Things to do in

Ribeira Brava

Enjoy a safe and comfortable transfer from the Madeira airport to your hotel on this 45-minute service. Book in advance and arrive in Madeira with no worries about finding transportation. This shared transfer is available for hotels located in Central Funchal, Machico, Santa Cruz, Câmara de Lobos, and Caniço village. Up to 8 passengers can be accommodated in the mini-bus. When you arrive, look in the exit area for the driver, who will be carrying an envelope for each of the passengers for the service. Inside the envelope is general information about Madeira and other services provided by the operator. If you are booking a round-trip transfer, you must confirm the pick-up time at your hotel.

This jeep safari tour will start in Funchal City and then you will visit several unique places in Lugar de Baixo, Lombo do Mouro, Bica da Cana, Paul da Serra, Santa, Porto Moniz, Seixal, Serra d´água, and Funchal. Explore the fascinating landscapes along the rugged North coast of Madeira. Appreciate the crystal clear air and mysterious wilderness as you head into the indigenous Laurissilva forest at Santa, before descending in to the impressive villages along the outstanding Northern coast. For example, go to Seixal to see its many different waterfalls. Next up, travel to Porto Moniz, known for its natural saltwater pools composed of volcanic rocks, which are some of the most beautiful natural swimming pools in the world. Finally, go to the stunning Serra de Àgua valley to see the South Coast, Encumeada, Ribeira Brava, and Campanário. On Mondays you can explore the west and north of Madeira Island.

Just over three miles from the city of Funchal, the first stop is the famous, quaint fishing village of Câmara de Lobos, a favorite painting spot of the late Winston Churchill. Afterwards, travel up to the magnificent 1,902-feet high, glass balcony view point of Cabo Girão, famous for being the highest in Europe and second-highest cliff in the world. Traveling along the coast of the island, arrive shorty at the village of Ribeira Brava, where you can visit a church dating back to the 15th century. Next, make your way to the 3,303-feet high viewpoint, Encumeada, to enjoy beautiful views over both the north and south coasts of the island, as well as the valleys of Ribeira Brava and São Vicente. From an altitude of between 4,200-4,900 feet, find the tourist attraction Paúl de Serra and it's several levada walks that connect to different points of the island through the Laurissilva forest, such as Rabaçal, Risco, and the 25 fountains. Stop then for lunch (not included) and extra time at the seaside town of Porto Moniz, home to the largest volcanic natural pools of Madeira. On the descent toward the town, enjoy fantastic views, especially those of the volcanic pools in their entirety. In the good weather it is possible to take a dip, so come prepared. Next, enjoy a brief stop overlooking the black sandy beach and natural rock pools of Seixal village. Along the way, you'll have the pleasure of passing several waterfalls, most notably the famous and stunning Bride's Veil. Staring up at the water pouring down the mountain, you can see how the rock-face has been delicately sculpted by the wind and rain over millions of years to form what can only be described as the perfect art form. Following, visit the picturesque neighboring village of São Vicente, where you can check out a beautiful church dating from the 17th century before returning to Funchal.

Depart from Funchal and head to Serra d’Água in Ribeira Brava, with beautiful views surrounded by dense vegetation and tall mountains. Reach the Encumeada viewpoint at 1007 meters above sea level to enjoy magnificent views over the valleys, north and south coast of the island. Continuing through a nice off-road route with spectacular views over São Vicente, Paúl da Serra, and Porto Moniz, and arrive at the most important and iconic vineyards in the north of the island, located in São Vicente. In this wonderful and interesting property, take a guided tour with the owners to learn the ins and outs of wine production process and wine culture. After the tour, delight yourself in a wine tasting experience. After lunch, continue towards Cabo Girão, the highest cliff in Europe and second highest in the world measuring at 589 meters. It is notable for its renovated viewpoint with a suspended glass floor. Finish at Câmara de Lobos, visiting the best Madeira wine lodge to taste the famous 3, 10, and 15-year-old Madeira wines.

Embark on a half-day tour dedicated to the Madeira's gardens, one of the island's greatest treasures. Visit the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and be impressed by its beauty and diverse culture. See traces of Portugal's history since the reign of its first king, D. Afonso Henriques. Wander through the Monte Palace, which occupies an area of 70.000 square meters and houses an exotic collection of plants from different regions in the world. Watch swans and ducks floating on the lake as well as peacocks and chickens walking freely in the main areas of the property. Visit the museum inside the palace that houses a unique collection of minerals and gems.  The tour ends in the Botanical Garden, founded in 1960 by a Madeiran Botanist. Find more than 2500 species of plants from different parts in the world, all brought together in the “Garden of the Atlantic.”

Benefit from hotel or guest house pick-up in Funchal (pick-up and drop off outside Funchal is available for an additional fee). Then, travel to the mountains of Madeira and see the Ribeira Brava valley from an altitude of approximately 1,400 meters. Journey through the countryside using old roads and tracks used for forestry and farming. Discover some of Madeira's traditional villages, such as Campanário, Lugar da Serra, Trompica, São Paulo and Ribeira Brava. Marvel at views of the mountains and valleys from an open-top 4x4. Watch the colors of the sunset before a barbecue dinner at a local restaurant. Here, you will feast from a menu (bread, main course and dessert, 1 drink and coffee included) of typical dishes such as espetada - large chunks of beef rubbed in garlic and salt and grilled over an open fire, then served with local fried corn. Sample bolo do caco, the circular bread shaped like a cake that is cooked on a "caco" (a flat basalt stone slab) and served with garlic butter. 

Once having been collected from your Madeira accommodation, drive through the mountains before arriving to Ribeiro Frio. Following a short but grandeur walk through the beautiful Laurisilva Forest, arrive to the fabulous Balcões’ belvedere. From this belvedere it’s possible to contemplate the many peaks of Madeira Island, from which Pico Ruivo and Pico do Areeiro stand the highest. Pico do Gato, Pico das Torres, and the well-known Penhad’Águia also constitute part of this breathtaking scenery. This area is also ideal for bird watching, due to the fact that it is home to a huge variety of different species. These birgs include the firecrest, the chaffinch, grey wagtails, blackbirds, robins, buzzards, and the very rare Madeira's long-toed pigeon.

Depart Funchal and journey west to the Paul da Serra viewpoint in Calheta. Upon arrival, embark on a hike of the famous Levada das 25 Fontes e Risco walk and encounter the amazing waterfalls that give the nature trail its name. Then, go to Pico da Urze for lunch in a typical restaurant at your own expense. Continue off-road to the village of Ponta do Sol to see the stunning south coast of Madeira. Get bird's eye views from the coastal town of Ribeira Brava. Make your way to the highest cliff in Europe at Cabo Girão for stunning vistas 580 meters above sea level.

Experience the natural beauty of Madeira by classic VW and drive along the regional roads towards Ribeira Brava. Stop in the city center of Câmara de Lobos and get stunning views from the Pico da Torre viewpoint. Drive to the towering sea cliff of Cabo Girão to experience the highest promontory in Europe and get a stunning view over Funchal and Câmara de Lobos from the glass skywalk. Continue to Ribeira Brava and stop at another viewpoint along the way. Navigate your way through the center of Ribeira Brava and visit the parish of Serra de Água to enjoy authentic ponchas (a traditional alcoholic drink from Madeira) or other regional drink at a typical bar.

Travel the old roads to discover sea and mountain views on the western coast of Madeira on this tour to Calheta. Enjoy scenic viewpoints, plenty of photo opportunities, and stops for tasting local food and drinks. Along the tour, take in the views over Câmara de Lobos and Cabo Girão, followed by Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol, Madalena do Mar, and finally Calheta. Discover places only known by locals and learn information about the spots you visit. There will also be stops in between for optional snacks and drinks. Views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Madeiran Mountains will be a constant backdrop for your tour. Later, get dropped off at a location in the city of Funchal.