Top Funchal Outdoor Activities

Enjoy Madeira’s natural beauty and renowned wine on a half-day off-road adventure. After a convenient hotel pickup in Funchal or Caniço, travel by 4x4 to picturesque sites like the valley of Serra d’Agua and the soaring cliffs of Cabo Girão. Learn about local wine customs and production from a local winemaker, sample white, red and rosé varieties.

Hike through the Madeira highlands on a half-day walk that follows the historic Levada da Serra do Faial, a century-old irrigation canal, through lush forest. You’ll cover 3.4 miles (5.5 km) of trail, earn views of Madeiran villages, and see a wide range of plants in a scenic, natural environment. This 4-hour, guided walking tour includes pickup and drop-off at Funchal hotels.

Bask in the sun and sea of Cabo Girão, one of the world’s tallest oceanside cliffs, on this romantic catamaran excursion departing from the Funchal Marina. After boarding, find a nice spot on the deck for spotting whales and dolphins, and then strap on your complimentary goggles and mask while you look for sea life beneath the surface.

Uncover the natural splendor surrounding Funchal on this full-day northern wonders Jeep trip. Stay from Funchal’s well-trodden paths in a fully-equipped Jeep to see the awe-inspiring plateaus at Paul da Serra. Admire the natural Porto Moniz pools, formed by volcanic activity long ago, as well as the renowned São Vicente vineyards and Cabo Girao.

Delve into the spectacular landscapes of Madeira’s northwest coast on an explorative full-day tour from Funchal. Accompanied by your guide, travel through scenery of outstanding natural beauty, gazing at landmarks like Paul da Serra and Porto Moniz. Head deep into the mysterious forest on a guided hike; gain an insightful glimpse into Portuguese culture; and, weather permitting, sink your toes into the silky sands of the black sandy beach of Seixal.

A hop-on hop-off bus tour is the ideal way to combine the flexibility of independent sightseeing with the convenience of a guided tour. With a choice of a 48-hour or 5-day ticket, this great-value deal offers full access to three routes—the highlights of Funchal, the village of Câmara de Lobos, and the Skywalk of Cabo Girão.

Ascend to Madeira’s highest peak on an 8-hour levada walk to Vereda do Pico Ruivo, from the top of which travelers are rewarded with spectacular panoramas of Madeira. Ideal for visitors with a moderate fitness level, this tour takes you through an ancient heather forest and reveals a plethora of flora and fauna native to the island. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Experience Funchal’s rich culture and natural environment on this all-day off-road adventure. After a convenient hotel pickup, hop in a 4x4 and explore the island’s pristine corners with a local guide. Stop for souvenirs in Santana, visit Madiera’s first capital city, and marvel at picturesque views of the Red Cliffs—all on one affordable, family-friendly tour.

Madeira Island’s western shores are home to natural sea pools, traditional fishing villages, soaring cliffs, and dense forests, but reaching the top sites requires local knowledge. On this tour, travel from your Canico, Funchal, or Machico hotel via air-conditioned minibus, and reach the sites with ease. Hit sites of interest including Câmara de Lobos, Porto Moniz, and the Ribeira Brava, and enjoy personal attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to 16 people.

Spend a day exploring the dramatic sea cliffs, islands and traditional villages of Madeira’s east coast on this full-day small-group tour, with a maximum of 8 people. Enjoy magnificent views of Ribeiro Frio, Pico do Arieiro and Laurissilva forest; discover the crafts-making heritage of Camacha village; and snap photos of the thatched triangular houses in Santana village. After a scenic walk along the levadas (canal ways) and a visit to a trout farm, tuck into a delicious 3-course lunch (included) on the island of Grutas do Faial.

On this six-hour tour you can tailor an itinerary with the help of your local guide/driver. You can choose the different areas you want to visit. The City of Funchal, the Fishing Village of Câmara de Lobos, the west sea cliffs of Cabo Girão, the unique Fajã dos Padres, the hill side village of Monte, the east coast cliffs of Garajau, the Botanical Garden, or even the breathtaking mountain views of Nuns Valley are all possible options for your tour itinerary. Whatever your choice of itinerary, your guide will be there to help you at every moment.

Journey to the mystical land of Rabaçal on this full-day walking and Jeep tour, from Funchal. See the beautiful fountains and waterfalls on the “25 Fontes” Levada Walk as well as the highest cliff in Europe, Cabo Girão. Then, hop in a stylish 4x4 Jeep for some more adventure. Along the way, see local wildlife and learn about this fascinating region from your expert guide.

Explore the wild and rural side of East Madeira by going on an exhilarating 4x4 tour. You won’t have to worry about your trip being overcrowded as you’ll be traveling in a small group. Visit off-road sites that would be hard to reach alone such as Pico do Arieiro. You’ll see incredible landscapes, learn about local flora and fauna, and see traditional houses in Santana. A guide will enhance your tour with fascinating stories about the island along the way.

Get a comprehensive tour of Funchal, combined with personalized attention, on this private excursion. With a dedicated guide behind the wheel, you’ll enjoy private transportation for a stress-free trip that ticks all of the important sights off your list. Stops include Sao Joao do Pico Fortress, Quinta das Cruzes, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Mercado dos Lavradores, and some impressive lookout points for great photo ops.

Get outside and see Funchal at its best on this full-day tour to a wine area, lava pools, a waterfall, a forest, and spectacular viewpoints. Save hours of research time by having a full itinerary planned out for you. Highlights include Seixal's lava pools, Véu da Noiva waterfall, Porto Moniz volcanic pools, and Cabo Girão sea cliff.

Begin your day watching the sunrise over the clouds and mountains on this early morning adventure from Funchal. Join a small group and head to the summit of Arieiro, Madeira’s third highest peak, to watch the sky change from night to day. After, enjoy a “levada” walk through the lush forests before the crowds set in.

Slow down and explore the lush heart of Madeira island on this half-day walking tour from Rabaçal to 25 Fountains. Led by a local guide, you’ll learn about Madeira’s levadas (canals), catch stunning views of Rabaçal Valley, wander through a laurel forest, watch for the elusive trocaz pigeon—a bird found only on Madeira—and marvel at the clear, green water of 25 Fountains.

Spend the day hiking the remarkable Levada das 25 Fontes without any of the hassles of organizing transport, meals and more. On this small group hiking excursion, all of those things are pre-arranged for you. Catch your transport from Funchal and focus on the stunning landscapes of the Laurissilva Forest. Hike through to the center of the forest to get a close-up look at some of its natural highlights, including the dramatic 25 Fontes and Risco waterfalls.

Taste your way around Madeira on this food on foot walking tour. You won’t have to worry about language barriers as you’ll have a guide to translate and order for you. Save time researching and planning your trip by having a guide to show you around. You’ll make the most of your day by visiting seven different places and tasting local specialities. Conveniently, all food and drink is included.  .

This is it! This walk will give you a fuller idea of the real beauty of this island. Rock formations seem to want to reach the sky like endless sculptures. Along the way the views are simply breathtaking. Numerous plants have their habitat here, and it is to see them dress proudly in a multitude of colors in small flowers for all to see. Near Pico Ruivo we pass through the oldest heather forest. These old trees count for hundreds of years already and they already existed when Zarco arrived at the Island. From here to Pico Ruivo (the highest peak on the island) is just a step away - take advantage and dazzle yourself with magnificent views of the island. A fascinating walk through breathtaking landscapes designed for true explorers!

Discover the best that the Portuguese island of Madeira has to offer on a full-day tour. Visit top locations including the Camara dos Lobos fishing village, Girao Cape, Arieiro Peak, the traditional houses of Santana, and many more. Since this is a private tour, you are able to customize the itinerary to your group’s interests and stop at any place you’d like.

"Enjoy the famous vineyards at São Vicente, the amazing skywalk at Cabo Girão and the beauty of Madeira’s Sea on board of a catamaran" From Funchal we will go to Serra d'Agua, a valley at the center of the island, before going off-road meeting fantastic views over the north of the island (Porto Moniz, Paúl da Serra and São Vicente). Then, you will have an unforgettable experience with the main wine producers in Madeira, followed by a guided tour through the largest vineyards along with a wine tasting (1 rose, 2 white, 2 red) and a professional explanation about traditions, wine culture and wine production. From this fabulous experience, we will continue our tour to Cabo Girão, the highest cliff in Europe and second in the World (589 meters), known by its suspended glass floor viewpoint, which offers a spectacular panoramic view over the Atlantic, Câmara de Lobos and Funchal. After Jeep tour, you will be dropped off at the Harbor to start the Dolphin Watching Tour (free time to lunch)

This half-day is dedicated to one of the havens of Madeira, the gardens! We partnered with Monte Palace Garden and Botanical Garden of Madeira to show you this beauty. The first stop is at Monte Palace Tropical Garden, which impresses with its beauty, diversity of culture, as well as, traces of the history of Portugal since the reign of D. Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. The Monte Palace Madeira occupies an area of 70.000 square meters and houses a huge exotic plant’s collection, coming from all over the world, together with swans and duck’s, that populates the central lake, peacocks and chickens, that walk free in the main areas of the property. The tour ends in the botanical garden, founded in 1960 by a Madeiran Botanical, here we can find more than 2500 species of plants, from different parts in the world all brought together in the Garden of the Atlantic.

This is a trip to the center of Madeira Island, where extraordinary mountains with cloud-covered ridges descend to the verdant valleys in the most spectacular way. Our excursion begins with a visit to the Mirador do Pico dos Barcelos (from this place it is possible to contemplate a panoramic view of the bay and the city of Funchal). We then proceed to Eira do Serrado, a viewpoint located at 1094 meters above the parish of Curral das Freiras. Then we went to the small village of Curral das Freiras. The enormous cauldron in which the Curral das Freiras is situated was formed by erosion, which is the latest theory, or, as many still believe, by volcanic activity. The village is very isolated and the inhabitants live mainly from what they cultivate. The local chestnuts are delicious and are used in daily cooking. Every year, the inhabitants celebrate the 'Chestnut Festival', for which the village is famous.