sea tours in madeira

Bonita da Madeira

Feel the sea, our boat tours.

Choose one of our tour packages and enjoy the sea life of Madeira Island.

Whales & Dolphins

Everyday 10.30 – 13.30 / 15.00 – 18.00

From: 49€ /per person

Beautiful Bays – East

Tuesday & Friday 10.30 – 15.30

From: 75€ /per person

Desertas Islands

Wednesday & Sunday 10.00 – 18.30

From: 99€ /per person

Bonita da Madeira and Margarita Sunset , are a genuine wooden gullet, 23m long and 99 tons, equipped by a professional and experienced crew, allowing you to enjoy the crystal blue ocean, beautiful bays and marvellous coast of Madeira and Desertas in comfort and maximum safety.

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Come discover and enjoy the crystal blue ocean and beautiful bays of Madeira Insland.

From 45€ /per Adult | 22,5€ /per child

ALL TOURS INCLUDES FUEL, PADDLE BOARD AND SNORKELLING EQUIPMENT

PRIVATE HALF DAY TOUR 3,5 HOURS

Boat trip and charters on Madeira Island is an excellent introduction to the Cabo Girao Coast!

 It is a ride along the coast of Funchal, Camara de Lobos, Cabo Girao, Fajã dos Padres, Calhau da Lapa while the captain shows you some points of interest. We will stop for a swim, snorkel and stand up paddling.

Fuel and drinks included.

FROM 370€ PER SERVICE

PRIVATE FULL DAY TOUR 7 HOURS

Dive into the crystal-clear waters for snorkeling, or paddleboard along the stunning coastline.

Our exclusive tour ensures personalized attention and unforgettable moments.

Drinks and snacks included.

Group till 11 person

From 620 ​€ PER SERVICE

 PRIVATE SUNSET CRUISE  2,5 HOURS

Share a sunset boat tour with someone you love! Because its all about spending another great time!

This is a private tour / activity. Only your group will participate.

From 300 ​€ PER SERVICE

Which experience would you prefer?​

Birthday celebration, bachelor party

A private boat rental, where you chart your own course and explore at your leisure

An exciting fishing tour, where the thrill of the catch awaits?

Don't wait; make your own request now!

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Sali Kilmat , Boston,  USA

I absolutely recommend Cristal Sea to anyone looking for an amazing private cruise experience. The team was so accommodating, professional, friendly and knowledgeable… and we found their pricing to be very fair. We had a blast on our sunset cruise in Madeira with Fabio and Bernardo. You won’t regret booking with this company!!!

What Clients Say

Kent Gamber , England

This was the best part of my trip in Madeira. Fabio, our skipper, was fantastic and made the trip that much better. Couldn’t recommend Cristal Sea Madeira more!!

Cristal Sea Madeira - Google feedback

Michele Ratti Morales, Spain, Tenerife

Amaizing experience with Fabio the Skipper of the boat he is very carefull of details and service. He show us some places in Madeira that you can only visit on the boat like waterfalls unaccess beach . I strictly recommend this boat trip, the price is very good for the service he is providing. You should try the Private sunset trip.

CRISTAL SEA MADEIRA,

Praça do Povo, 9000-900 Funchal

Cais 8, Door 1

+351 911 115 005

[email protected]

Authorized Maritime Tourism Operator License RNAAT № 375/2022

Lost items policy

Cancelation policy, deposit policy, private policy.

Top Tours in Madeira, Portugal

Madeira tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Walking Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Madeira Dolphin and Whale Watching on a Ecological Catamaran

2. Porto Moniz - Enchanted Terraces: Open 4x4 Full Day Tour

3. VipDolphins Luxury Whale Watching

4. Madeira Peaks - Mountain Walk

5. Jeep Tour, Porto Moniz Volcanic Pool, Fanal Forest and Cabo Girao

6. Madeira Best of the West Day Tour

7. Madeira Food, Wine & Cultural Tour

8. Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour in Madeira

9. Madeira Stairway To Heaven Pico Areeiro to Pico Ruivo Hike

10. Madeira Private Sunset Boat Tour from Funchal

11. Full-Day Madeira North West Coast Safari from Funchal

12. Madeira "Mystery Tour" - Full Day Private 4x4 Jeep

13. Sunrise Self-Guided Hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo

14. Seaborn Catamaran trips

15. Around The Island - Two Days Tour From 9am To 5pm (Each Day)

16. Whale and Dolphin Watching in Calheta, Madeira Island

17. Madeira : West and East Mega Tour in 1 Day with Drinks and Snacks

18. Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise from Funchal

19. 4-Hour Private Outdoor Tour in Madeira

20. Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira

21. Madeira East Tour from Funchal

22. West Tour Madeira Highly Recommended !ATTENTION Minimum 2 People for this Tour.

23. Half Day Tour on a Luxury Catamaran on Madeira Island

24. Madeira Grand Experience by Tukxi, Private Tour

25. Full-Day Jeep 4x4: Amazing West Full-Day Tour to Natural Pools

26. Funchal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour 3 in 1

27. Half day jeep Wine tour and tasting, & sea cliff adventure

28. Madeira Genuíne Food Experience at Re-Canto

29. West Side Private Full Day Madeira Tour (Mercedes Viano/ Vito)

30. Magic Dolphin Sea Safaris

What travellers are saying.

MADEIRA’S PREMIER DOLPHIN & WHALE WATCHING COMPANY

Join us for comfortable cruising aboard our Eco Catamaran. Look out for dolphins, whales and endemic birds on this magical cruise along the south coast of Madeira. When sea life arrives, our electric engines engage for silent emission-free cruising which helps keep the cetaceans very happy!

Expect lots of fun aboard the Sea Safari Power Boat (2x250hp engines) NB. It is important to have two engines for safety, speed and stability! We offer the best chance of seeing dolphins, whales and turtles in Madeira (98% of trips). Enjoy the informative commentary of certified guides on this adventure tour for nature lovers!

Enjoy stunning views of Madeira Island’s south coast from the comfort of a lovely catamaran whilst keeping a look out for dolphins, whales, turtles and endemic birds in their natural habitat. Less passengers (maximum 35) allows our 3 crew to provide individual attention which can make all the difference!

Magic Dolphin specializes in dolphin and whale watching tours on the island of Madeira. Our fleet and reception kiosk are located in the marina of Funchal. We are open from 9am to 6pm daily.

  Magic Dolphin, Praca do Povo, Av. Do Mar, 9000-900 Funchal

 +351 925 680 587

 [email protected]

Self parking at ‘Parque de Estacionamento Almirante Reis’

Copyright © 2011-2023 Magic Dolphin – Atividades Maritímas LDA

Boat trips in Madeira

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18 best Madeira Tours (+ day trips) – to explore the island

Last updated on November 1, 2023 by Claire Robinson - this article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I get a small commission ( more )

Madeira is a small island, which is perfect for day trips or short excursions. Below is my selection of the best Madeira Tours:

• The classic day trips to the most beautiful places
• The best boat tours
• The best walking tours
• The best Funchal Tours

I wish you a wonderful trip!

Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Madeira:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Madeira: DiscoverCars

The unmissable boat tour: Catamaran tour to go whale watching

My favorite excursion from Funchal:   4×4 tour of East Madeira

MMy favorite places to stay in Funchal:  Les Suites at the Cliff Bay  (Luxury) –  Sé Boutique Hotel  (4 stars) –  Market Place by Storytellers  (apartments)

My favorite places to stay outside Funchal:  Saccharum Resort  near a beach (Luxury) –  Estalagem da Ponta do Sol  (4 stars) –  Engho Velho Hotel  (mid-range)

The best Madeira Tours – short answer

If you don’t want to read the entire article with my 18 suggestions, here are my choice for best tours, excursions and day trips to consider. This is my opinion. None of those tours asked to be listed.

•  Day trip to explore the East of Madeira (including Pico do Arieiro) – See group tour details & availability
• Combining the impressive Valley of the Nuns and the charming coastal town of Camara de Lobos – See group tour details & availability
• Catamaran tour to go whale and dolphin watching plus swim under Cabo Girao – See group tour details & availability
• Go hiking on the volcanic peninsula of Ponta de Sao Louranço – See group tour details & availability
• Complete a Levada walk at the 25 Fontes – See group tour details & availability
•  Explore Funchal on a guided walking tour, to learn about its history and admire its most beautiful buildings – See details & availability
• Go a a food tour to discover the local delicacies: wine, fish, chocolate… – See details & availability

With or without a car?

If you choose to visit Madeira without a car, it is preferable to stay in Funchal old center or in the Funchal Lido area.

• See best rated accommodations in Funchal
• For luxury resorts, check out the Lido area in Funchal
• More tips on  my article about where to stay in Madeira

If you choose to do day trips around Madeira with a car,

• see my tips to rent a car and drive
• or go compare prices
• and check out my eBook that makes planning easier:  

Plan your dream trip in Madeira thanks to my guide

• 7 maps to easily plan your itinerary
• 120+ pre-selected locations
• GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
• Tips to make the most of your time
• 260+ original photos to help you choose

CLASSIC – 3 Best Madeira Excursions

The next 3 articles are covering some of the most famous locations in Madeira. For good reasons. These places are stunning and deserve a visit.

Valley of the Nuns views & Cliffs

• Eira do Serrado – admire Curral das Frieiras (Valley of the nuns) from higher grounds, a hidden valley with giant vertical mountains surrounding the “couldron” 
• Visit the village of Curral das Frieiras – appreciate the perspective from the bottom of the valley and taste the famous chestnuts
• Camara de Lobos – stroll the seafront of a charming village with its colorful fishing port, its beach and promenade.

How long it takes

• Half day – you never drive far from Funchal
• Curral das Frieiras is 30min drive away
• Camara de Lobos is 15min drive away

Why I love it It combines the wonders of the inland with the wonders of the coast. You can realise how mountainous the island is and see the most charming old center on the island, where Churchill used to spend time and paint.

Organized tour option: See details, availability & book

Pico do Arieiro,  Santana & East Madeira

• The viewpoint of Portela, one of the most beautiful on the island with views of the Eagle Rock (Penha D’Aguia)
• The Santana traditional thatched houses, iconic of Madeira island (note, if you are renting a car don’t miss the view from Rocha do Navio !)
• The magnificent Pico do Arieiro, 3rd summit of the island with impressive views of the jagged mountain peaks
• Full day – a loop around the Eastern part of Madeira island 
• Machico is 30min from Funchal
• Santana is 20min away from Machico
• Pico do Arieiro is 45min away from Santana, and 40min away from Funchal
• Group tours a 4×4 but you can visit all those locations renting a normal car

Why I love it It is a day with a little bit of everything: coastal views, mountain views, town, history, culture… You will learn a lot about the history and geology of Madeira and visit iconic locations.

Porto Moniz natural pools

• Porto Moniz Natural Pools – created by lava and filled with sea water
• The Fanal Forest – with ancient Laurrissilva trees 
• Seixal natural black sand beach – sand beaches are rare on the island, and this one is stunning with the green lush cliffs next to it.
• But you can also book other tours that combine Porto Moniz with other parts of the island, such as wine tasting or the Skywalk at Cabo Girao
• Porto Moniz is 1h drive away from Funchal 

Why I love it Swimming in the natural pools of Porto Moniz was one of my favorite experiences on the island. Even just looking at them with the island in the background and the fort on the side. I love lava rock formations… Note – not all tours include time to go swimming.

Organized tour option: See details, availability & book Or see alternative tours that also include Porto Moniz

2 Best boat tours in Madeira

Madeira is a famous location in Europe to go dolphin and whale watching ( learn more ), therefore a boat tour is a must-do for all visitors of the island. Below is my selection of 2 boat tours worth doing during your holidays in Madeira (depending on how long you have).

Dolphin and whale watching boat tour in Madeira

• If you take a catamaran, you first head away from the shore, looking for dolphins and whales
• Later in the tour, you get close to the giant Cabo Girao cliffs and you can go for a swim
• Around 3 hours
• Departs from Funchal Marina – most tours don’t offer transfer

Why I love it I always love seeing dolphins. And you may be able to also spot a whale! Plus, the swimming experience just under the 589m tall cliffs is impressive. And you get to admire the mountainous island from a distance.

Organized tour option: See catamaran tours & availabilities Alternative: you can also book a tour where the swim is with dolphins when possible – see details & availability

Porto Santo day tour

For this tour, I only recommend it if you have more than 10 days on Madeira Island. There is already enough to see and keep busy in Madeira, before going exploring the rest of the archipelago.

• Ferry from Funchal Harbor to Porto Santo island
• The 9km long sandy beach on the South coast
• The many geological wonders: organ pipe of basalt columns, sand dunes…
• The ferry crossing is 2h30 of Navigation and you have to be on board at least 30min before

Why I love it As someone who loves geology, the very old island of Porto Santo is a marvel.  Plus, the island differs greatly from Madeira. The mountains are lower and do not stop the clouds, therefore there is hardly any rain, and hardly any vegetation.

Organized tour option: See details, availability & book Or book yourself a ferry ride and organize your visit.

4 Madeira Walking Tours

Madeira is also famous for its half day and day hikes (see my article with the best hikes on the island ). They offer some of the best landscapes on the island. Know that if you don’t want to hike alone or if you don’t rent a car, there are group hikes that are organized departing the Funchal area: they include the volcanic cliffs, the mountains and also the most famous levada walks (traditional irrigation systems on the side of the mountains).

Ponta de Sao Louranço Hiking tour

About the hike

• Follows the volcanic cliffs of Ponta de Sao Lourenço, the “dragon tail” of Madeira
• 6.4km/4mi return 
• Moderate difficulty (nothing technical but some ups and downs)
• 40min drive from Funchal
• 3 to 4 hours return hike

Why I love it Ponta de Sao Louranço is the best place on the island to admire the volcanic origin of Madeira, surrounded by bare landscapes and colorful rocks. Along the hike there are many viewpoints with steep cliffs, sea stacks and magnificent views towards the sea or back towards the island. It is impressive and colorful!

Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Guided hiking tour

• This is the most famous hikes on the island, along the jagged peaks between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo (highest point on the island)
• 14km (8.7mi) return walk
• Or 7km + 2,8km = 9,8km (6mi) on a guided tour with pick up from another location
• Moderate to strenuous – technically not difficult, but lots of steep ups and downs with staircases
• 40min drive to Pico do Arieiro
• self walk will need to return to Pico do Arieiro – 7 to 8h
• Guided walks head to Achadas da Teixeira for a pick up – 5h to 6h hike – 1h drive back

Why I love it This is one of the most impressive hikes you will ever do. It connects Pico do Areeiro (1817m – 5961ft) to Pico Ruivo (1862m – 6108ft), the 3rd and 1st highest peaks on the island. The peaks are sharp and the cliffs dropping straight down around you. You can see mountains all around, as well as the sea on each side. Plus, along the way, there are caves into the volcanic tuff that were shelters for shepherds.

25 Fontes Levada walk tour in Madeira

• Along a levada all the way to a waterfall and lagoon
• Between 9km (5.6mi) return and 16km (10mi) return
• Moderate difficulty – nothing technically difficult – some narrow section on the path
• 50min drive to Rabaçal
• hike is 5h to 5h30 without the shuttle (groups don’t take the shuttle)
• If you are doing this Madeira walking tour on your own, there is a shuttle to reduce the hike to 4h to 4h30

Why I love it This is the most famous Levada walk in Madeira. Head down in the valley to reach the Levada and follow the path in lush vegetation. It leads to a small lagoon and many tiny waterfalls crying on a wall, hence the name of 25 springs. Plus, on that same path, you can also enjoy a quick detour to the Risco waterfall, dropping 100m (330ft) on the side of the mountain.

Caldeirao Verde Hiking tour

• Along a levada on the side of a mountain, surrounded by lush vegetation
• 13km/8mi return 
• Easy but long (moderate if adding Caldeirao do Inferno)
• Bring a flashlight for the tunnels!
• Parque Florestal das Queimadas – 50min drive from Funchal
• 5h30 return
• If you are doing the hike on your own, you can add Caldeira do Inferno for 2h return extra

Why I love it Another famous Levada walk in Madeira. It is a long, flat walk in lush vegetation. It leads to a tall waterfall known as Caldeirao Verde. This walk is pretty special. First, there are the weeping walls with green vegetation. And later, it is also an adventure, because you have to make your way through 5 tunnels. Some of them are quite long and very dark. Kids love it! Adults have mixed feeling, especially when they bump their head…

3 Funchal Tours

Funchal is the Capital of the Madeira Archipelago and the main town on the island. It is where most of the historical buildings and museums are located. It deserves a full day or 2 half days to explore its various sections (and longer if you add the Monte area with the gardens).

Funchal old town walking tour

• Touring the old town of Funchal
• The historical Jesuit College
• The 19th century history around the theater
• The 17th century religious monuments
• No hotel pick-up – make your way to the meeting place

Why I love it I think walking is the best way to explore a city. You get to take your time and notice details on the buildings. Plus, with a guided tour you will learn a lot about the history of Funchal and the island: how it was discovered, how it was ruled, how did local used to live…

Tuk Tuk Funchal Tour

• Hop inside a tuktuk to cover more ground around the city and have fu
• The old town with the Jesuit College area, the Cathedral and the 19th century thater
• The area around Mercaro dos Lavoradores (farmers market)
• The neighborhood of Sao Petro with its church and museums
• The municial garden
• includes pick up at your hotel

Why I love it If you are short in time or are looking for an introduction to Funchal before exploring on your own, this is a great option. You cover all the main areas of lower Funchal and learn about its history.

Hop-on hop-off in Funchal – including Camara dos Lobos

• Stops all around Funchal: old town, Jesuit College, Farmers Market
• Plus, another bus route loops to the seaside village of Camara de Lobos
• 2 days to 5 days
• If staying on the bus – 1h35 loop
• Hop-on and Hop-off to see as much as you want

Why I love it If you don’t want a car and don’t want to spend a lot on taxis, this is a great option to reach all the various areas of town, as well as Camara de Lobos.

Organized tour option: See hop-on hop-off tickets

3 Madeira Food & Wine tours

Guided tours are also a great option when you want to learn more about the culinary culture of a destination. You can find some interesting Madeira Food and Wine tours. Some tours stay in Funchal, and other take you to other places to explore plantations and factories.

Food and wine walking tour

• 11 food tastings – chocolate, cookies, fish sandwiches, exotic fruits, Madeiran cuisine
• 6 drink tastings – wines, tea
• Walking tour around Funchal old town
• Tastings at markets, restaurants and wine producers
• No hotel pick up

Why I love it This is one of the best tour for tastings. You will be able to sample a little of everything that is famous on the Madeira island.

Full day wine tour

• Outside Funchal, visit of vineyards and producers
• Vineyards at Camara de Lobos – learn how fortified wine is made.
• Local meal and wine pairing
• North Coast vineyards
• Modern winery in Porto Moniz – white wine

Why I love it Madeira wine is something really special. This tour combines the history of making fortified wine with where the industry is heading today.

Traditional Madeiran Dinner and show

• Eat traditional Espetada
• Drink local wine
• Watch a traditional show
• Evening tours on Fridays

3 Madeira Island Tours – Adventure

And for those who are looking for Madeira tours that are more active and give you an adrenaline rush, check out these experiences:

• Swim, dive, snorkel, climb on cliffs and jump off them!
• Discover the intense experience of coastering in a 4hour tour.
• in Baia d’Abra Natural Park (Caniçal area)
• See details, availability & book
• Hike, jump, slide, climb… inside a canyon
• Another fun experience, but inland 
• For beginner to intermediate – See details, availability & book
• Or see more canyoning options

Off-road buggy tour

• Half a day Madeira tour 
• Off-road buggy driving
• Mountain, cliffs…

Want to see more of the best Madeira offers?

• 42 Madeira travel tips to plan an unforgettable trip –  read article
• Where to stay in Madeira – best areas – read article
• 35 best things to do in Madeira – read article
• The best landscapes in Madeira in 40 pictures – read article
• Tips to drive around Madeira – read article
• See my  36 tips about renting a car in Madeira
• 12 Madeira Hidden Gems – read article
• 4 Madeira Natural Pools (and 6 coastal alternatives) – read article
• 18 best beaches in Madeira – read article

Planning a trip to Madeira?

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

And keep track of your own trip!

Want to see more of MADEIRA?

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Welcome to madeira sunrise tours.

Welcome to Madeira Sunrise Tours, your premier destination for unforgettable island tours in the heart of Madeira Island. Our wide range of offerings includes serene walks along the island’s unique Levadas, adventurous offroad safaris that traverse the rugged landscapes, exhilarating boat trips offering panoramic ocean views, and thrilling canyoning experiences in Madeira’s stunning gorges. We’re passionately committed to showcasing the diverse natural beauty, vibrant culture, and rich history that make Madeira a paradise for travelers. Whether you’re seeking to explore lush forests, visit traditional markets, or embark on a nautical adventure, our experienced guides are here to make your Madeira Island experience truly unforgettable. Unearth the hidden treasures of Madeira with Madeira Sunrise Tours, your passport to the ultimate island adventure.

Unveiling the radiant beauty of Madeira Island through immersive tours, walks, and thrilling adventures.

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23 Best Madeira Tours to Book in 2024

LOOKING FOR THE BEST TOURS IN MADEIRA? 

You’re definitely in the right place, as this article outlines 23 of the best Madeira tours. If you didn’t already know, Madeira is an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1,000 km (620 mi) from mainland Portugal.

Don’t have time to read the whole article?

The best boat tour in Lagos is this half-Day Lagos Golden Coast Cruise with Lunch , with an almost perfect ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating 😊 ❤️

Madeira has some of the most stunning natural beauty you’ll ever see. The island is truly enchanting from the dramatic cliffs that jut out along the coast to the mystical forests and hidden lagoons. 

Why take a Madeira tour ? Well, most of what you see in Madeira is not in Funchal; it’s all around the island and can be hard to get to. So, if you don’t plan on driving around Madeira, booking one of these tours is the best way to see the island.

Top 3 Picks: Best Madeira Tours

Private Bespoke Grand Island Tour  

→ wide panoramic roof in the car → fully customizable tour

Madeira Food & Culture Tour

→ Visit seven different spots → Try local Madeiran food specialties

Private Tour to the West: Visit Fanal, Porto Moniz and Seixal

→ Private personalized tour → go off-the-beaten path

23 Best Madeira Tours

Experience the best of the island with these 23 top Madeira tours. Whether you’re navigating through scenic landscapes on Madeira jeep tours, sipping local flavors on Madeira winery tours, uncovering hidden gems with Madeira guided tours, trekking with Madeira hiking tours, or following the iconic waterways on Madeira Levada tours, adventure awaits.

1. Madeira Private Bespoke Grand Island Tour  

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 6-8 hours | 🌄 BOOK NOW

Create your own itinerary on this bespoke Madeira Grand Island Tour . You’ll be able to explore the immense diversity across the island, from secluded swimming spots to viewpoints atop volcanic mountains, as you’re guided around the old roads of the island.

We knew we were short on time and wanted to maximize our island experience and with Nuno as our guide, that’s exactly what we got!  — SYDNEY   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

The entire day is customizable to your exact preferences. If you see a spot where you want to stop, ask. On this private tour, your guide will bring you in a luxury car with a panoramic roof through the roads less traveled.

You’ll avoid tunnels and crowds and go along the tops of mountains and down scenic coastal routes. On one of the best private Madeira tours , your guide will also teach you more about the island’s political and cultural history and agriculture.

BEST MADEIRA TOURS

2. madeira food & cultural tour  .

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours | 🍽️ BOOK NOW

Enjoy the unique taste of Madeiran cuisine, a combination of typical Portuguese dishes and locally produced fruits and vegetables, on this Madeira food tour .

On this tour, you’ll visit a total of seven different locations across Funchal, eating, drinking, and learning. You’ll have the chance to sample fruits, vegetables, meats, chocolates, teas, and even local Madeira wine. 

Great experience, tasting delicious, local specialities from Madeira. The red wine was great and the Portuguese tarts were exquisite. — STEFAN   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

There are alternative options for non-drinkers and vegetarians . Your guide will tell you more about what you are eating, as well as historical facts and interesting stories about various spots you pass and about the island as a whole.

3. Private Tour to the West: Visit Fanal, Porto Moniz and Seixal  

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours | ⛰️ BOOK NOW

Spend a day touring the western side of Madeira with its beautiful, dramatic cliffs and charming villages on this private day tour to Fanal, Porto Moniz, and Seixal . 

This tour is fully customizable and can even be altered as your day progresses. You can visit banana plantations, visit spectacular viewpoints, or try some local Madeiran rum. No matter what you do, your guide will take you to hidden gems.

We just loved everything! The views, the trip, the time spent with Valdemar, he is a very kind, caring, highly knowledgeable person! 🙏 — ADAM   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

The tour is done in an open-top 4X4 jeep, ensuring you can get to spots most cars won’t be able to reach, making it one of the best Madeira 4×4 tours to take while visiting the island.

4. Madeira Peaks: Explore the Island’s Best Viewpoints  

Take in the lush green peaks of the island from some of the highest viewpoints — Eagle’s Rock and Ribeiro Frion — on this Madeira Peaks 4X4 tour of the island’s southeast .

On a clear day, from the open-top 4×4 vehicle, you’ll see the twinkling blue of the sea below, or you may have cloud cover adding a layer of white to the hues of Madeira’s landscape. 

Very fun and worthwhile excursion. Madeira is stunning! — JAN   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

In addition to the peaks, this tour will bring you to a sugar cane factory in Porto da Cruz, plus to Santana village to see the distinct houses there with their extremely peaked roofs making a sort of triangle shape with fun colors and thatched tops.

5. Sunrise Tour at Pico do Arieiro

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours | 🌄 BOOK NOW

Experience one of the most amazing sunrises you’ll ever see on this sunrise tour at Pico do Arieiro .

After a convenient hotel pick-up around 6:00 AM, you’ll journey towards Pico do Arieiro, ⛰️ Madeira’s highest viewpoint at 1818 meters . Around 8 AM, you’ll witness a breathtaking sunrise, a spectacle made even more delightful with a hot cup of coffee or tea.

The experience continues with a buffet-style breakfast. Savor sandwiches, homemade cake, biscuits, water, orange juice, fruit jam, cheese, and ham—all included in the tour price.

Sunrise was incredible! Such an amazing experience. Stopped for brekfast after and a lovely stroll at the Levada.  — Jenna   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

Afterward, you’ll return to the Camacha area for a scenic 40-minute adventure Madeira levada walk in the enchanting Paradise Valley.

🌨️ If the weather isn’t good, the location will change to the Skywalk Viewpoint of Guindaste in Santana, ensuring you can still enjoy a spectacular sunrise.

6. Private Sunset Boat Tour from Funchal

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2.5 hours | 🌄 BOOK NOW

Watch from the comfort of a private boat as Madeira’s coastline turns even more dramatic under the deep hues of a pink and purple sunset on this private boat tour from Funchal. 

On this evening cruise, you’ll pass by the lofty cliffs of Cape Girao and the orange-roofed houses of the small fishing village Camara De Lobos . You’ll also get another perspective on the tiers of Funchal City from what it looks like when you’re standing in it.

It was a beautiful calm evening a nd we had a great trip. The sunset was made to order and Paulo was a charming host. — JANET   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

This private sunset boat tour includes sparkling wine, snacks, and bottled water to make the evening more enjoyable. As you pass the different points of interest, your guide will tell you the history and fun stories about each spot.

🚽 You’ll also have access to an onboard restroom.

7. Monte Tropical Garden & Toboggan Ride by Tuk Tuk

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH : 3 hours | 🌄 BOOK NOW

Explore the lush, exotic Monte Tropical Garden by tuk tuk — the perfect way to explore the expansive 70,000 square meters (over 17 acres) of tropical plants. 

Visit the ducks in the lake, spot peacocks displaying their feathers, and wander the palace museum with its historical art and artifacts. 

The entire process from booking to the experience was incredible! — ANN   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

On one of the best Madeira island tours, you’ll also pay a visit to the city of Monte and the local church — a 15th century chapel where, each August, a massive celebration takes place for the Assumption of Mary.

Finally, toboggan back down the hill—a form of transportation used by locals continuously since the 1850s.

8. Genuíne Food Experience at Re-Canto

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | 🍽️ BOOK NOW

Enjoy a locally sourced and homemade meal overlooking some of the best views in Madeira — out across the city and the sea.

You’ll start your experience with a welcome drink before getting a tour of the property, some explanation of the food they grow, and you’ll get involved in harvesting some of the ingredients for your dinner.

We loved every second at Andre’s table! It was by far the best meal we had in Madeira. — Stephanie   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

While this is not a cooking class, you will be involved in preparing your 3-course meal. Espetada — a local meat dish, is the typical star of the show, but vegetarian options are available, and all meals are catered to individual preferences.

You might be served some seafood, and you’ll also get starters of bread or salads, a dessert, and of course a digestif.

9. From Calheta: Whale Watching Excursion in a Traditional Vessel

⭐️ RATING: 4.8 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ⛵ BOOK NOW

Head out to sea on a traditional Madeiran fishing boat — made from wood and restored to the smallest details — on this whale watching experience from Calheta . 

Sitting in the middle of the Atlantic, Madeira is the perfect place to spot whales, dolphins, and other sea animals. The island creates a safe spot for them to rest as they travel, so you will likely spot at least one species. This tour specifically offers an 86% success rate.

We were able to see dolphins and pilot whales and that was just amazing to see. Madeira viewed from the sea is so beautiful. — Stephanie   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

In addition to whales and dolphins, you may see seals or several different bird species. All of the animals are known to your guide and captain, who will explain any animals you see. 

You’ll depart from Calheta, and you’ll most likely be the only boat on the water, making this experience one of the best whale watching tours Madeira offers. 

10. Porto Moniz: Diving with Sharks and Rays in Madeira Aquarium

⭐️ RATING: 4.9 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | 🤿 BOOK NOW

You know when you visit an aquarium, and there are people in the tanks with the sharks? This Poto Moniz diving experience allows you to be one of those people. You’ll get to go scuba diving in the main tank of the Madeira Aquarium. 

It was just an incredible experience! We were instructed very well and the guide ensured a relaxed atmosphere with his relaxed and humorous manner. We felt super cared for. — VERONIKA   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

This is the perfect chance for you to swim alongside less common species in the open ocean: rays, sharks, mantas, and more. Before you get into the large tank, you’ll be fully equipped with safety gear, get a briefing from staff, and do a practice run in the pool. 

After your dive, you’ll also enjoy a guided aquarium tour.  This experience is hands-down one of the best tours Madeira has to offer for a unique and monumental experience.

11. Madeira North Coast and Vulcanic Pools

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours | 🛺 BOOK NOW

Combine adventure, history, and food for an epic, all-encompassing full day out to some of the most spectacular spots in Madeira. 

Start the day at 1,000 meters (more than 3,000 feet) above sea level at the top of the lush expanse of the Ribeira Brava Valley. 

Thank you for the trip, and adapting it to the situation. Views over the small towns were spectacular. — TIMO   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

Continue along the north coast of Madeira, with sea views all along the way. Stops include Véu da Noiva waterfall, the black sand beach in the small village of Seixal, and the fishing village of Porto Moniz, where you can swim in volcanic pools. 

You’ll also have a chance to visit the ethereal Posto Florestal Fanal forest , a UNESCO World Heritage site with laurel trees as old as 600 years . And finally, Ponto Do Sol beach and the heart-racing Cabo girão skywalk before the tour ends.

For one of the ultimate Madeira vacation packages, this Madeira North Coast Tour is the perfect option.

12. Madeira East Tour: Visit Pico Areiro, Santana, and Machico 

⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours | ⛰️ BOOK NOW

From some of the highest viewpoints all the way down to golden beaches, this tour of Madeira East is a great way to see many of the natural landscapes of this magical island. 

You’ll go up Pico de Arieiro, Madeira’s third-highest peak at 1,818 meters , or nearly 6,000 feet above sea level. You can wander the Laurissilva Forest, which has centuries-old trees, and you’ll visit Machico, with its rainbow-colored landscape of the sand into the sea.

Really good guide, stops had just the right amount of time, lots to see in one day. Price very reasonable. — CRAIG   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

During the day, you’ll stop for lunch in the village of Santana, where you can visit the typical houses shaped like little triangles with their steeply peaked, thatched roofs.

13. Funchal Food & Wine Walking Tour

Madeira has a unique food and wine scene, which you can explore on this walking tour of the gastronomic history and present-day wonders of the island.  

In total, you’ll make nine stops throughout your tour. Samples of chocolates, cookies, wine, and local specialties from restaurants and markets across Funchal will be available. 

At each stop, your guide will tell you what you’re sampling and fun historical facts about the food and the island. 

14. Canyoning in Madeira

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours | 🧗 BOOK NOW

Ready for a unique type of adventure? This canyoning experience brings you through the acres of nature in the Funchal Ecological Park, allowing you to explore its diverse flora and fauna.

It was so fun and the guides enjoyed dropping us into the water and splashing us along the way . — HEATHER   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

You’ll do a total of four abseils , with the highest one being 15 meters or about 50 feet. You’ll also do a few small jumps as you make your way through the cliffs and pools. 

⭐️ This activity suits all levels, including those who have never gone canyoning.

15. West and East Mega Tour with Drinks and Snacks

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 9-10 hours |   ⛰️ BOOK NOW

If you are looking for a tour that covers the best of Madeira Portugal, this is one of the best Madeira sightseeing tours to book .

You’ll explore the island’s rugged cliffs and terraced vineyards, go through its forests, and up to the mountain peaks, affording breathtaking views. All of this is packed into one of these best Madeira day tours. 

Wow we loved this tour! Our driver and guide Nuno was so great, full of knowledge, very funny and knew the island so well. — ELEANOR   (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

From the Christ statue just outside of Funchal, where you’ll start your day with stunning views of the bay and a visit to the chapel, all the way to Ponta do Pargo lighthouse at the westernmost tip of Madeira, you will see a lot during this all day Madeira tour. 

The day includes a visit to the ruins of a sugar cane factory, the famous Miradouro do Guindaste skywalk viewpoint, a swim in the natural pools of Porto Moniz, a visit to the fishing village of Paul do Mar, and more.

16. Immersive Surf Lesson

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | 🏄 BOOK NOW

If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at surfing, Madeira is an excellent place to give it a go — so why not sign up for a surf lesson?

There are a variety of surf breaks around the island suited to different skill levels, but they also change day to day depending on the strong Atlantic tides.

Great experience! Fantastic location of the school. Our son had absolutely amazing time and enjoyed his lesson. — ALEX (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

This half-day lesson will bring you to the best location for your date and skill level — total beginners to more advanced surfers are welcome.

You’ll start the day with a theoretical lesson and some warmups before getting out into the water with your certified coach. You’ll spend about 90 minutes to two hours catching waves. Surfboards and wetsuits are provided. 

17. Private Buggy Off-Road Tour

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours | 🏞️ BOOK NOW

Go off-road to explore the wild side of Madeira on these Madeira private tours by buggy. You’ll be surrounded by the diverse flora and fauna of the island as you make your way around the eastern end by buggy.

This is an amazing experience to have in the forests near Funchal – a lot of fun and Roberto is very attentive and knowledgeable. — Cristina (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

Starting in Funchal, head up to take in the breathtaking vistas of the coastline from the Pico Alto viewpoint. From there, visit Pico do Suna for views of Pico Ruiva — the tallest mountain on the island, and visit the beautiful clear waters of Lamaceiros lagoon, nestled within lush forests.

Through the forests, from peak to peak, your guide will be with you throughout the day as you drive your buggy around Madeira on one of the best Madeira island tours.

18. Cooking Experience & Market Tour

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours | 🍽️ BOOK NOW

This cooking experience & market tour starts you off by exploring a market and all of the unusual foods for sale there — from tropical fruits to fish you’ll only find in Madeira.

Throughout the day, you’ll get a taste of Madeira through its food and the history surrounding different dishes.  You’ll make dishes like ceviche, espada, guacamole, and special Madeiran desserts, all making up a big lunch accompanied by Madeira wine.

Fantastic experience. The food, the chefs, the company were also 5 star. One of the highlights of our holiday. — Cristina (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

You’ll then sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor on one of the Madeira best tours for foodies . This will be enjoyed on a spectacular rooftop where you’ll cook and eat your meal.

19. Rabaçal, Risco & 25 Fontes Levada Walk

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 6-7 hours | 🚶 BOOK NOW

Head into the heart of Madeira’s lush forests on this Levada walk tour . On it, you’ll discover stunning waterfalls and a tranquil lagoon crafted by 25 active springs, all of them within a thick wall of living vines.

This trip was well-organised, with a knowledgeable, friendly guide. — LEE (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

This is one of Madeira’s most popular hikes and is suitable for most people of reasonable fitness with only some short incline areas.

Transportation to and from the starting point of the hike is included on these Madeira day tours.

20. East Madeira Guided Tour with Balcões Levada Walk

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 6-7 hours | ⛰️ BOOK NOW

Explore Madeira’s diverse range of attractions — from sampling rum at the North Mills Distillery to admiring unique architecture typical to the Santana village, on this guided tour of East Madeira .

This Madeira day tour will also bring you along one of the Levada walks — levadas are small channels that water runs through, and the steps next to them lead through amazing stretches of forest and out to viewpoints. 

Absolutely one of the best excursions we have been on. I can not recommend this enough. — ERIN (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

You’ll stop for lunch in Santana, known for its houses with steep thatched roofs. Finish the day off admiring the scraggly, rocky coastline of the island from the viewpoint at Ponta do Rosto.

21. Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Hike

⭐️ RATING: 4.7 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours | ⛰️ BOOK NOW

This guided walking tour of Madeira’s highest peak — Pico Ruivo,  is not for the faint of heart. Views from this tippy top of the island are unparalleled. You’ll look out across all the other peaks spread across the island. 

Pico Ruivo is 1,862 meters high, or just over 6,100 feet, and while anyone with reasonable fitness levels shouldn’t have an issue hiking up, the trek can sometimes prove difficult, even for those who regularly hike. 

Amazing views. The route is worth the effort to overcome the steep climbs, but in return you can admire these wonderful landscapes. — ALAN (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

Once you reach the summit and make your way down, your guide will lead you to another amazing viewpoint for a drink at a cafe before dropping you back in Funchal.

If you are looking for a Pico to Pico hike, this is hands down one of the best guided walking tours Madeira has to offer for this specific activity.

22. Half-Day Wine Tour

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours | 🍷 BOOK NOW

Combine the stunning sights of some of Madeira’s top natural attractions with a sampling of some of the best Madeira wine on this Madeira wine tour.

Start the day by going through Encumeada Pass and admiring the otherworldly views. You’ll be able to see the sparkling sea through the lush green volcanic mountains.

Very nice tour. Guide was great . You get to see the northern part of the island. Scenery was incredible. — DEBRA (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

From there, you’ll go through the ancient trees in the Laurissilva forest, which you can see through the open roof of the Land Rover. 

The day finishes at a winery where you can try Madeira wines and enjoy a tapas sampling—looking for one of the best wine tours Madeira offers? This is one of them.

23. Nuns Valley Half-Day Tour

⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3.5 hours | ⛰️ BOOK NOW

Embark on this Madeira: Nuns Valley Half-Day Tour to discover the breathtaking beauty of Curral das Freiras, or Nuns Valley, nestled in the heart of Madeira.

This scenic journey begins in Funchal, where you’ll board a minibus that whisks you away to the viewpoint of Eira do Serrado. The tour then descends into the heart of Nuns Valley, a charming village cradled by steep, towering mountains.

I had the best time on this trip. Learned very interesting facts and stories. — JENNIFER (READ MORE  REVIEWS )

As the tour winds down, you’ll visit the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos, famously captured in the paintings of Winston Churchill. Here, you’ll taste poncha, an alcoholic spirit.

The tour concludes with a pleasant drive back to Funchal, leaving you with memories of Madeira’s stunning natural beauty and rich cultural tapestry.

Should I Take a Tour Of Madeira East or West?

Choosing between a tour of Madeira’s East or West depends on your interests. The East offers dramatic landscapes and cultural experiences, while the West is known for its stunning natural scenery.

Exploring the East of Madeira offers a delightful blend of experiences, combining the rich cultural and historical tapestry of Funchal with the natural beauty and traditional charm of places like Santana and Garajau.

🤿 The Garajau Partial Nature Reserve is a protected marine reserve and a haven for diverse marine life, making it a popular spot for snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts.

Key attractions in the West include the Cabo Girão skywalk , offering spectacular views from one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, and the charming fishing village of Câmara de Lobos, famously painted by Winston Churchill.

The West also boasts beautiful natural swimming pools in Porto Moniz and the scenic drive through the Laurisilva forest , a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don’t forget about the black sands in Seixal.

Both sides provide unique experiences, with the East focusing more on cultural and historical aspects, while the West offers more in terms of natural beauty and outdoor activities.

Which part of Madeira is most beautiful?

The beauty of Madeira is a matter of personal taste, but the Eastern region often stands out for its captivating natural attractions. This part of the island combines a unique charm with stunning landscapes, making it a favorite for many visitors.

The sunny Calheta enchants with its golden sandy beaches and marina, providing a perfect spot for relaxation and water sports. The Laurisilva forest offers lush, green landscapes and a haven for hikers and nature lovers.

Then there is Porto Moniz , renowned for its natural lava pools, a unique and mesmerizing natural wonder formed by volcanic activity. You’ll also find levadas or irrigation channels providing scenic walking paths.

In my opinion, the best side is the West side, but not everyone would agree.

Do you need a car in Madeira?

Yes — Madeira is doable without a car, especially if you book a Madeira day trip departing from Funchal to get you to any of the more off-the-beaten-trail places. 

There are also public buses that can get you to various points around the island, but it can be much harder to get to specific spots with public transportation.

You need to either rent a car or take a tour to explore Madeira’s most stunning sites.

Is driving difficult in Madeira?

Yes and No  — driving in Madeira can vary depending on your driving experience and comfort with specific conditions.

Driving in Madeira might be tough if you’re a bit nervous behind the wheel. The roads are curvy and really steep, and most cars have manual gears, which can be tricky on hills.

Also, many tourists drive around, so accidents can (and do) happen. Parking can be a real headache because so many cars are everywhere.

Best Madeira Tours: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best tours in madeira.

The best tours in Madeira cater to diverse interests, from scenic Levada walks and exhilarating dolphin and whale watching to the unique cable car and toboggan rides in Funchal.

Wine enthusiasts can delve into the world of Madeira wine through tasting tours, while adventure seekers might opt for a Jeep safari or mountain biking.

Cultural explorations in Funchal, snorkeling adventures, and day trips to the serene Porto Santo also offer memorable experiences on this captivating island.

What are the best tours to do in Madeira with kids?

The best tours in Madeira for kids are interactive and engaging, like dolphin and whale watching boat trips, where they can see marine life up close, and fun cable car rides offering panoramic island views.

For a more adventurous experience, families can explore the safe Levada walks, which offer stunning natural scenery.

Some of the best Madeira tours with kids include this dolphin-watching tour , this bespoke private tour , this jeep 4X4 tour , and this West and East Mega Tour with Drinks and Snacks

What tours in Madeira are good for avoiding crowds?

Tours in Madeira that are excellent for avoiding crowds include private Levada walks through lesser-known paths, early morning or late evening tours to popular spots like Pico do Arieiro, and boat trips to secluded coastal areas.

Opting for guided tours in off-the-beaten-path locations or the rustic north coast can also provide a more solitary experience. Personalized tours to small-scale wineries or through the tranquil countryside ensure a peaceful exploration away from the tourist throngs.

Final Thoughts: Madeira Tours

There is undoubtedly a lot to see in Madeira, from spectacular sunsets at sea to wildlife and amazing ancient trees. From expansive viewpoints to black sandy beaches. 

The best way to ensure you experience every delight, including Madeira food tours, thrilling Madeira bike tours, serene Madeira boat tours, and comprehensive tours on Madeira, is by joining one led by the island’s passionate Madeira tour companies, specifically one of the many Madeira tours by locals. Don’t miss a chance to embark on a memorable catamaran trip as well.

My name is Caitlin. I am from Vermont, USA. I have lived in Setúbal, Portugal since 2021. I work as a writer and editor as well as a teacher. Outside of work I love horseback riding, hiking, and exploring new places around the globe. I write about my travels at The Country Jumper.

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Madeira Island Tours and Excursions

See the spectacular beauty of our wonderful Madeira Island the easy way with Lido Tours.

Who are we? Over the past 20 years, Lido Tours has been Madeira's leading Island Tour Operator .

We are a local company in business since 1996 and we are proud to be one of the oldest tour operators with a variety of tours , walks and every leisure activity in Madeira Island.

We have been making changes in our travel agency through the years adapting ourselves, in order to provide our costumers with the best choice of products.

Whilst staying in Madeira , try our variety of Tours and walks activities, ask us about our holiday destinations and all that we can offer for your next holiday. From the best hotels to the magical cruises around the world ask Lido Tours and we will make your holiday unforgettable.

Lido Tours is one of the few government bonded and licensed travel agents selling tours in Madeira , meaning that whilst with us, you are completely protected. With a 100% safety record and multi-lingual staff, including professional government approved Drivers and Guides; you are assured of our commitment to service, quality and safety.

We proudly invite you to discover our beautiful Madeira Island, Porto Santo and Desertas .

You will have a wonderful time with us!

Our tours We offer comfortable tours over the best scenic routes on the Island, from the blue ocean to mountain peaks, 7 days a week! For more details select a full day or half-day tour from the links on the left.

Our buses We operate a minibus or coach service for larger groups.  All our buses are maintained to the highest standards, fitted with seat belts, comfortable interiors and always clean and fresh both on the inside and outside.

Our shops We are located in the main square in Funchal's Lido tourist zone within a few hundred metres of many of the most popular hotels. Our shops are easy to spot, being located by the Monumental Lido Hotel and Shopping Centre "Centro Comercial Monumental Lido" Nº 18 in front of the bus stop.

Our prices We offer the lowest prices and the best value Madeira Island tours . How do we do this? We own our Minibuses and we only sell direct to our clients through our own shop or online.

Lido Tours policy is safety first.

Our customers We welcome back many of our thousands of clients from over the years. Judging by the customer comments , recommendations and feedback we receive, we are confident that we provide a memorable experience. Clients recommend us to their friends coming to Madeira, excursions with Lido Tours are so easy to book, comfortable, informative and such good value… So, with your total satisfaction our goal we are sure that we have it right.

How to book Booking is simple, select your choice and either call us or visit our shops; our contact details are here . We accept cash and all the major credit cards.

Main Office - At Lido Area Estrada Monumental 284 Monumental Experience Shopping - Shops 18,19 9000-100 Funchal, Madeira +351 291 635 505

Funchal Office - At City Center Rua da Sé, 10 9000-066 Funchal, Madeira +351 291 616 699

[email protected]

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20 Best Tours & Day Trips On Madeira Island

Jackson Groves

Posted on Last updated: August 9, 2023

Categories TOURS , MADEIRA

Madeira Island is one of the best travel destinations in Europe. With stunning coastal views, hiking trails for all levels, and rich culture, Madeira has something for everyone. As a result, the island boasts diverse adventure offerings and local experiences for the intrepid traveler. I based in Madeira for six months to explore as much of the island as possible and came up with these 20 best tours on Madeira. Hopefully, with this list, you’ll be able to find the best ways to experience this volcanic island in the Atlantic.

My personal favorites are Skywalk, Porto Moniz, & Fanal Tour for its swim in volcanic pools and Level 1 Canyoning Adventure for its hike in canyons and waterfalls.

Table of Contents

QUICK PICKS: TOP 3 TOURS ON MADEIRA

Don’t have time to read my entire article about the best tours on Madeira? No worries! All in all, these are the most popular Madeira Tours.

Dolphin & Whale Watching

• Departs from Funchal
• Catamaran Cruise
• Top Tour on Madeira

Skywalk, Porto Moniz, & Fanal Tour

• Swim in Volcanic Pools
• Visit UNESCO Forest
• Highest Sea Cliff in Europe

Level 1 Canyoning Adventure

• Hike Through Canyons
• Rappel down Waterfalls
• Swim in Natural Pools

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN MADEIRA

• Ultimate Luxury: Les Suites at Cliff Bay best location and view
• Best Value : Hotel Alto Lido – Funchal rooftop swimming pool under 100 Euros
• Budget Hostel in Funchal: Santa Maria Hostel is easily the top hostel in Funchal

20 BEST TOURS ON MADEIRA COMPARISON TABLE

To summarize, here’s a table listing the top 20 tours on Madeira and their rates per person.

20 BEST TOURS ON MADEIRA

The following are the 20 best tours on Madeira. From levada walks and catamaran cruises to off-trail adventures and enchanted forests, the island undoubtedly has something for everyone. Get Your Guide is the most popular booking platform for tours on the island and one I highly recommend to book these tours. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find the perfect Madeira excursion for you in the following guide.

DOLPHIN AND WHALE WATCHING CATAMARAN CRUISE

Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise : this is the most popular tour on the island of Madeira, and for good reason. This catamaran cruise departs from Funchal, and takes passengers on a journey to explore the stunning coastline. In addition to dolphin and whale watching, guests can swim and snorkel with provided equipment. Drinks are also available for purchase at the onboard bar.

Finally, even if the whales and dolphins remain elusive, guests can enjoy sailing along the beautiful blue waters surrounding the island. It’s an excellent way to spend a day on the island, and one of the top Madeira excursions.

Book your tour: Dolphin & Whale Watching

Skywalk, Porto Moniz, and Fanal Tour

Skywalk, Porto Moniz, and Fanal Tour: This tour is one of the best Madeira day trips out there. Starting in Funchal, guests travel towards São Vicente in the north coast, stopping at Veu da Noiva falls. After that, is a stop at some of Madeira’s most scenic locations, the volcanic pools at Seixial and the lava pools of Porto Moniz. Once guests have had their fill of swimming in the crystal clear waters of these natural pools, the tour continues to the highest plateau on the island, Paul da Serra. Many travelers opt for lunch at the overlook.

Following the panoramic views of Paul da Serra is a visit to Fanal, the enchanted laurisilva forest and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal, and a must-visit while on Madeira. Finally, the last stop of the tour takes guests to Cabo Girão, the highest sea cliff in Europe, and the second highest in the world. The suspended glass-floor viewpoint makes for a great last photo-opp of the day and is a surreal sunset location.

Book your tour: Skywalk, Porto Moniz, & Fanal Tour

Level 1 Canyoning Adventure: It just so happens that Madeira is one of the best canyoning destinations in the world, and this canyoning adventure is a great intro to both. The tour includes a pickup, then takes you into the mountains where you’ll receive your canyoning gear and briefing. The adventure starts with a small hike through the mountains, before beginning the waterfall rappels.

Along the way, there are lush natural pools to swim through and jump into, as well as natural water slides. Once at the end of the tour, guests change back into their dry clothes, before being taken home after one of the most adventurous Madeira day trips.

Book your tour: Level 1 Canyoning Adventure

• Hike Madeira’s Canyons
• Rappel Down Waterfalls
• Natural Swimming Pools

Hike Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo

Hike Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo: Pico to Pico is one of Madeira’s most iconic hikes, and one of the most popular Madeira hiking tours. This tour includes a pickup from your hotel accommodation before taking you to the starting point of the hike just below Pico do Arieiro. A cafe here provides the opportunity to fuel up before the moderately challenging hike up to the highest point on Madeira.

Rising to 6106 ft (1861m), Pico Ruivo is the third highest point in Portugal. But despite being the highest peak in Madeira, it sits at the end of a beautiful and well-maintained trail. The drop-offs are a bit intense, but a certified mountain guide will be on hand to assist. Following the summit, the tour exits via Teixeira for a gentle end of the hike. After that is a celebratory stop for poncha, the Madeiran drink of sailors to finish the day. This is one of the most popular Get Your Guide Madeira tours.

Book your tour: Hike Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo

• Highest Point in Madeira
• Amazing Views
• Traditional Bar Afterwards

Garajau Nature Reserve Kayak and Snorkel Tour

Garajau Nature Reserve Kayak and Snorkel Tour: Garajau is a protected marine habitat, and this kayak and snorkeling tour is a wonderful way to explore the reserve. This Madeira Island tour begins with a hotel pick-up, dropping guests off at the Funchal Harbor for a quick briefing. Before departing to Garajau, guests learn everything they need to know about kayaking.

In any case, you’ll be ready for the 40-minute paddle to Lazareto. Once there, you can relax at the pebble beach between swims and snorkels. The protected nature reserve is home to the best diving in Madeira and offers crystal clear waters and rich marine life. Some guests take this time to try cliff diving, before calling an end to the day. The tour then finishes with a return transfer to your hotel after a great day in the sun and sea.

Book your tour: Garajau Kayak & Snorkel

Garajau Kayak & Snorkel

• Kayaking Tour
• Snorkeling with Gear
• Cliff Diving

Swimming with Dolphins

Swimming with Dolphins: is one of the most popular Madeira Island tours. Trips depart from the new Funchal Marina and are hosted by a team of experienced divers. Madeira has strict regulations for swimming with wild dolphins in order to preserve the natural habitat, and due to this, entering the water is not guaranteed. But in case swimming is not possible, guests receive a refund between the price of the observation trip and the swimming trip. Additionally, if no whales or dolphins are spotted, you can reschedule for free or receive a voucher valid for two years.

That being said, the rate of successful trips is quite high at 90%. And for successful tours, guests have the opportunity to swim with two species of dolphins, common dolphins and spotted dolphins. Upon entering the water, swimmers remain safely connected to the boat at all times and can enjoy gliding alongside dolphins in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. This is easily one of my favorite Madeira tours.

Book your tour: Swim with Dolphins

• Swim with Dolphins
• Eco-Friendly
• 2 Species of Dolphins

Best of Madeira’s West Tour

Best of Madeira’s West: this is another beautiful Madeira day trip that explores the west coast of the island. The tour departs from Funchal and passes through the charming fishing village of Câmara de Lobos. Following that, Cabo Girão Skywalk (the tallest seacliff in Europe) is next on the itinerary. Here, you can enjoy stepping out on the glass floor observation deck for jaw-dropping views below. The journey then continues up to Encumeada, where guests can enjoy sweeping views of both the north and south coasts of the island.

After that, the tour continues to wind up to Madeira’s highest plateau, and then down along the rugged north coast to São Vicente. A leisurely stop at Porto Moniz’s natural pool for lunch is next. Finally, the tour finishes at Paul da Serra to view one of the biggest natural reserves in the world, before returning to Funchal. All in all, it’s easy to see why it’s a best-selling Get Your Guide Madeira tour.

Book your tour: Best of Madeira’s West Tour

• Visit Skywalk
• See Encumeada
• Swim in Porto Moniz

Rabaçal and the 25 Fountains

Rabaçal and the 25 Fountains: also known locally as 25 Fontes, is an excellent Madeira walking tour. This guided hike includes a hotel pickup, followed by a scenic drive to Rabaçal. The laurel forests of this valley are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and provide an enchanting atmosphere for visitors. Specifically, a levada trail takes hikers through the forest and past 25 natural springs and waterfalls cascading down the mountainside. In a word, it’s a magical afternoon spent amongst the nature of Madeira.

Book your tour: Rabaçal and the 25 Fountains

• 25 Springs & Waterfalls
• UNESCO Site
• Levada Walk

Flagship Tour of Santa Maria de Colombo

Flagship Tour of Santa Maria de Colombo: A fun fact is that Christopher Colombus lived on Madeira’s neighboring island of Porto Santo. In fact, he married the governor’s daughter there, and it’s said he learned much about sailing while living off the coast of Madeira. Given that, it’s no wonder the following is one of the most popular Funchal tours.

The tour of Santa Maria de Colombo is a sailing trip aboard a replica of the Santa Maria, a 15th-century ship owned by Colombus. The tour includes a boat ride along the dramatic coastline to Cabo Girão, the highest sea cliff in Europe. Following that is a swim in the sea, with water temperatures remaining temperate year-round. Additionally, dolphins and whales are occasionally spotted while sailing. Finally, the trip includes a taste of Madeira wine and honey cake to top off a beautiful day cruising the Atlantic.

Book your tour: Santa Maria de Colombo

Santa Maria de Colombo

• Colombus Ship Replica
• Sail to Cabo Girão
• Dolphins & Whales

Enchanted Terraces and Porto Moniz 4WD

Enchanted Terraces and Porto Moniz 4WD: This is an adventurous spin on the earlier Madeira tours of Fanal and Porto Moniz. The group meets in Funchal and drives via 4WD to the northwest of the island. While in transit, the tour stops through some of Madeira’s most breathtaking vistas. Winding roads lead up to Encumeada, providing panoramic views of the north and south coasts. Meanwhile, the journey to Fanal transports you to another world within the ancient laurisilva Forest.

Following the highlands, this Madeira jeep tour continues down to the volcanic pools of Porto Moniz and the black sand beach of Seixal. The north coast of Madeira is known for its dramatic and rugged coastline, and the drive to São Vicente in the 4WD feels straight out of Jurassic Park. To be sure, it’s one of the most unique Madeira excursions, and a novel way to experience the island.

Book your tour: Enchanted Terraces & Porto Moniz

Enchanted Terraces & Porto Moniz

• Drive Along Enchanted Roads
• Laurissilva Walk
• Porto Moniz / Seixal Swim

Levada Walk in the Rabaçal Valley

Levada Walk in the Rabaçal Valley: This is another great Madeira walking tour of the Rabaçal Valley and the 25 Fontes. The tour departs from Funchal and brings guests to the plateau of Paul da Serra. From here, the hike begins down to the Rabaçal guesthouse. The levada trails in the valley are descendants of the traditional irrigation system used by early Madeirans and now double as gentle walking trails throughout the island.

Once on the levada walk, the trail leads to Levada do Risco, the first waterfall of the day. After that, the group makes its way to the famous 25 Fountains. Featuring 25 springs flowing into a beautiful natural pool, the spot is a lush wonderland. Hikers can take photos and cool off in the pool, and admire the steep cliff rising above. Finally, the tour exits through an old tunnel, taking another path back to the plateau above. As far as Madeira hiking tours go, it’s pretty solid.

Book your tour: Levada Walk in Rabaçal Valley

Levada Walk in Rabaçal Valley

• Old Tunnel Exit

Full Day Jeep Safari Tour

Full Day Jeep Safari Tour: This Madeira Jeep Tour is an awesome way to see the best of the island in an off-beat way. The tour begins with a pickup in Funchal by your guide. Following a quick briefing, you depart for the sunny enclave of Ponta do Sol. There’s time for a coffee break before starting the drive up to Paul da Serra. Afterward, the safari heads to Santa viewpoint for a sweeping view of the north side of the island.

From there, the tour rumbles down the mountainside to the natural pools of Porto Moniz. Guests generally take the chance to grab lunch and take a dip in the volcanic pools, before drying off and continuing the journey. After that, the safari proceeds along the north coast to Seixal and São Vicente. The sea cliffs of Cabo Girão mark the final stop for the tour, before heading home to Funchal. To sum up, it’s an adventurous way to see some of the best coastlines in Madeira.

Book your tour: Full Day Jeep Safari Tour

• Visit Ponta do Sol
• Cabo Girão Lookout

Botanical Garden Cable Car Ticket

Botanical Garden Cable Car Ticket: The Botanical Garden is a whimsical escape just minutes away from the hustle of Funchal. It’s also one of the most affordable tours on Madeira at only € 9/person. The cable car itself is a few minutes’ walk from downtown Funchal, and takes 15 minutes to reach the village of Monte. Along the way, guests are treated to panoramic views of the Bay of Funchal. And Monte, at 1,025m above sea level, provides a stunning vista of the city and sea below.

Once at the top, you can choose to take the cable car back down or opt for a traditional Madeiran toboggan ride. These sleigh rides are a whirlwind journey through the past, and feature local men to steer you through the streets. Evidently, it’s a must-do on the island, and a quick way to return to Funchal! For all these reasons, the Botanical Garden cable car ticket is one of the best Funchal tours available on Get Your Guide Madeira.

Book your tour: Botanical Garden Cable Car Ticket

• Cable Car Ticket
• Views of Funchal
• Monte & Botanical Garden

Half-Day Off-Road Buggy Tour

Half-Day Off-Road Buggy Tour: This off-road adventure is a wild way to experience Madeira’s rugged terrain. As far as Madeira tours go, this one skips most of the sightseeing and focuses instead on one experience – the off-roading! To begin with, guests are picked up and brought to the track near Cabo Girão. Each buggy requires a driver with a license, but a guide will be there to offer assistance. Safety gear is provided as well, leaving you to focus on enjoying the ride.

The buggies explore mountain tracks and jungle trails otherwise inaccessible. The tour stops at several viewpoints along the way, and includes GoPro coverage of the adventure. All in all, it’s a lively way to tread the less traveled roads of Madeira, and a great alternative to Madeira jeep tours.

Book your tour: Off-Road Buggy Tour

Off-Road Buggy Tour

• Off Road Adventure
• Panoramic Viewpoints

Madeira Scuba Diving Experience

Madeira Scuba Diving Experience: Scuba diving in Madeira is extremely underrated. The island happens to be one of the premier diving sites in the world, and this discovery dive is one of the best tours on Madeira. New divers will enjoy learning about the theory of scuba diving, before practicing some skills in a swimming pool. Once comfortable, you’ll be ready for the open water dive.

The dive will be around 45 minutes or less depending on your oxygen consumption and ocean conditions, with a maximum depth of 12 meters. In that time, you’ll experience the beauty of the underwater world, with your instructor safely by your side. To conclude the discovery dive, you’ll receive a stamp that can go towards an open water certification in the future. It’s one of the most unique and overlooked Madeira excursions out there, and one I highly recommend.

Book your tour: Madeira Scuba Diving Experience

• Discovery Dive
• Pool Session
• Open Water Session

Northwest Madeira 4×4 Tour

Northwest Madeira 4×4 Tour: This 4×4 adventure is a great full-day Madeira jeep tour. To start, you’ll be picked up at your hotel in a 4×4 vehicle. The journey then begins with a drive to Serra d’Água, before continuing to the village of Ginjas. After that, the jeeps climb to the heights of Paul de Serra for beautiful views of the laurel forests.

Next on the tour is a stop at Porto Moniz. The volcanic and man-made pools here are a relaxing way to spend the afternoon, before resuming the drive with stops at Seixal, São Vicente, and the rock formations at Ribeira da Janela. Finally, the tour stops for a short levada walk past a small village before wrapping up a great adventure day on the island. This is an easy way to see some of the most scenic parts of the island, and one of the top Madeira Island tours on offer.

Book your tour: Northwest Madeira 4×4 Tour

• 4×4 Adventure
• Try Local Poncha

Nuns Valley, Monte, and Sleigh Ride Tour

Nuns Valley, Monte, and Sleigh Ride Tour: This tour is a wonderful way to see one of the less explored corners of the island. The tour starts with a pickup in Funchal, followed by the viewpoint at Pico dos Barcelos. From the next stop, Eeira do Serrado, you can see into Nuns valley, one of my favorite enclaves on Madeira. The valley features towering rock formations and untouched forests, while traditional homes dot the valley floor.

You can try traditional chestnut cake and pastries, as well as the local poncha (the drink of sailors). After that, you’ll make your way to Monte, where the last Austro-Hungarian emperor is buried. Finally, the tour ends with an exhilarating toboggan ride down Livramento, marking the end of one of my favorite less-traveled Madeira tours.

Book your tour: Nuns Valley, Monte, & Sleigh Ride

Nuns Valley, Monte, & Sleigh Ride

• Nuns Valley
• Traditional Foods
• Sleigh Ride

Madeira Peaks Mountain Walk

Madeira Peaks Mountain Walk: This Madeira walking tour is another excellent way to experience the famed Pico to Pico hike on Madeira. Guests can enjoy an air-conditioned van pickup from Funchal that winds up the passes to the lookout at Pico do Arieiro. Here, you can enjoy a coffee or snack, before starting the neatly marked trail to the summit of Pico Ruivo.

Despite its well-maintained nature, occasional landslides and countless sheer drop-offs make this a thrilling trek. The volume of stairs and potential mid-day sun also make this hike unsuitable for the faint-hearted. But for those who seek the summit of the island, this Madeira hiking tour is an unparalleled experience.

Book your tour: Madeira Peaks Mountain Walk

• Top 3 Madeira Peaks
• Beautiful Views
• Ancient Forests

Madeira Half-Day Coasteering Tour

Madeira Coasteering Tour: If you’ve never been coasteering, this tour is a great way to start. To explain, coasteering involves exploring a coastline alongside beaches, cliffs, and open water. Due to Madeira’s volcanic background, it boasts diverse oceanside real estate prime for adventure. Guests can swim, climb, cliff jump, and snorkel along dazzling coastlines. Not to mention, the water is crystal clear and generally temperate.

This particular Madeira tour starts in Caniçal, known for its pristine waters. Guests of all ages are welcome, and guides are on hand to assist and teach safe coasteering. What’s more, the cliff jumps are all completely optional, and range from 1 to 10m high. All in all, it’s an exhilarating way to discover Madeira’s coastline.

Book your tour: Madeira Coasteering Tour

Madeira Coasteering Tour

• Kids Welcome
• Swim & Snorkel

Desertas Island Full-Day Catamaran Trip

Desertas Island Full-Day Catamaran Trip: This Catamaran trip is an excellent Madeira day trip to see the neighboring island of Desertas. The tour sets sail along the southern coast of Madeira, treating guests to gorgeous views. Once at the islands, you’ll enjoy a swim along the volcanic beach, before disembarking at Deserta Grande. It’s the only island accessible to visitors, as the larger chain is a protected nature reserve.

Given that, you’ll have the chance to enjoy its pristine waters, and possibly sight one of its protected monk seals. A visit to the conservation center at Deserta Grande then closes out the day before a return sail to Madeira.

Book your tour: Desertas Island Catamaran Trip

Desertas Island Catamaran Trip

• Sail to Desertas
• Swim at Volcanic Beach
• Conservation Center

In conclusion, these are the top 20 Madeira Tours; all of the above are a great way to explore the Island. Hopefully, you found a unique way to enjoy Madeira, and have a wonderful stay in one of my favorite travel destinations in the world!

WONDERING ABOUT WHERE TO STAY ON MADEIRA?

Throughout my six months on Madeira Island, I stayed in multiple accommodations. My favorite regions to stay in were Funchal and Canico de Baixo. I’ve created several guides to help you find the right region for you and a great hotel or apartment.

• The ultimate guide: WHERE TO STAY ON MADEIRA: WHICH REGION IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
• If you want luxury: BEST 5-STAR LUXURY HOTELS ON MADEIRA ISLAND
• To feel at home: TOP 10 BOUTIQUE HOTELS ON MADEIRA ISLAND
• If you want to base in Funchal: WHERE TO STAY IN FUNCHAL: 15 TOP-RATED HOTELS

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER MADEIRA BLOGS?

I spent six months exploring Madeira and the nearby island of Porto Santo . These are some of my most popular guides about the region that you may be interested in.

• My favorite hikes: 65 AWESOME HIKES ON MADEIRA
• My favorite levada walks: 25 BEAUTIFUL LEVADA WALKS ON MADEIRA
• The best waterfalls on the island: 25 EPIC WATERFALLS ON MADEIRA
• Guide to the best Accommodation: WHERE TO STAY ON MADEIRA
• Hardest hike: THE MADEIRA ISLAND ULTRA TRAIL IN 4 DAYS (115KM)
• Longest hike: CAMINHO REAL 23: MADEIRA’S ROYAL PATH (180KM)

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East of Madeira Tour

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The best way to discover and explore Madeira Island is with excursions through the island. We will take you to see the breathtaking and dramatic beauty of Madeira Island. Our tours are done with local guides that speak your language and organized in small groups to make it more personal and private. Our mini-buses are equipped with air-conditioning and can comfortably take 8 to 16 people. Discover Madeira tradition, culture and its friendly people, find the best places, viewpoints and cities with our excursion tours.

Madeira Island Walks and Levadas are perfect for anyone that loves hiking and one of the best ways to explore the island. Levada Walks will take you to the heart of Laurissilva Forest, far from civilization, where you will enjoy nature in its prime. We have a large variety of levadas and walks to choose from, with certified and licensed tour guides that speak most european languages. The levadas are a network of more than 1400km of irrigation channels that connect and bring water to most of the south areas of Madeira Island.

Madeira Island Sea Activites vary from Whale and Dolphin Watching, Swimming with Dolphins, Trip to Desertas Island, Kayak tours and much more. With a sea rich in biodiversity and crystal clear waters, it’s a must for any visitors. Madeira Island also has great Land Activities such as the adrenaline filled canyoning in Madeira, going offroad to unaccessible places in 4×4 jeep safari tours, mountain bike and much more.

WHO ARE WE?

Discover the best levadas in madeira. our focus is to provide the best tours, walks and activities in madeira for the best available price.

If you are planning to travel to Madeira Island, do not forget to browse our website. Here you will be able to find the best tailored tours that will take you to discover the most famous cornerstons in the island, as well as the unknown hidden treasures that only a few can show to you. We have also prepared for you a selection of walks that will take you on a mini-adventure throughout Madeira’s UNESCO Lauressilva Forest. These walks, pass through a network of Levadas that make up for a total of 1400 km’s(!) all around the island.

We also provide other outdoor activities that we are quite sure that will meet your needs. Catamaran trips to find Whales and Dolphins, Boat trips to Desertas Islands or our neighbour island: Porto Santo. Jeep Safaris that will surely take you to places that hardly many have visited. Canyoning, a ‘home-grown’ activity that consists on climbing down our rivets while doing rappel, climging and jumps. Scuba diving in crystal clear waters. Well, there’s much more for you to find, just come and a have look in our website.

WHAT ABOUT MADEIRA?

Known as the hidden pearl of the atlantic, madeira has a wide variety of landscapes and scenarios to offer. make sure to bring your camera with you on your visit.

OUR MISSION

No request is too big or too small for our team. if it matters to you, it matters to us. let us make your trip perfect., who are we, what we do, our mission.

We are a Tourism Activities Agency in Madeira Island – Portugal. We are a sales and guides team prepared to inform you in any language while discovering the island.

With over 20 years of experience, rest assured that your experience with us will be unforgettable.

We offer tours around the island in mini-buses equipped with air conditioning and certified guides who speak your language. Levada walks and trails around the island, accompanied by a certified guide who speaks your language. Outdoor activities such as canoeing, mountain biking and paragliding. 4×4 tours that will allow you to reach otherwise inaccessible locations. Boat and catamaran trips in the clear waters of Madeira.

We believe in sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism. All our activities and tours are designed with the environment and nature in mind. Trying to provide the best possible experience to our customers, taking them to discover and ‘breathe’ up close the unique flora and fauna of Madeira.

Our goal and focus is to provide the best quality activities at the best possible price.

Madeira Sea Emotions Boat Tours

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Whale & Dolphin Watching in Madeira

Kayak Experience @ Ponta de São Lourenço

Lighthouse View 2 - Boat Tour Ponta São Lourenço

Lighthouse View 1 - Cais do Sardinha to Lighthouse and return Quinta do Lorde

Day Pack @ Ponta de São Lourenço

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Madeira Sea Emotions Boat Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

36 Hours in Porto, Portugal

By Seth Sherwood May 30, 2024

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By Seth Sherwood Photographs by Matilde Viegas

Seth Sherwood, based in Paris, is a longtime contributor to the Travel section who has been writing about Portugal since 2006.

First Lisbon; now Porto. The whole world seems to have fallen in love lately with the nearby beaches, old churches, seafood-heavy cuisine and historical UNESCO-listed streets of Portugal’s second-largest city, where the number of tourists has doubled in a decade. (The circus-like atmosphere along the Douro riverfront and outside Livraria Lello , a neo-Gothic 19th-century bookstore, are only the most obvious signs.) And the home of port wine is keeping pace with a slew of new offerings. Recent years have seen the opening, upgrading or expansion of museums , art centers , food markets , food halls and hotels aplenty — along with the inauguration of World of Wine, a dining and entertainment district .

Recommendations

• Cozinha das Flores , a classy nouveau Portuguese restaurant led by one of the country’s most successful international chefs, features design elements from a Pritzker Prize-winning architect, the Porto-area native Álvaro Siza Vieira.
• The Serralves Museum , a collection of contemporary art on the park-like grounds of the Serralves Foundation — a decades-old private institution that works closely with the Portuguese government — has a new wing by Mr. Siza.
• Mercado do Bolhão , a 19th-century food market, reopened two years ago after a total renovation.
• The World of Wine district, like a theme park for epicureans, features several food- and drink-themed museums, a wine school, and numerous restaurants and bars.
• Jardins do Palácio de Cristal , a 19th-century park, features fountains, ponds, peacocks, an art museum and views of the Douro River.
• The exterior of Capela das Almas church is covered with blue-and-white azulejos (painted and glazed ceramic tiles, brought to Portugal and Spain during the Middle Ages from Moorish North Africa) depicting biblical scenes.
• A Pérola do Bolhão is a fine-food boutique that sports an authentic Art Nouveau exterior.
• Café Majestic , opened in the 1920s, houses a soaring Art Nouveau dining room and serves everything from pastries to pastas to steaks.
• Igreja de Santo Ildefonso , an 18th-century church, features a facade covered with azulejo tiles.
• Batalha Centro de Cinema , an Art Deco movie theater, was renovated and reopened in 2022 with a bookshop and bar.
• Igreja de São Francisco is a church that dazzles with its gilded Baroque woodwork.
• Labels of Tomorrow is a two-level emporium with contemporary unisex fashion by Portuguese and international designers.
• Coração Alecrim specializes in vintage clothing for women and has its own retro-inspired line.
• Musubu Porto , a Japanese vegetarian cafe, operates from a niche in the back of Coração Alecrim.
• Apego jazzes up Portuguese cuisine with French ingredients and techniques.
• Fiasco serves creative cocktails and sells a wide range of vinyl albums.
• Terraplana Café channels an old-time urban saloon and has a backyard where you can enjoy the bar’s craft beers and signature cocktails.
• Capela Incomum is a wine bar inside a former 19th-century chapel.
• Genuíno is a lively bar that draws oenophiles for its natural wines from local vineyards.
• Design savvy and art-filled, the Rebello opened last year in Vila Nova de Gaia and offers knockout views of Porto, across the Douro River, from many of its 103 apartment-style rooms. A roof bar, pool, spa, restaurant and cafe are also in the converted 19th-century stone building, which is near the Ferreira port-wine house. Rooms from around 450 euros, or about $488, in June.
• The six minimalist white rooms of the Babel guesthouse, tastefully furnished with vintage and modern furniture, offer an excellent city-center base. Its lively downstairs restaurant serves local Portuguese ingredients with splashes of flavor from North Africa, the Middle East and beyond. Rooms in June start around €138.
• Roughly a mile east of the city center, a drab residential street hides Outsite Porto-Mouco , a modernist white building with 12 apartments, a coworking cafe, a library, a pool and grassy grounds. Apartments from around €123 in June.
• For short-term rentals among the central districts, Ribeira is rich in historical buildings and lies closest to the picturesque riverside, while Clérigos abounds with dining and nightlife.
• An efficient bus system and ever-expanding modern metro network cover much of Porto and surrounding areas, from the airport to the city center to the nearby coastal towns. An Andante card, available in metro stations, allows travel by bus or train in central Porto for €1.40 per ride. (Zones farther from the center have higher fares .) A three-day card for the entire bus and train network costs €16. Taxis are abundant and fairly cheap, as are trips with the ride-hailing app Uber.

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

Gazing at the bridges and passing ships on the Douro River is a favorite Porto pastime. For sublime views far from the dense crush of the waterfront walkways, the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal , a manicured 19th-century park, is a relaxed, bucolic alternative and a favorite with locals. In addition to tree-shaded lookout points, the park includes ponds, fountains, lawns, flower beds and rotating art exhibitions in the free, multilevel Galeria Municipal do Porto . As you stroll, keep your ears open for the calls of the park's resident ducks and peacocks.

Cozinha das Flores

After decades abroad, cooking alongside international legends (Wolfgang Puck, Ferran Adrià) and helming kitchens of beloved London restaurants (Viajante, Chiltern Firehouse), the chef Nuno Mendes has planted his flag once again in his native land, overseeing the precise neo-Portuguese cuisine at Cozinha das Flores , a year-old restaurant along the pedestrianized Rua das Flores. Try tasty tiny snacks (crunchy sourdough crackers with razor clams), elegant comfort food (Azores squid sliced into pasta-like strands with a zesty stew of chickpeas and cod tripe) and unusual desserts (ice cream, made from and resembling egg yolk, on ribbons of sugary, fried egg-yolk, sprinkled with ham shavings). Note the abstract drawings on the pink-and-green mosaic wall: the Pritzker Prize-winning architect (and Porto-region native) Álvaro Siza Vieira contributed both. Dinner for two costs about 120 euros, or about $130, without drinks.

If you’re keen to avoid thronged streets and blasting music — hallmarks of the Mardi Gras-like Clérigos nightlife district — head east to Bomfim, a laid-back bohemian neighborhood of art galleries and indie boutiques. Sporting red walls and red banquettes, Fiasco is both Porto’s sultriest new cocktail bar and a mecca for vinyl record collectors, thanks to numerous racks of rock, rap, indie, electro, world-beat and other albums for sale. A Lusco Fusco Groove cocktail (Ysabel Regina brandy, Campari, fortified Portuguese wine and coffee) runs you 9 euros. Down the street, Terraplana Café channels an old-time urban saloon (tin ceiling, checkerboard floor) while dispensing original cocktails. The back garden is perfect for a Tropicalia cocktail: ruby port, sparkling rosé and guava-hibiscus syrup, brightened with salt (€11).

The Super Bock Arena, also known as Pavilhão Rosa Mota, seen from the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal.

Álvaro Siza Wing

Now 90 years old, Mr. Siza, the architect whose touches you spotted at Cozinha das Flores, has been keeping busy. This year, the Serralves Museum — a world-class contemporary art museum that he designed in the 1990s — added a splashy new wing that he also designed. Known as the Álvaro Siza Wing , the jagged white addition displays plans and models from the architect’s long international career, as well as works from the permanent collection, including strange fairy tale-like paintings from Paula Rego and abstract lithographs by Gerhard Richter. An apocalyptic installation by the Thai artist Korakrit Arunanondchai and a haunted playerless piano from the French artist Philippe Parreno are particularly potent. Admission to all buildings and grounds is €24.

Mercado Bolhão

Bearded and bespectacled, Joaquim Lucas resembles a scholar as he carefully slices presunto (€65 a kilo) from aged hocks of Alentejo ham. His stand, Charcutaria Princesa , is one of dozens inside Mercado Bolhão , a recently upgraded 19th-century covered food market in the city center that reopened in 2022. The smorgasbord also includes spice dealers, fruit sellers, cheese specialists, wine stands and more. Raw surf-and-turf comes courtesy of Casa das Ostras — which cracks open sea urchin (€5 each) and shucks Algarve oysters (three for €7) — and Talho do Toninho , a butcher stall serving toast slices topped with beef or deer tartare (€1.50). For dessert, Doçaria Portuguesa does a chocolate-rimmed pastel de nata (€2), the classic Portuguese egg tart. For a sit-down meal, several restaurants occupy the upper level. And a short walk south is a new food hall from Time Out, opened in May.

Strolling nearby Rua Santa Catarina, a car-free shopping boulevard, provides both a digestive walk and an architectural exhibition. Start at Capela das Almas , an 18th-century church covered with blue-and-white azulejos (added in 1929) depicting divine episodes filled with saints, apostles, magi and cherubs. Heading south, you can admire the Art Nouveau façade of A Perola do Bolhão , a fine-food shop dating to 1917, and the grand Belle Epoque interior of Café Majestic , which opened in 1921. Finally, stop in Praça da Batalha, home of the azulejo-covered Igreja de Santo Ildefonso , an 18th-century church, and the Batalha Centro de Cinema , a 1940s Art Deco movie theater that was restored and reopened in 2022. In addition to an eclectic roster of films, the center offers a library, bookshop and bar.

Coração Alecrim

Your Saturday night wardrobe awaits inside Labels of Tomorrow , a two-level international fashion emporium a few blocks north of Livraria Lello in the Cedofeita neighborhood. Portuguese labels take center stage, from button-up blue maritime jackets for men from Sanjo (€149.90) to gauzy takes on 1950s ladies’ bowling shirts (€130) by Mustique. After your fitting-room adventures, a terrace cafe-restaurant and a backyard bar provide refreshment for shopping fatigue — or fuel for another spree. If you prefer threads with history, the nearby Coração Alecrim shop sells vintage clothing — fur coats (€70), sheer paisley dresses (€40) — and its own line of retro-inspired jackets, shirts and more. A Japanese vegetarian cafe, Musubu Porto , is tucked in back.

If France is too far away, you can enjoy Gallic flavors at Apego , a homey little restaurant in a quiet street north of Trinidade train station. Global music echoes off the high stone walls and yellow banquettes as the Franco-Portuguese chef Aurora Goy reinvents local cuisine with dishes like a savory tarte tatin (which replaces apples with eggs and mushrooms) and a bed of pomme paillasson — a crispy-fried cake of shredded potato — topped with mackerel and leeks in white-wine sauce. Desserts include a French-style sablé biscuit with pear and custard-like sabayon incorporating Madeira wine. A three-course dinner for two, without wine, costs around €90.

Gallery district by day, the zone around Rua Miguel Bombarda morphs into a destination for wine lovers as night falls. Occupying an elegantly repurposed 19th-century chapel, Capela Incomum allows acolytes of the grape to sip vintages likes Lapa dos Gaivões (€4.50 a glass) — a smooth red blend from the Alentejo region — in its burgundy-painted lounge or tree-shaded front yard. A block away, Genuíno is a lively Brazilian-owned restaurant and natural-wine bar outfitted with a disco ball, playful wine-themed posters, and vintage tables and chairs. Most wines come from small regional producers, including an agreeably dry, concrete-aged orange wine from Folias de Baco (€5.50 a glass).

A view over the museums in the World of Wine (WOW) district, with the Dom Luís I Bridge in the distance.

Igreja de São Francisco

By now you have noticed: Old churches beckon from nearly every corner. If you venture inside only one, Igreja de São Francisco pays off in gold — literally. Erected in the medieval period, the church’s soaring stony interior was enriched in the 1700s with talha dourada — elaborately carved and gilded wood. The effect is a dazzling symphony of radiant decorative themes — spiral-twist columns, swirls, floral patterns, coats of arms, cherubs and disembodied faces that burst from every surface. Downstairs, in the crypt, a transparent floor panel reveals a sea of white bones lurking below ground. Admission €10.

The Chocolate Story museum in the WOW district.

Did you know that the Chinese village of Jiahu might have produced the world’s first wine, several millennia before Christ? That Muscat from Alexandria was Cleopatra's favorite wine? That the signing of the Declaration of Independence was celebrated with a toast of Madeira? Educational nuggets fill the Bridge Collection (entry €25), a museum with a staggering array of historical wine information and antique drinking vessels in the World of Wine (WOW) entertainment district. Opened in 2020, WOW encompasses several museums — including ones devoted to chocolate, cork and rosé wine — as well as boutiques, a wine school, and numerous restaurants and bars. Root & Vine serves up a classic international brunch — eggs on toast, salmon bagels, waffles — and panoramic views of the city for a final snapshot. Museum admission €25 each.

Have a weekend to explore a destination? We’ve got the perfect travel itinerary.

Colorado Springs: ​​Colorado’s second-largest city, which brims with outdoor activities , is enticing visitors with a new museum and revamped hotels.

Minneapolis: Springtime is best for exploring this Midwestern city’s lakeside trails, robust arts scene and top-notch restaurants .

Maui: The beauty and hospitality of this Hawaiian island, still recovering from last year’s wildfires, remain as vibrant as ever .

Toronto: Savor the diversity of this lakefront city through its hidden bars, small-but-fascinating museums and vibrant restaurants .

Cape Town: Take a food and storytelling tour, cruise one of the world’s most beautiful coastal drives and see contemporary African art in this city with stunning views in every direction .

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Lana Del Rey's Dad Rob Grant Says He Loves Being Called 'Nepo Daddy' as He Launches into Music (Exclusive)

"I thought, 'Oh, s—, that's fabulous," Grant, 69, who worked with Del Rey on his debut album 'Lost at Sea,' tells PEOPLE

Chuck Grant

You've heard of "Nepo Babies." Now, meet "Nepo Daddy" —  Rob Grant .

After watching his daughter, Elizabeth Grant — better known as Lana Del Rey — rise to superstardom as a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter for more than a decade, Grant is ready for his turn in the spotlight with his debut album Lost at Sea , out Friday.

Musicianship marks the latest professional venture for Grant, 69, who's previously worked as an advertising copywriter, owned a restaurant, a boat-building company and a furniture store and collected domain names as a lucrative hobby. Since his childhood in Rhode Island, however, his passion has been spending time on the ocean — which inspired Lost at Sea , a 14-track body of piano music that features nearly no vocals, aside from a couple of collaborations with Del Rey.

“When I play the piano, I'll often drift off into almost a hypnotic state,” Grant, who’s had a penchant for sailing and fishing since his childhood on Rhode Island, tells PEOPLE. “I can remember and envision many, many times when I was out on the ocean, and it all flows through me right into the music.”

He began setting sail on his own around 15 years old and developed an immense love for spending time on water and letting the waves wash away his worries. Around the same time, he tried his hand at playing the piano and discovered his musical talent — without any professional training, which he’s still never had.

“We had a beautiful Steinway baby grand, and I would look out over Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. It's just a beautiful vista, and I would just improvise and play,” recalls Grant. “I'll hear chords, I'll hear notes, and I'll begin to put the song together organically. I do it in a very intuitive way.”

He didn’t immediately pursue musicianship, but during his time as a copywriter at Grey Group advertising company about 25 years ago, Grant felt the itch to write a song and met with his cousin and friend, country songwriter Phil Madeira, in Nashville. Together, they wrote “a bunch of country songs” including a comedic track called “Big Bubba,” which featured the lyrics, “Hubba bubba, big bubba.”

The pair pitched the song to a publishing company on Music Row, and Grant received one direction from Madeira before the meeting: “Don’t say anything bad about country music.” He agreed, but after playing the song for an executive, “I got the sense that he was offended. He thought we were making fun of southern culture,” he says.

“Then, of course, I step out of bounds. I say to him, ‘You know what? Let me give you an example of why country music sucks,’ and I named this song,” he explains. “He jumps up, goes over to the corner of his office and hauls out this giant freaking plaque that he’d just been awarded for that very song. It was ‘Daddy’s Money’ [by Ricochet].”

“Big Bubba” was rejected, and Grant returned to his day job. Over a decade later, Del Rey launched her music career, and her father watched from the sidelines. “I’m very, very proud,” he says of the “Born to Die” performer. He’s had a first-hand look at the ups and downs of the music industry, as she’s endured many controversies throughout her career, leading him to take on a protective role.

“Despite all of that resistance out there, she persevered and kept making music. She stuck straight to her own unique aesthetic,” says Grant. “She’s finally being recognized for the extraordinary songwriter that she is. She’s really a poet — and then couple that with that angelic voice.”

His musicianship really kicked into gear while Del Rey, 37, was in the midst of creating her 2021 album Blue Banisters , and she overheard her father improvising a tune on the piano. “She began to sing lyrics to the song, and within 30 or 40 minutes, we had written ‘Sweet Carolina,’ the final track,” he says.

As they continued working together, Grant learned that Del Rey showing up to the studio “a couple of hours late” would be a common occurrence, so he began creating the songs that would end up on Lost at Sea . “I learned to sneak in in the morning, because all the guys were there — engineers, producers, and they're all twiddling their thumbs. So, I said, 'Guys, just hit record, I'll go in and play,’” he says. “I would go in and play for 40 minutes, 50 minutes, and out of that block of music, we were able to pull five gorgeous songs.”

Over the past couple years, Grant and Del Rey written a total of “four or five beautiful songs” together — one of which was meant to be on her latest album Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd , but Grant wanted it for his own project. In the end, it didn’t make either project but helped develop their collaborative relationship. “Gorgeous song, by the way. It was called ‘Sunshine,’” he explains. “I think that song is going to reappear on the next project. It’s so beautiful.”

After “Sunshine” was shelved, Grant was determined to make a song of the same quality with his daughter. He sat down to improvise at the piano once again and came across a “beautiful chord progression” that he knew she would like. Upon hearing it, she wrote the lyrics, and it became the closing track of his album, “Hollywood Bowl”  — which features Del Rey comparing her father’s piano skills to those of Billy Joel .

“Now, mind you, she doesn’t necessarily think that I play as good as Billy Joel, but it rhymes with ‘Hollywood Bowl.’ We wanted to get that straight because poor Billy Joel, right? He's gonna read this and go, 'What the f—?'” he quips with a laugh. “He's an extraordinary musician. I would like to feel that I could aspire to play as well as Billy Joel. I think my style is very different.”

Upon announcing his album in February, fans online quickly began referring to Grant as “Nepo Daddy,” given his daughter’s musical success predating his own. “I thought, 'Oh, s—, that's fabulous. I've got to go get that domain.' I want to do merch. I want to create a brand around this thing,” he says. “I leaned right into it, embraced it and really loved it. Then, of course, it blew up. Now, I'm the Nepo Daddy, and that's fine. They call me a lot of things — Robster, Daddy Del Rey, Papa Del Rey, Robster Lobster and now, Nepo Daddy.”

Soon after adopting the label for himself, another famous musician’s parent took notice — Kesha ’s mom, singer-songwriter Pebe Sebert . “ Is he single ,” she tweeted in jest. “God bless her. Of course, I'm married. I have a wife, so we want to make that clear, but I thank her for her support,” says Grant, noting that he’s open to the idea of getting in the studio with Sebert, Del Rey and Kesha. “Maybe we’ll do ‘Big Bubba’ together.”

As pre-release singles have rolled out from Lost at Sea (including its title track featuring Del Rey), Grant’s began amassing hundreds of thousands of streams per day, which he didn’t expect. “To be honest, I kind of kept my expectations grounded because I'm so new to the whole music industry thing,” he says. “Obviously, I've been with my daughter and seeing her evolution. But now, for me to enter the fray, it's a very unique experience.”

Now that the music is gaining traction, he’s ready to steer the ship of his career to success. He’d like to tour the project, perhaps with Del Rey — if it’s the right fit. “I want to be careful not to intrude into her space,” he says. “The question is, would that mesh with her sound? Where would I fall into that sequence? Would I open? Would I close? Would they bring me out as a little surprise? Maybe. We've been talking about it. But again, you know, I've never performed in public.”

Overall, Grant simply feels grateful for the ability to create music — and the fact that it’s finding a fanbase. “I feel I’m very fortunate,” he says. “I’m a lucky guy, at 69, to have suddenly been given a chance to bloom musically.”

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