Madeira East Island Tour with Levada Walk and Lunch

One day, and Madeira feels twice as big. This East Island tour strings together ocean and mountain viewpoints, traditional villages, and a real levada walk along the island’s water canals. I love that it packs a lot of variety into a manageable 8 hours, and I also love that lunch is built in, including wine, so you are not hunting for a meal mid-drive.

Do note the day depends on mountain weather, and the walk portion can get slippery or muddy. If you are tight on mobility or prone to car sickness on winding roads, this is the one part you should think through before you book.

Quick take: what I’d aim for on this tour

• Santana and Camacha first, so you see classic Madeira villages early, before the long mountain day kicks in
• Levada walking time, with the chance to add Balcões for an extra fee if you want more steps
• Pico do Arieiro and Ribeiro Frio views, with layers of scenery that change fast in the clouds
• Laurissilva forest area, the UNESCO backdrop for Madeira’s unique plant life
• Lunch with a 3-course choice menu and wine, plus the Grutas do Faial stop
• Porto Cruz rum tasting, a tasty, low-effort cultural stop that breaks up the drive

Why Madeira East Feels Like the Best Use of One Day

Madeira’s east side has a different mood than the west. Here you get big coastal drop-offs, deep mountain roads, and plenty of viewpoints that feel like they are placed exactly where the island shows off. This tour is designed for that reality. You are not just doing one town and calling it a day. You bounce between village life, forest edges, and cloud-top panoramas.

The big value move is timing. You start in the morning, with hotel pickup, and you stay busy all day without needing to plan drives or transfers yourself. I like that you do the most visually dramatic parts while daylight is high, then finish with lunch and a fun tasting stop.

You also get the “small group” advantage. The tour caps at 15 travelers, and the format is meant to be intimate, not a giant bus shuffle. Some guides run different language groupings, but you should still expect a guided day with the same core stops and pacing.

Picking Up in Funchal: How to Avoid the Usual Morning Headaches

Pickup is mostly the easy part, as long as you confirm your exact meeting point. The tour starts around 9:00 am, with pickup happening between 8:00 and 9:00 am depending on your hotel area. If you want a smooth start, plan to be ready a little earlier than you think you need.

Here is what matters for logistics:

• If your hotel pickup is not possible, you will be directed to make your way to the cable car area or an H&M Store in Funchal
• If you are on a cruise, pickup is at the first roundabout out of the harbor, about a 5-minute walk
• Santa Cruz area pickup has an additional cost (€6 per person round-trip)
• Caniço area pickup can be free if you meet there instead

One more practical note: the tour can run with slight start variations. It is listed as starting between 8:00, 8:45, and 9:30. That means you should not assume a single fixed hour. If you like tight schedules, set an alert and stay flexible.

Santana and the Classic East Coast Villages

The day’s first big flavor is Santana. This is one of those places where Madeira’s tradition is not behind glass. It feels like an active village, and it is the kind of stop that makes you understand why people come back to the island year after year.

From there, the route threads through other east-side village areas such as Camacha and Poiso. Camacha is known for its traditional character, and the point of including it is clear: you are not only looking at viewpoints, you are also meeting Madeira at street level. That village texture pairs well with the later mountain scenery, because you feel the shift in the island’s rhythm.

If there is a local festival happening, Santana can get even more lively. You may find extra atmosphere, and that can affect restaurant timing. So keep your expectations flexible. A festival day is a good day, but lunch may feel a touch faster than normal if the restaurant is busy.

Pico do Arieiro and Ribeiro Frio: Mountain Views That Change Fast

This is where Madeira’s “wow” factor kicks in. Your route includes Pico do Arieiro and Ribeiro Frio, plus stops in between that are all about viewpoint time.

A quick reality check: Pico do Arieiro sits in the high elevations, where weather can flip quickly. The tour specifically reminds you to bring a jacket, and I agree with that advice. Even in warm seasons, it can get cold in the mountains, and wind makes it feel sharper.

Ribeiro Frio is a contrasting stop, often associated with the cooler, greener mountain side. It is a perfect place to slow down for photos and to reset your legs before the day’s walk. It also helps that the pacing is built with multiple stops rather than one long grind. You get breaks to look around, not just check a box.

The Laurissilva Forest Context You Get From This Route

One of the highlights mentions the Laurissilva forest, Madeira’s famous laurel woodland. You do not need to be a plant nerd to enjoy it. Even from viewpoints and walk areas, you can feel why this forest is special: the air looks different, the vegetation is dense, and it feels like the island has its own microclimate.

What makes this stop valuable is that you see it as part of a working landscape, not a museum exhibit. Madeira’s canals and levadas cut through these areas because people built systems to live with the island’s steep terrain and rain patterns. When you walk later along the levadas, that forest context clicks in your head.

If you like nature photography or just enjoy the feeling of being above the clouds, this is the segment that usually delivers the strongest memories.

Levada Walk Time: Your Chance to See the Working Water System

The center activity is a scenic walk along the levadas, Madeira’s irrigation canal pathways. This is one of the most authentic things you can do on the island, because levadas are how people managed water for centuries on rugged slopes.

A few practical tips so you enjoy it instead of struggling:

• Wear proper footwear. Levada paths can be muddy
• Bring a jacket. Cold air and wind can hit at higher points
• Expect it to take longer than you think if the footing is rough. If you also do the Balcões extension, you should plan for extra time and effort

There is a note about an optional add-on called Balcões. It carries an additional fee and is paid on the walk by cash or credit card. The tour info lists slightly different amounts in different places, so treat it as a small add-on that you might see in the same range. The key thing is that you will decide in the moment whether you want the extension.

This walk is also the biggest reason the tour is not recommended for everyone with mobility limits. Even if you can handle stairs and steps, the ground can be uneven. If you want a day that is mostly seated, this part changes the equation.

Lunch at Grutas do Faial: When the Day Turns From Driving to Eating

Lunch is not an afterthought here. It is scheduled as a major anchor in the middle of the day, with a 3-course lunch and wine associated with the Grutas do Faial stop.

The menu is described as a three-course choice menu, so you should not feel stuck with one default option. That matters on longer tours because it keeps lunch from feeling like a rushed line through a tourist machine.

One more important detail: based on the day’s flow, lunch can feel slightly rushed if local events are causing extra foot traffic in Santana. Still, this is generally the part that people relax into. After hours of mountain driving and short viewpoint stops, a proper meal is not just food. It is your energy refill, and it helps you enjoy the last drive and tasting stop instead of arriving tired and cranky.

Rum Tasting Porto Cruz: A Fun Finale That Does Not Require Big Effort

The tour also includes rum tasting in Porto Cruz. This is the right kind of finale stop: short, social, and easy to fit into a long day.

Porto Cruz gives you a break from constant viewpoint hunting. It also adds a Madeira-specific flavor, because rum culture is part of the island’s identity. Even if you do not buy anything, it is a nice palate break after lunch.

If you tend to avoid alcohol, you can still enjoy the experience as a tasting stop. You just might want to pace it, since you are back on the roads afterward.

Transportation Comfort and the Winding Road Reality

This is a full east-coast day, and that means the roads are the main “comfort variable.” You are traveling by an air-conditioned vehicle, and the tour includes a driver/guide.

What I would plan for:

• A minibus-style day can mean less legroom than you might expect in a larger coach
• The winding roads can be tough if you are sensitive to motion
• If you are traveling with children, note the strict seating rules. The tour info states children must not travel on a parent’s lap, and they require the correct chair. That can affect how the front seats are used

If you are someone who gets car sick easily, you might want to bring your usual remedy, and you should consider sitting in a less motion-sensitive position when possible.

Price and Value: Why 66.38 Makes Sense for the Whole Package

At about $66.38 per person, the tour looks like a bargain when you add up what you actually get: round-trip transport with pickup and drop-off in selected areas, guided sightseeing, lunch with a three-course choice menu, and rum tasting.

The value equation is simple. You are paying for:

• A guided route that covers multiple regions on the island
• Transport so you do not need to rent a car or coordinate taxis
• Lunch that would otherwise cost you time and money in town
• A specific experience component, levada walking plus rum tasting

Could you do it cheaper on your own? Maybe, but you would trade off time, planning stress, and the guided context. And on Madeira, the planning stress is real. It is not just driving, it is deciding where to stop, when to stop, and how to fit mountain viewpoints into one coherent day.

So I think this price is fair if you want a structured day and you are comfortable with a walking segment.

Who Should Book This East Tour, and Who Might Want Another Option

This tour fits best if you want a complete Madeira east-side introduction in one day, especially if you do not have a car. It is also a good fit if you enjoy:

• Mountain viewpoints
• Traditional villages like Santana
• A guided levada walk rather than a solo hike
• A meal that is part of the itinerary, not an optional detour

It might be a less ideal match if you:

• Have mobility challenges that make uneven ground hard
• Know you get motion sickness on winding roads
• Want a fully seated day with no walk component

If you are traveling with kids, it can still work, but plan around seating rules and the fact that the day is long and roads are curvy.

Should You Book This Madeira East Island Tour?

I would book this if you want the east coast highlights without renting a car, and if you are comfortable with one muddy, windy walk segment. The strongest reasons to choose it are the combination of village atmosphere, levada walking, and a lunch that is already solved for you. Guides like Tony, Carlos, Lucy, Michael, and Gamma are named often in positive write-ups for a reason: they keep the day moving and make the stops feel meaningful.

Skip or reconsider if you are not okay with cold mountain temps, if you are unlikely to handle uneven footing, or if you are sensitive to vehicle motion. If any of those apply, you will likely enjoy Madeira more with a gentler plan.

If you are on the fence, here is the simple test: do you want a day where you learn the island through a mix of places, food, and a real walk? If yes, this is a solid pick for your Madeira east introduction.

FAQ

How long is the Madeira East Island Tour with a levada walk and lunch?

It is approximately 8 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is around 9:00 am, with pickup meaning the day can start between 8:00 am, 8:45 am, and 9:30 am depending on where you are picked up.

Where does pickup happen?

Pickup is from your hotel in selected areas. If hotel pickup is not possible, you will need to make your way to the cable car area or an H&M Store in Funchal.

What if I am coming from a cruise ship?

You will be collected from the first roundabout coming out from the harbor, which is about a 5-minute walk.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and described as a three-course choice menu, with wine noted in the tour highlights.

What is included besides lunch?

The tour includes a driver/guide, air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off in selected areas, rum tasting in Porto Cruz, and meals.

Is the levada walk included, and can I add Balcões?

The tour includes a scenic levada walk. A Balcões walk extension is optional and has an additional fee paid directly on the walk by cash or credit card.

What should I bring for the day?

Bring a jacket, since it can get cold in the mountains. For the levada walk, bring proper footwear because paths can be muddy.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility problems?

It is not recommended for travelers with mobility problems.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes, you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts.