Meet your air-conditioned coach at the hotel bus stop on Avenida do Mar or your Funchal city hotel for a full day tour of east Madeira. Buckle-up and begin your journey to the villages of Camacha, Pico do Ariero, Ribeiro Frio, Portela and Santana.
First travel about 20 minutes to the village Camacha and visit its acclaimed wickerwork factory. Watch as artisanal weave baskets, chairs and even animal figures. If an item catches your eye, feel free to purchase it.
Next, cruise to the second-highest summit on Maderia, Pico do Arieiro. Stare down at the clouds or out toward the island of Porto Santo (Pico do Facho) in the distance. Enjoy crisp mountain air as you head to Ribeiro Frio. Here, explore a natural park within the deep valley and visit its popular governmental trout hatchery and farm.
Briefly visit Faial before you ascend to the charming village of Santana. Admire the triangular, fairytale cottages with straw roofs that sprinkle the mountainside. Stop for a tasty lunch before climbing 2,198 feet (670 meters) to Portela. Marvel at Eagle’s cliff and see it rise high above the pristine coastline.
On your journey home to Funchal, visit the southeast part of Madeira and discover the town of Machico. It’s here that Portugal’s great navigators arrived in 1420. Finally, end your tour back at your original point of departure.
