Water activity

From Funchal: West Madeira and Laurel Forest Day Trip

Activity provider: Secret Madeira Lda
Water activity

From Funchal: West Madeira and Laurel Forest Day Trip

Activity provider: Secret Madeira Lda

From US$ 30.02 per person

Explore the Magestic West and marvel at high mountain ridges falling into valleys with waterfalls. Visit the centenary Laurisilva Forest, Porto Moniz natural pools, and Câmara de Lobos.

About this activity

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Duration 8 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
Spanish, Dutch, English, French, German, Portuguese
Pickup included
In front of your hotel reception.
Wheelchair accessible
Small group
Limited to 8 participants

Experience

Highlights
  • See Cabo Girão, the highest sea cliff in Europe
  • Travel across the Encumeada Pass and the Plateau needle point between south and north
  • Discover the Laurel Forest with the oldest centenary trees in the island
  • Swim in natural volcanic pools at Porto Moniz
  • Admire the waterfalls along the northcoast road
Full description

Discover the highlights of Madeira's beautiful landscapes and charming towns on this guided tour in a comfortable vehicle, with pickup and drop-off included. Stop at Camara de Lobos, the Ribeira Brava and visit the village of São Vicente.

After pick-up from your hotel, make your way to Camara de Lobos where beautiful landscapes were painted by Sir Winston Churchill in the 1950s. The drive takes you along the old narrow roads of Estreito de Camara de Lobos, where the vines were first introduced and still exist today. Admire the banana plantations and sugarcane on the steepy terraces that sometimes are difficult to get to.

Visit Madeira's pride and Cabo Girão, the highest sea cliff in Europe and the second-highest in the world. Discover the breathtaking views over the mountains and sea and old agricultural terraces still planted today. Then, the route descends to Ribeira Brava, visit old monuments including the church. Continue the drive through to Paul da Serra Madeira´s popular flat plateau at 1500m above sea level.

Embrace the beautiful laurel forest views through Madeira´s little green Scotland, where the oldest Laurel Trees and endemic vegetation that grows and embraces the long Rabaçal Valley, to Porto Moniz valley, well known for its natural volcanic pools in the summer. Spend 2 hours and in the winter 1 and half hours there.

A stop for lunch or a light snack follows after (not included in the price). The tour continues along the north coast where waterfalls are visible. Drive through the village of Seixal, well known for its black natural volcanic beach and wine terraces which continues right through São Vicente. Appreciate Portugal's own little "Hawai" due to the high wave attraction in the winter and surfing attraction nature will escort up to the Encumeada Pass, where the North meets the South at 1007 meters above sea level (this stop will depend on the weather conditions).

At the end of the tour you will be dropped back at your hotel.

Includes
  • Guided tour
  • Pickup and drop-off from hotels Ponta Sol and Calheta are only for more than 4 people. Additional cost
  • Pickup and drop-off from hotels between Santa Cruz centre and Funchal
  • Meeting point for cruise liner guests at CR7 Museum or Porto Santo harbor terminal
  • Entrance fees to museums, public pools, WC
  • Lunch, snacks and drinks
  • Pick-up for hotels in Machico Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol and Calheta (additional cost for each person) and pickup in Calheta and Ponta do Sol must have a minimum of 2 people
  • Pick up and drop for these hotels are in the center or close to the center

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Important information

Know before you go

  • Bring a warm jacket as the temperature is changeable
  • Bring swimwear to swim when the weather permits
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 592 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.8/5
  • Transportation
    4.6/5
  • Value for money
    4.8/5
  • Safety
    4.8/5

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Star rating:

Everything was perfect so far. Our guide/driver drove very carefully and gave us everything we needed to know in very good German and English. Well-chosen driving and break times. Two minor drawbacks: Skywalk Cabo Girao both in the morning and in the afternoon in clouds (of course nobody can do anything about it) and that it was a tour group of 15 people, although only a maximum of 8 were advertised. But: at a price of 28 euros per person, it is still an unbeatable price. The bus was new, the only downside worth mentioning was that the seats were extremely narrow if you didn't sit at the door.

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March 13, 2023

This trip is a great way to reach areas that are not so easy to get to on your own (especially Laurisilva). Our guide Victor was fun and very informative, and although it's an organised tour the groups are really small and it's very chill, which is exactly what I was hoping for. I really recommend it!

March 4, 2023

It was punctual, everything as in the offer, enough time to take photos and walk around. I didn't get the feeling that I had to rush. The guide Elder was really dedicated, he was constantly with us and for us. Cabo Girao was a bit disappointing, extremely crowded, very touristy, there are equally or more beautiful places in Madeira.

March 2, 2023

Product ID: 102545