurel trees are part of the Laurisilva forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A full day, usually 8 hours or more. Pack a swimsuit for Porto Moniz in summer. See west Madeira tours.

East island tour

The triangular thatched houses of Santana, the village of Machico, where the first settlers landed, and the rocky peninsula of Ponta de São Lourenço, which is drier and starker than the rest of the island. Many east tours also stop at Pico do Arieiro or the Ribeiro Frio forest on the way. See Santana and Ponta de São Lourenço.

Jeep safari

Off-road tracks through the mountains and forests to viewpoints that coaches can’t reach. Great fun, and an easy way to see the interior. Half-day and full-day options are common. Expect bumps and dust, and sit up front if you get carsick. See Madeira jeep tours.

Pico do Arieiro sunrise

An early pick-up to watch the sun rise above a sea of clouds from Madeira’s third-highest peak, at 1,818 metres. It’s cold at the top before dawn, even in summer, so bring a warm jacket. If the summit is in cloud, you may see nothing, so choose a tour that checks the forecast. See sunrise tours.

Guided levada walks

A guide handles the transport, booking and trail fees, which is especially useful now that trails need a booked slot. Popular walks include Caldeirão Verde, the 25 Fontes and the Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo trail. See levada walks and Pico Ruivo hikes. See also Madeira levada walks.

• Trail bookings: all classified trails (PR routes) now need a time slot booked in advance on the regional government’s SIMplifica platform. The fee is €4.50 per person for most trails if you book yourself.
• PR1 (Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo): about 7km, and now one-way only, from Arieiro towards Ruivo. Booking it yourself costs €10.50. Because you finish far from your car, a guided tour with transport at both ends is the easy option.
• PR1 status: the trail closed after the August 2024 wildfires and reopened on 1 May 2026, at first on some days only and daily since late June 2026. The walk ends at Achada do Teixeira, above Santana, with no regular bus, so arrange a pick-up.
• Guided fees: booking through a licensed operator usually means a lower trail fee, and the guide sorts it out for you. For the PR1, the lower €7 rate is only available through IFCN-partner tour companies.

See the Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike.

Whale and dolphin watching

Dolphins are seen on most trips from Funchal, and whales are frequent. Madeira’s deep water close to shore means you reach the open sea within minutes. Trips usually last two to three hours, by fast boat or catamaran. See whale-watching trips and dolphin trips.

Canyoning

Abseil down waterfalls and jump into pools in the island’s ravines. No experience needed. Operators supply wetsuits, helmets and harnesses, and set a minimum age, so check before booking with children. See canyoning.

Food and wine in Funchal

Taste espetada, bolo do caco, poncha and Madeira wine. Espetada is beef on a bay-leaf skewer, bolo do caco a flat garlic-butter bread, and poncha a strong mix of sugar cane rum, honey and lemon. See Funchal food tours and Blandy’s Wine Lodge.

Tours you can do yourself

Some sights are easy without a guide. The cable car up to Monte and the wicker toboggan ride back down start from Funchal, and a second cable car links Monte with the Botanical Garden. Funchal’s old town and market are easy on foot.

• Monte cable car: reopened in April 2026 after an upgrade. Fares are about €16 one way or €22 return, and the new glass-floor cabins cost more.
• Toboggan: since May 2026 the ride costs €30 for one person, €40 for two and €60 for three per sledge, cash only. The 2km ride stops partway down the hill, so take a taxi or bus back to the centre.
• Buses: the island’s buses run as one network, SIGA, and every route was renumbered in March 2026. Check current numbers before you set out.

When to go

Madeira is mild all year, so tours run in every season. Spring and summer give the best chance of clear mountain views. Winter brings more rain in the north and the mountains, and trails can close after storms. Whale watching is possible year-round. See the best time to visit Madeira.

Tips

• Weather: the mountains can be cloudy when Funchal is sunny. Flexible tours reschedule for clear days.
• Small groups: minibuses and jeeps handle the narrow roads better than coaches.
• Hotel pick-up is usually included from Funchal.
• Book early in peak season: sunrise tours and PR1 hikes fill up, especially at weekends.
• Layers: it can be much colder in the mountains than on the coast.
• Cruise passengers: see Funchal’s cruise port.

FAQ

Do you need to book hiking trails in Madeira?

Yes. Classified trails need a time slot booked on SIMplifica before you walk. Most cost €4.50 per person, and the PR1 costs €10.50 if you book it yourself.

Is the Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo trail open?

Yes. It reopened on 1 May 2026 and has been open daily since late June 2026, one way only from Arieiro towards Ruivo.

How much is the Monte toboggan ride?

€30 for one, €40 for two and €60 for three, cash only.

More: the Madeira itinerary, things to do in Funchal and the best hotels in Madeira.

See also: Santana and dolphin watching in Portugal.

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