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Madeira East Coast: Off-Road Scenic Adventure
4.9
229 Ratings
Curral das Freiras
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!
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 tour begins at the stunning yet lesser-known Miradouro do Paradao. From this vantage point, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Funchal and the renowned Nun’s Valley. This spot is typically serene and remains largely “off the beaten path.”
- Pico do Arieiro - As the third highest peak in Madeira, Pico do Arieiro…
- Valley of the Nuns - The tour begins at the stunning yet lesser-known Miradouro do Paradao. From this vantage point, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Funchal and the renowned Nun’s Valley. This spot is typically serene and remains largely “off the beaten path.”
- Pico do Arieiro - As the third highest peak in Madeira, Pico do Arieiro offers breathtaking views. The aim is to arrive early to avoid crowds and hopefully witness the spectacular sights above the clouds. While specific times aren’t set, the usual stay is about 30 to 45 minutes, which is generally sufficient to take in the scenery.
- Ribeiro Frio - Known for its rainbow trout farm, Ribeiro Frio is bypassed to avoid the bustling tourist areas.
- Santana - The journey continues off-road to Santana, one of Madeira’s most iconic villages. Here, visitors can explore traditional A-frame houses and visit an authentic home to learn about historical living conditions in this part of Madeira. Lunch follows at the renowned Quinta do Furao restaurant, offering the best meal in Santana with excellent value and a stunning view.
- Miradouro do Guindaste - Post-lunch, a visit to a favored viewpoint on the island’s North East provides exclusive views of the coastline.
- Engenhos do Norte - A stop in the quaint village of Porto Da Cruz, famous for its sugar and rum history, includes a visit to the renowned rum factory to sample some of the world’s finest rum.
- Ponta de Sao Lourenco - The exploration concludes at Ponta de Sao Lourenço, the island’s easternmost peninsula, celebrated for its striking volcanic rock formations and vibrant colors.
- Miradouro da Ponta do Rosto - The final destination on the east tour showcases the peninsula in all its splendor.
What's Included
- Guided stops and scenic viewpoints
- Off-road 4x4 vehicle
- Local driver-guide
- Guided stops and scenic viewpoints
- Off-road 4x4 vehicle
- Local driver-guide
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Entrance Fees (if applicable)
- Personal Expenses
- Food and drinks
- Entrance Fees (if applicable)
- Personal Expenses
Additional Information
Embark on a full-day off-road journey to uncover the untamed beauty of Madeira’s eastern coastline. Traverse volcanic peaks, ancient laurel forests, and charming mountain villages while your knowledgeable local guide narrates tales of the island’s rich history and natural wonders. Relish breathtaking views of the Atlantic and discover secluded locations…
Embark on a full-day off-road journey to uncover the untamed beauty of Madeira’s eastern coastline. Traverse volcanic peaks, ancient laurel forests, and charming mountain villages while your knowledgeable local guide narrates tales of the island’s rich history and natural wonders. Relish breathtaking views of the Atlantic and discover secluded locations that remain unseen by most tourists. This tour is ideal for those seeking to explore the authentic Madeira beyond the usual routes.
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Minimum age is 5 years
Location
Valley of the Nuns
Caminho da Padaria
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(229 Ratings)
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U4459xvdianneb
Jun 2, 2026
Family on tour - Our driver Fabio was magnificent under pressure from a crying 8 month old He adapted to suit the family
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jonathanbear06
Jun 2, 2026
Wonderful tour - We met Tiago and exactly the time which was designated,met by a friendly jolly guide
Tiago made our small group feel comfortable and explained the day to us
He took us to all the spots we wanted to see and some surprises
All in all it was a wonderful tour and Tiago absolutely knows his wonderful home and knows all the history,it wasn’t boring,it was exciting and interest
Thanks Tiago !!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarah_e
May 29, 2026
Great day out - Had a great day with Jeff, a very knowledgeable and funny guide. Lots of stops for photos. Met a lovely bunch of people on the trip. Would book Hit the Road Madeira again for another jeep tour. Would recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Connector56766108549
May 26, 2026
Great fun ! - Great fun day with Jeff. Jeff shared a lot of information about the island, the places we visited, good pace, lots of stops to stretch our legs . Would definitely book it again with them
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Guide52587747515
May 25, 2026
Best Way To Experience Madeira! - This was our first trip to Madeira and we wanted to experience all the hi-lites of the island without renting a car. We had followed Hit The Road Madeira on Instagram for the last 2 years and were so impressed we decided to book some tours with them. Ended up booking 5! East Coast, West Coast, Espetada (so delicious and fun), Sunrise, Sunset…..and the best traditional poncha! Excellent communication before each tour and very accessible if you have questions. Their crew of tour guides are all so professional and so enjoyable to spend time with. They are well versed on the history and culture of this beautiful island and they included remote spots, views and local surprises that the average tourist would never find. We were fortunate enough to meet Fabio (twice), Wilson, Hugo and Fernando. Hats off to all of them. So much fun and laughter…..they were friends by the end of the tour. Thanks to Jeff and his team for making our Madeira trip unforgettable! If you are planning any tours, we highly recommend this company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mdderbyshire
May 16, 2026
Great tour with an excellent guide - We booked the tour on the recommendation of a local walking tour guide, and were delighted that we did so. Wilson, our driver and guide, picked us up from our hotel right on time in his trusty Land Rover Discovery. There was only one other person with the two of us, and he turned out to be great company, and a pleasure to do the tour with. Wilson is a very personable young man with excellent knowledge of Madeira and a very pleasant manner. He took us to some great viewpoints away from the crowds, where we could admire the scenery and take photographs without being rushed. He described various plants and other aspects/points of interest along the way, which made the tour more enjoyable and informative. We were able to walk along a seafront with great views, and also enjoyed a short levada walk. We visited a very interesting authentic traditional house in Santana which is 241 years old. Wilson took us to a sugarcane rum factory, and later to a great restaurant for lunch. Unfortunately, we were unable to visit Pico de Arieiro on account of the weather conditions, so will have to leave that experience for another day. All in all, a very enjoyable tour indeed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
716claren
May 7, 2026
Great day exploring - Great trip despite the rain, including a really tasty lunch.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
V9636kotaniad
May 7, 2026
Awesome trip - Absolutely great trip. The driver, Vitor, was not only a great guide but he also was very attentive to us. Great views, great places, great experiences.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Windchaser4
Apr 28, 2026
Wonderful way to city the countryside with a great guide - This was a very nice small group tour of five. Our guide, Wilson, spoke very well and gave great information on the sites. The Mountain View’s were amazing as well as the countryside. The off roading took us to areas you would never see on your own. We stopped at a restaurants high above with views of the ocean that served delicious espertada (steak bites). This had a relaxed paced with ability to walk on a few easy trails. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Meiriont2015
Apr 24, 2026
Amazing - We had an amazing day & Fabio was a brilliant guide, so warm, knowledgable & enthusiastic! So many highlights, seeing Pico do Arieiro in the morning sunshine, getting to visit a traditional Madeiran casa de colmo that’s still part of a family farm, all the many beautiful viewpoints, plus a tasty Prego for lunch and ending with a traditional Poncha. Cheers Fabio, looking forward to coming back and booking the trip to the West!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
