East of Madeira: Full Day Adventure in 4x4 covering Pico Do Areiro, Ribeiro Frio, and Santana

Embark on a full-day adventure in Madeira’s East region with a 4x4 tour. Explore Pico Do Areiro, Ribeiro Frio, and Santana, and experience dramatic views, rural areas, traditional houses, local cuisine, and wine or rum tasting. Perfect for those who love big views, culture, food, and fun!

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Valley of the Nuns - The first stop of the tour is the not so famous but very beautiful Miradouro do Paradao. From this viewpoint you will see Funchal from above as well as the famous Nun´s Valley. It´s usually very quiet up here and very much “off the beaten path”
What's Included
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off for your convenience
  • An optional brief 45-minute Levada walk
  • Insights into the island’s culture and history
  • Expert guide and driver providing a fun and informative experience
  • Exclusive small-group tour with a maximum of 6 passengers
  • A relaxed experience without strict time constraints
  • Travel in comfort with a closed top Land Rover Discovery suitable for any weather
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Pick up fees (outside of Funchal)
Additional Information

The East 4x4 tour has a little bit of everything and is suitable for everyone!
The First stop is Pico Do Areiro, the 3rd highest peak on the island, 1811m above sea level.
There are usually very dramatic views and we tend to spend a fair amount of time up there.
After that, we venture to the North side of the island, into the more rural areas such as…

Location
Valley of the Nuns
Caminho da Padaria
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(197 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Companion32444491135
Oct 6, 2025
East Coast tour Madeira. - An interesting and enjoyable trip with Wilson our guide. Relaxed pace with great variety of places visited. Would recommend trip to others.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davefw5120bh
Oct 6, 2025
East Madeira Adventure Done Right - We had an amazing time only made better by our guide Wilson. The stops were all incredible and the best way to see this part of the island. Of course we got preferential parking and easy access but we also got to see what the average tourist would miss, like walking into 1 of only 5 original Santana homes with a tour and stories from the owner. Do not miss this adventure and don’t even think about booking with anyone other than Hit The Road Madeira and Wilson.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W1159xxjohnc
Oct 1, 2025
Great Trip - Great trip. Wilson was a good driver and answered all of our questions. Pity the weather was not better on the highest point of our journey.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paullg1940me
Sep 29, 2025
Amazing views Great guide/driver. Brilliant Day! - Great day out visiting the east of Maderia. Our Guide/Driver was Wilson who was great. Very friendly and helpful showing us all the amazing sights, great driver managing the winding mountain roads. Stopped at a lovely restaurant with views across the sea. A great selection of main meals plus sandwiches so not going to cost a fortune. The weather was fantastic so we had amazing views. Definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Veronikaf815
Sep 28, 2025
All wonderful! - I would like to award a whole 10 stars for this trip! All wonderful, very loving and personal! I will wholeheartedly recommend this tour! Thank you very much again!!! Greetings Veronika from Frankfurt
Review provided by Tripadvisor
81arnisz
Sep 26, 2025
Fun trip. - Was a fun trip through east side of Madeira. Lots of joking, lots of great views and not that much of crowds as most crowded places where avoided or we where there before others.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
236younga
Sep 24, 2025
Phenomenal tour of Funchal-East - Hit the Road Maderia East Jeep tour with Wilson the guide was amazing. Pick up & drop off was right out of my entrance. The group was small 5 people - allowing for great conversations & observations by Wilson. Expert driving on the roads. Packed a lot in on this tour. Excellent value and a great time! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O2652mmalexg
Sep 24, 2025
Amazing! - Wilson was the best!!! Had an amazing time experiencing the island on this tour with such a knowledgeable guide who made our first full day in Madeira one of the best days ever. Thank you!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
271sushantt
Sep 19, 2025
A brilliant tour with Wilson — East Madeira at its best - We really loved the whole tour. Along the way we were given great explanations about Madeira’s culture and history, both during the ride and at each stop. The rum tasting was a highlight, and we had plenty of time to explore everywhere without feeling rushed. Lunch at a local restaurant with an incredible ocean view from the cliff was unforgettable. A special thanks to Wilson, one of the friendliest and most chilled tour guides I’ve ever met. He explained everything in detail and kept the atmosphere relaxed. Even when we got stuck in traffic in Funchal on the way back, and my partner and I ended up being the last to be dropped off, Wilson made it easier with good conversation. To be fair, we probably made it easier for him too with our chat, so everyone won in the end! As a couple visiting Madeira, this tour gave us a great feel for island life, and meeting an island man like Wilson made it all the more authentic. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Norfolkellie
Sep 16, 2025
Fab day in the 4x4 - We had a wonderful day with Wilson and 4 other passengers. We learnt plenty, had some lovely stopping points for the most amazing views. A great lunch spot out of the way of normal tourist route. Went off road through the forest, great fun. We'd highly recommend using Hit The Road.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $83
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).