Private Full-Day Santana 4x4 Safari: Explore Cultures and Landscapes in NorthEast Madeira

Embark on a private full-day Santana 4x4 Safari in Northeast Madeira. Explore cultures, landscapes, and breathtaking trails in an open classic ex-army Portuguese jeep. Discover panoramic views, traditional food, and local drinks while learning about Madeira’s traditions and history. Join us for a unique and unforgettable experience!

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Funchal - Your private tour kicks off with a transfer from your hotel or apartment in my UMM, an open classic ex-army Portuguese jeep equipped with a cover for all weather conditions.

Prepare to be captivated by panoramic views and immerse yourself in nature while discovering Madeira’s traditions and history.

Enjoy a relaxed, safari-style tour, visiting must-see locations!

I’ll guide you off the beaten path whenever possible, traveling through old roads and off-road trails to remote places, hidden valleys, and mountain villages, showcasing the island’s wild beauty in a calm, safe, and relaxed manner.

We’ll stop at all the prime photo spots along our route, experiencing an exciting open jeep ride that awakens all your senses.

By the end of the tour, you’ll want to return and spend more time in my paradise :)

  • Madeira Botanical Garden - Our Jeep journey begins from Funchal to Poiso at 1,412 meters altitude, passing by Shoupana Hills and Montado do Pereiro (a protected Natural Area), with the beautiful bay as our backdrop.

We’ll take the back roads through Funchal’s hillside, revealing a hidden view of the stunning bay.

We’ll stop at all the prime photo spots, maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, far from the usual tourist paths.

  • Choupana Hill S - After pausing at a beautiful viewpoint, we’ll continue ascending the hill via old roads and off-road trails, stopping at all the prime photo spots in a calm, safe, and relaxed manner, far from the usual tourist paths.

  • Poiso - As we climb to the island’s third-highest peak, Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 meters altitude, we’ll keep stopping at all the prime photo spots, maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, far from the usual tourist paths.

Often, we’ll be above the clouds, offering breathtaking views of both the south and north sides of the island.

  • Pico do Arieiro - We’ll stop at Pico Do Areiro, the island’s third-highest peak at 1,811 meters above sea level. The views are usually dramatic, and we tend to spend a good amount of time here.

After exploring and taking pictures, we’ll venture to the island’s north side, including Ribeiro Frio and Faial, along the ancient royal footpath. Here, we’ll be captivated by the geometry of the island’s oldest terraces, crossing the wonderful Laurisilva forest and water springs that supply the trout tanks. You’ll be amazed by the isolated rural nature of the villages we visit.

We’ll stop at all the prime photo spots, maintaining a relaxed atmosphere.

  • Ribeiro Frio - As we pass through the magnificent Laurisilva forest and water springs, we’ll have time to stop and, for the more adventurous, taste the water hehehe.

After that, we’ll cross the heart of the Laurisilva forest, descending through Ribeiro Frio and observing the fauna and flora of this wonderful millenary forest, protected by UNESCO.

We’ll stop at all the prime photo spots, maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, far from the usual tourist paths.

  • São Roque do Faial - As we continue our descent, we’ll be able to admire the imposing rock formation Penha d’Águia (Eagle’s Rock) as we climb the mountainside.

We’ll stop at all the prime photo spots, maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, far from the usual tourist paths.

  • Miradouro do Cruzeiro - We’ll make a stop at a local bar with local prices.

After that, we’ll embark on a spectacular off-road journey, enjoying wonderful scenery.

  • Caminho da Cova da Roda - We’ll cross the mountain towards Santana, embarking on a spectacular off-road journey, enjoying wonderful scenery.

We’ll stop at all the prime photo spots, maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, far from the usual tourist paths.

In the middle of the off-road journey, we’ll make a longer stop to enjoy the wonderful scenery.

  • Pico das Pedras - After the off-road journey, we’ll arrive at Pico das Pedras and immediately begin our descent to Santana.

Here, you’ll find the traditional, authentic A-frame houses you might have seen online or in guidebooks. We’ll see many agricultural terraces, meet locals, and have lunch at a local restaurant to try the local cuisine.

(Lunch is an optional extra — not included in the price but highly recommended).

  • Santana - In Santana, it’s time to visit a genuine Santana House, a traditional triangle-shaped house from this area of Madeira, about 240 years old, and have lunch at a local place where you can try traditional local dishes like espetada, tuna, or Peixe-Espada.

(Lunch is an optional extra, not included in the price, and highly recommended) - 12,00€

We’ll visit a real, typical Madeira house, not a touristy one.

  • Faial - After that, we’ll head back along the north coast, enjoying the amazing views of Faial and Porto da Cruz, stopping at all the prime photo spots, maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, far from the usual tourist paths.

  • Porto da Cruz - If the weather permits, we’ll walk a section of a levada for about 30/40 minutes (2 km), stretching our legs along one of Madeira’s unique water canals.

  • Estrada dos Maroços - After the “Levada walk,” we’ll return along the eastern coast, passing by Maroços and Machico (the bay where the Portuguese landed in 1419/20).

  • Machico - We’ll finish with the perfect ending, our famous freshly homemade Poncha drink!

All of this is done in a very relaxed, informative, and fun way, going off-road and off the beaten path, providing a great overview of the island, cruising through the mountains in the morning and along the sea in the afternoon.

  • Santa Cruz - This is a fun and informative trip for all ages and a great “first tour” for anyone visiting our beautiful island.

A day to remember for years to come…

Go ahead and Book Now! Spaces are limited!

What's Included
  • All fees and taxes included
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Immerse yourself in a wealth of experiences on this tour! Delve into local culture, marvel at stunning landscapes, and embark on exhilarating hikes from the coast to the peaks of Madeira, veering off the well-trodden path.

A treat for mountain connoisseurs, winding road enthusiasts, nature trail buffs, culinary adventurers, and fans of local drinks with an eagerness to explore.

Arm yourself for a visual feast of bird’s eye views and delve into the essence of nature while soaking up all there is to know about Madeira’s heritage and stories.

For your journey, I offer the perfect vehicle - an open classic ex-army Portuguese jeep, UMM, equipped with a cover for various weather conditions, and a wealth of innovative ideas to guide you to must-see locales.

Come join me for a relaxed exploration and sheer fun, sans any hurry…

Should the weather be kind, we’ll take a 30/40-minute jaunt on a section of a levada.

I go above and beyond to ensure that your experience stands out as truly unforgettable.

Jeep seating arrangements: 8 seat capacity (7 Guests + Me as the Driver)

  • Minimum age 3 years
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • A vegetarian option is available; inform at the time of booking if necessary
  • We will go up to 1800 meters high and to the north coast of the island, so it can be hot or cooler. Important to bring a jacket if necessary - dress appropriately
  • On the day, who are staying in Funchal, Garajau or Caniço, can change the tour to: NorthWest, SouthWest or SouthEast
Location
Praia Formosa
After parking your car (free parking), proceed to the front of the Hotel Pestana Gardens (near Pestana Bay), at Praia Formosa in Funchal.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(20 Ratings)
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B3733pmmikeh
Jul 14, 2024
Awesome jeep tour - A truly wonderful tour with the amazing Miguel. Fantastic scenery with an exhilarating off and on road experience. We enjoyed the photo stops and , the opportunities to walk including a 2km Levada experience. The lunch stop was great and we enjoyed the local rum based cocktail in a quiet bar at the end. In fact it was all quiet and off the tourist track. I can’t speak highly enough of Miguel. He was awesome ! If you only do one tour in Madeira make it this one.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rainer
Aug 10, 2023
A perfect day in paradise - The day with Miguel was unforgettable! He picked us up from the hotel on time in his very beautiful and suitable off-road 4x4. The tour was very well prepared and showed us the charm and fascination of Madeira. For the coffee break and lunch, Miguel took us to very beautiful and authentic restaurants off the beaten track with very good food. We all felt that Miguel really enjoyed showing us the island and this spark was passed on. We went on-road and off-road (that was really an experience) and experienced more than we could have imagined. The next time we are in Madeira we will definitely ask Miguel to go on a tour with us again. As mentioned at the beginning, it was unforgettable! Miguel also gave us valuable tips for other tours on our own. Miguel is a very good and friendly guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carla59
May 19, 2023
Miguel is the best! - I was the 85 year old on the trip with 5 family members , including an 11 year old, who said that the day with Miguel was one of the best days of our time in Madeira. I agree with him! Miguel gave us a tourist free experience and took us to beautiful and unique places. He took us off road to see sights we never would have seen with any other tour company. The open top Jeep allowed to stand and really experience the beauty all around us. He took our food orders and prearranged a special outdoor lunch for us at a small and charming restaurant. He took us to the beginning of a lovely and not too long levada, and met us with his touring jeep at the end. He took us to a charming old Santana house, where we could go inside, meet the owner, and tour the house. Miguel is charming and incredibly helpful with everything about Madeira. His website (Miguel is here) is very well done and gives you all the options of the various places to go on the island. I wouldn’t consider booking with anyone but him. He is definitely super special!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Streganona2015
May 14, 2023
Would do again! - Miguel created a very personal and unique tour for our group of 5, ages 11-85. He shared a lot of information while we visited well known sites and off the tourist track roads and villages. Wonderful stops for walking, coffee and lunch. The 11 year old was particularly enthralled with being able to stand up, with the open jeep roof and hang on while we 4 wheeled it through woods, villages and back roads. Highly recommend any of Miguel’s tours. He is also a very helpful go-to guy with any questions about anything you might need on the island.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jerseycl
Apr 16, 2023
An absolute must do… - We have previously reviewed a south west tour with Miquel in 2021 which was truly excellent. This time we took the north east tour which exceeded all our expectations ( which were already high). In addition to known attractions and viewpoints, Miquel takes you places you could never find under your own steam and that are tranquil, breathtakingly beautiful and devoid of crowds of other tourists and some off road. The lunch option was an amazing local restaurant with excellent food. Miquel is an excellent and knowledgeable guide and great company. If you only do one thing when visiting Madeira then this is it. You will see more and experience the real beauty of the island and what it has to offer than all the others combined.
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Hungryagain2
Jan 17, 2022
Exhilarating - Our second trip with Miguel and it certainly didn't disappoint. He takes you to little known places for coffee and meals not the normal tourist stops. His knowledge is extensive and he loves to impart it. Excellent value for money and we will definitely book again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andy
Jan 16, 2022
Fabulous day exploring - Two fabulous days out with Miguel - can’t recommend highly enough. Both full days lasted around 10 hours - he really does want you to enjoy ‘his island’. He even checks the weather to ensure what you have booked is appropriate for the day. We will do another day when we next visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laurahalliday35
Sep 29, 2021
Amazing views, amazing tour and amazing tour guide - We had a great day with Miguel! He was very informative and took us to loads of different view points. We avoided the main tourist points which was so much better and allowed us to see more of Maderia! He took us to a few locals bars and restaurant in route, which were lovely! Overall a great trip with a great tour guide, for such a great price. Loved it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
271mihaic
Sep 9, 2021
100% worth it - Top guy, amazing experience, 👏 🙌 👌 👍. Tour was great, views were breath-taking and Miguel was the best guide we had in Madeira
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Vertsu64
Aug 25, 2021
Great experience - This was a great experience I will remember the rest of my life. Miguel is a really good guide who can tell you about the island and its nature in an interesting way. In addition to this one-day trip, we also wanted to do another.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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