Come and live Madeiras history. Starting from the reception of your hotel we make our way, passing the Eucalyptus and Mimosa forests unto the breathtaking mountains of Pico do Arieiro at 1800m, descending to Ribeiro Frio where you will find the trout hatchery we stop for a short walk in the most beautiful old forest of Madeira 45 minutes easy walk (this is not compulsory, no walk takes place in rain and bad weather). and the Santana UNESCO BIOSPHERE RESERVE. Taking the old road of Faial, Santana will be the next stop where you will find the traditional thatched houses and vines. A visit to an old original house is included. In this Village a lunch stop will be made. Driving along the sugar cane village a stop for rum tasting. Driving the Southeast coast of Machico where the first Portuguese settlers arrived in the 15 century. The next stop is at Ponta de São Lourenço the eastern point cape of the Island where the rock formation will astound you, we then return to hotel.
Pick up and Drop Off Hotels: Should your Hotel not be on the list please inform, if possible we arrange pick up for you.
Tour
Shared tour : Shared tour with other guests
Duration: 7 hours
Not included
East tour
van
Pickup included
Terreiro da Luta - above 700m from monte A visit to the is highly recommended, overlooking the capital of Funchal course, but also for the importance of the historical landmark in this space. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peace, the largest monument on the island, measuring five meters in height. This statue was a promise made to the locals carried out as part of the promise made to the Madeirans during the bombings carried out by German submarines on Funchal, in 1917. Crafted in marble, in honor of Nossa Senhora do Monte is part of the emotional heritage of the people of the island. Around the statue, you will find the biggest rosary beads in the world, bringing many people to pray for peace. At this stop there is also a coffee shop and rest rooms paid for.
After driving through the national park, flowers growing wild on the side of the roads, the black forest with the tall christmas pines brings us to the famous, skywalk to heaven. One of the islands most popular walks bringing visitors from all over the world. Pico Arieiro. At 1818 meters above sea level, the third highest point on the island of Madeira. From this elevated location, the view from all sides of Madeira, from Funchal, down to the nuns valley, To the western side, Ponta de São Lourenço, Porto Santo island, and the deserted islands the unique grandeur of the Madeiran Mountain Massif, with the Atlantic Ocean in the background. When weather permits, beautiful photos can be taken of the beautiful colours and rock formations, overlaping one another. At this stop there are also restaurantes and rest rooms also paid for.
Descending from the mountain, into the green rainforest (laurissilva)of ribeiro frio (cold river), springs, waterfalls, along the river bed covered by intense endemic vegetation, protected by unesco, world heritge, this ecosystem allows the observation of bird life such as the bis-bis/Firecrest (Regulus madeirensis), the chaffinch (Fringila coelebs madeirensis) or, more rarely, the long toed pigeon (Columba Trocaz) the Ribeiro Frio Aquaculture Station, whose rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, repopulate the island's waterways. While you're visiting this forest park, you can enjoy some walking trails such as the Balcões, short easy walk of 45 minutes along the waterchanel (levada)into an amazing viewpoint, with a mountain view, riverbed of Faial village, the sea and the eagles rock muntain, that serves as a bridge to separate the two villages; Faial and Porto da Cruz. (Please note the walk of 45 minutes is not compulsory).
Choose to be picked up from a list of locations
Please arrive at the pick up point 35 minutes before departure time.
Please note we dont pick up from Hotels in Machico, Ponta do Sol and Calheta. Only for groups of 8 there is an aditional cost. Pick ups for Santa cruz will have an aditional cost of 6.00€ per person paid to the driver in cash as from the 13.01.2025.