It was this traditional fishing village, situated five kilometers from Funchal, which inspired Sir Winston Churchill to paint its lovely surroundings.
Further along the road from Funchal through Câmara de Lobos and up into the mountains you will arrive at Cape Girão, often considered the highest sea cliff in Europe. Standing on the glass skywalk of the viewpoint is quite a breathtaking adventure.
Ribeira Brava (which means wild stream) is a municipality on the southwest coast of the island and includes the parishes of Ribeira Brava, Campanário, Tabua and Serra de Água.
A new road traverses the 1004 m high Encumeada pass. Starting at Ribeira Brava at the south coast, the road winds up to Serra d'Água (which was the island's first water power station) and arrives at the top of the valley giving incredible views of both the south and the north coast.
Porto Moniz seems to have fallen from above into the northern sea and has long been famous for its natural swimming pools and its pure, beautiful scenery.
Seixal, the largest parish of Porto Moniz municipality in terms of area, is a land with favorable natural conditions and resources, including a trout farm in Chão da Ribeira. Do not miss the opportunity to visit Santo Antão Church, and swim in the volcanic natural pools, from where you can enjoy the beautiful sea and mountain views, typical of the north coast of Madeira.
Although considered a coastal village, São Vicente has progressed with time in the more sheltered hinterland. At the edge of the village, directly next to the sea, lies a great boulder, in which the Saint Vincent chapel was built.
Pico do Arieiro, with an altitude of 1818 meters, is the third highest peak on the island (and the second highest with pedestrian access). Fortunately, it can be reached by car. Views are spectacular up here, and when there is good weather, it is even possible to see Porto Santo, the neighboring island, which is situated 30 nautical miles to the north.
Not far from Santo da Serra, on the northern slopes of the island, you will find a very popular starting point for 'levada' walks. Ribeiro Frio (cold river) still has much of the original vegetation today. The island was once totally covered with 'Laurissilva' forest, a relic from prehistoric times.
We arrive at the east point for some superb views of the bold north and sunny south coasts
Characterized by its small thatched triangular houses, Santana is a beautiful village on the north coast. These small houses, built of natural stone and thatched with straw, have served the locals for centuries as stables and dwellings.
Ponta de São Lourenço is one of the last nearly untouched places in Madeira. Located in the eastern part of the island, this is the place where a fantastic combination of rocks, sea and nature created one of Mother Nature's masterpieces.
Machico is not only one of the most populated cities on the island, but also a place of great historical value, as it was precisely where explorers first arrived in 1419.
Cristo Rei in Garajau: Located in one of the most surprising places on Madeira Island, the statue of Cristo Rei in Garajau is one of the most emblematic monuments on the east coast. It is a must visit, which conquers visitors for its unique landscape.
The vehicle for day one had no air conditioning which made for an uncomfortable experience. The guides were good in general but Renato on day2 was excellent and combined safe driving with extensive knowledge of the island, both its history and geography. From a personal point of view we found more of interest on the eastern day rather than the western.
This tour was a big disappointment. We signed up for a small group tour and were shuffled on to a full size bus. The bus had no air conditioning and the PA system didn't work, so we had very little information from the Tour Guide. The guide was a nice man but was unable to share as much info trying to shout over the loud noise within the old and very tired bus. We decided to not take the second day of this tour because the experience was not up to par with what we expect when booking with Viator. The stops were very scenic but we had limited time at each due to waiting too long for some guests that were late arriving to the bus. Not a good day for us but perhaps just an unlucky day. We had much more fun touring the town of Funchal on foot the second day.
We had a great 2 day tour of east and west sides of Madeira. Itineraries comprehensive for both tours. Tour guides were excellent, we had Raoul for the west trip and Sergio for the east trip. Excellent value for money and great communication.
Lovely experience. Excellent guides, Lionel and Gloria. Very informative. Would certainly recommend it as its a wonderful way to discover Madeira.
Well organized very friendly guide safety was given priority justifies the cost Covered all the attractions. Enough time at all attractions
We had 5 days in Madrid and this seemed the best way to sample the island and return to places if we wanted to. It did not disappoint at all. Sure you could have dropped a couple of the smaller stops but your passing them so why would you. Madeira is an amazing place. Pictures do not do it justice. It realy goes from small fishing village to Jurassic park , above the clouds and Hawaii coastlines. You get all this and more on the trip. We were at capacity 14 people and never felt to much. I must give mention to Gloria ( beep beep ) our driver / guide. Wonderful knowledge and a great character. Who most definitely enhanced the trip As the title states “ just book it “
Really good, friendly, helpful and informative guides on both days. Covered most of Madeira. Not rushed with time for swimming on one of the days and leisurely lunches. Minibuses were a bit cramped for taller persons.
Two day tour covered everywhere we wanted to see East and West of Madeira. Good value for money. Tour guide Gloria, knowledgable and made the tour fun, however second day of the tour made up of mainly Portuguese people, there was a maximum of 15 people per tour, so tour guide spent majority of the time chatting in Portuguese and only giving basic info in English, still a good day and would recommend, but not as good as the first day
A fantastic introduction to Madeira! We only had one week to discover what Madeira had to offer and the two day tour was the perfect solution. Our guides were the amazing Gloria and Lionel (Ritchie) and both were informative and entertaining. Despite the 2 full day itineraries the pace was never rushed. You won't find a better offer from any other tour company.
My guide Leonel made the experience very enjoyable. He is definitely a people person, he was full of knowledge about the island and had great sense of humour.He offered to take photos and described every stop and what’s worth seeing/doing. He was very practical with his advice. I found him professional yet very friendly, modest and down to earth kind of guy .I wish I had both days with him as my guide as time flew and it was a great day!! - the next day I had a different guide, well …. with Leonel there was no contest.😒Thanks Leonel - I will recommend you to all my friends 😊
A great experience on both days ! Lionel was a fantastic driver and guide . A great way to see Madeira and have such a knowledgeable guide !
Great trip , hits all the must do sights , all in 2 days very good guide and very informative about the island
A great way to see most of Madeira in two days. We covered the west and east of the island and Renato, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable. He was an excellent driver and fabulous orator.
I'm really happy that I chose this 2 days trip, I saw things that probably I couldn't see it myself. Our driver, Lionel, was such an entertaining person.
it's a great tour around the island if you dont intend to drive. Takes you to all the important places. But, whilst on the first day I had Gloria to tour us around, who is with a big smile on her face, and constantly telling us interesting facts about the island, i was not so lucky on the second day.
Good value tour. The West tour was better than the East one due to a variety of reasons. The bus is small so if you have long legs, sit up front. The tour guides vary. The guide is also your driver which can be hairy at times. The roads are narrow and steep and full of rental cars so it is way easier to be driven around.
Our guide and driver Renato, kept on schedule which was plenty of time to see and visit everywhere we went. His extensive knowledge of flora and infrastructural as well as history of Madeira was very vast. We feel that we saw and learned a lot in these two days. Thank you Renato!
Feeling Maderia the tour company were great they arrived on time and the guide Paulo was very informative and did a great job of narrating information about the history of the island as we made our way around the various destinations The 2 day tour itself is worth booking if you are short on time and want to see the main points around the island the highlight for me was Pico Arrerio a fantastic and stunning view well recommended
Fabulous tour of the west with Paulo and the east with Renato. Both were very knowledgeable and entertaining guides with an enthusiasm and passion for the island. The places we stopped at were great on both days, although the Pico do Areeiro was misty and we couldn’t see anything- can’t predict the weather. That said, the journey up and down was an experience in itself! We were collected promptly from the hotel and dropped back at the end of the tour. Fabulous- would recommend this thoroughly.
Great option to see the island. West side slightly more interesting that East side. Transfer depends on number of tourists. During a summer you can expect a coach transport (as positive A/C and space, good view, negative- more people, long waiting) Guides are great, very dedicated, with so much love for this beautiful island. Thank you Feeling Madeira.
Our tour guide Renado was excellent. Very knowledgeable. The description of the tour on Viator is not the same as the actual itinerary so it needs to be updated.
We missed a day, knowing full well it was our fault. The resolution was for us to pay more money, not worth it nor did they care to try and help us out. We called Viator 1800 they told us there was nothing they could do and to call the local office which never picked up our calls. Once they have your payment they really don’t care. The trip was not visited as listed on the itinerary. So one part we wanted to see we didn’t even though it was listed for that day. The trip was on and off - 20min here and 20 min there, travelled with a senior this is not for them. AC hardly used bus was hot and suffocating. Feeling Madeira Tour was the local tour company. Will not book again with either Viator or Feeling Madeira Tour companies.
Fantastic two day tour round the east and west side of the island . We had the pleasure of Lionel as our guide on both days. He was full of knowledge and jokes and despite not the best weather on the first day we all had a great time. Thanks Lionel
Pica do Arreiro was absolutely stunning. Also loved Camara de Lobos and Porto Moniz. The tour guides Jose and Lionel made the tours extra special as they were both very friendly and knowledgeable about the island
We did the two day tour of west and east of Madeira. We really enjoyed it. Lots to see and stops where you could get coffee or lunch. The drivers were very friendly, knowledgeable and good company. We would recommend it and it seemed very good value. We will definitely use the company again for other trips they do.
We really liked this experience, the pick-up was on spot. Drivers very good and polite. The views were magnificient, Madeira one of the greatest island on this planet!
It was a great experience, Renato, a great guide, explained a lot about history and nature of Madeira. He made our trip unforgettable even when the weather did not cooperate. Thank you, Renato!
Fab trip and a fab way to see the island. The guides were knowledgeable and very fun. The places we visited were stunning. The communication was excellent. Book direct with them.
Although the island seems to be beautiful, and we had high expectations, they were defrauded by services provided. There was in fact a pick-up point, the Penthouse where we were staying. It was never mentioned that we would have to walk towards the courthouse, which we had no idea how to get there, and your instructions were not very accurate. A tour for five people was reserved, with the expectation that we would be riding in a van for five people. In the meantime, one of the passengers was unable to make it due to the death of her spouse, but we did not request a refund, as this happened approximately three weeks before our paid tour was to take place. So, we end up missing a bus, which we were never informed that it was in fact a bus that we would be riding. A van driven by a very nice gentleman came to our rescue, with two couples already in the van. There was no air conditioning, the temperature was hot and humid, the windows did not open. There was never the opportunity or option to swift places every once in a while, so that those of us that rode in the middle or the back could appreciate the views, which I´m sure were beautiful. Again, our pick up point was the Arts In Penthouse, not the courthouse! I have a receipt and email confirming this! The tours were not guided as we expected. We were dropped off and told to return at a set time. It would´ve been nice to have someone guide us around and explain what we were viewing. A mail with our dissatisfaction and request for refund for the fifth person was provided, because, the van in fact was fully occupied, not by all of us. There was never a response to this email. We were trying to avoid going public, hoping it was just our bad experience. But, there were no replies to two contact attempts. Given the above,we requested a refund for the fourth party.
What an epic two days we had touring around the island!! Paulo day one and Renato day two! I highly recommend them we have constant information and most importantly big laughs!
Day 1/2 (West Coast) was the most interesting. However, our tour guide was a bit grating after a while and clearly wasnt much of a fan of the increase in tourism on the island. Day 2/2 (East Coast) was a slightly less interesting day for sights to see but our tour guide (Renato) was absolutely excellent. He was funny, respectful and kind. He was clearly very knowledgeable about the island and its history and we all loved his jokes.
I loved so much , the Guide Renato is the best , the tour (route) wonderful I learn very well from Madeira , and hi is a good driver and teacher. Hi know everything for Madeira But we have many trouble with the air conditioning for the car . DID NOT WORK FOR 2 DAYS TOUR is To much warm inside the car very bad !!!!
The drivers I was on thre trip were amazing. Their driving skills are top of the world. They have worked hard (with heat condition) by driving us and show their local knowledge about beautiful island Funchal. Hope all customers show our appreciation by giving them some tips for driving us safely and answering all our questions, opening the door, waiting for us, etc…😀. Funchal Island is a beautiful city and must be a visit in a life time. Thank you for providing us this tour. I really enjoy 2-days trips. Thanks
We spend two days on tour it’s was amazing specially guide Patricia she gave us a lot of information about island people an we saw amazing places of Madeira just I two days unforgettable 😇😇😇😇
The view from the mountains were amazing, our tour guide was good, but there were quiet a few things closed (for example - the caves) on our tour. But our guide (Nikata, hope I got the spelling right) was well spoken knowledgeable, and kept the tour light and entertaining. If not the whole tour would have felt a little short. The company went out of the way to make pick up a easier for us aswell so I appreciate this
Picked up at the hotel. Friendly, pleasant and interesting guide/driver. The only way to see the whole island in 2 days.
It was a really great way to see the island and the tour guides were all very kind and knowledgeable.
Both full day tours, East and West, were excellent. Both drivers, Leno and Renato, were excellent guides and drivers giving us running commentaries about the geography, history, culture, flora and fauna we were seeing. Both obviously took great pride in their work and are a credit to the company they represent. Both delivered their tours with humility, humanity and humour which are attributes I admire in people. Renato, a native of both South Africa and Madeira obviously spoke perfect English but Leno, a native of Madeira, spoke better English than I do and I taught it for many years! A pleasure to have met you both.
I really liked the tour, it is comprehensive, full of landscapes, information and culture. Worth the money
This tour visited the West and the East of the island but not Nun's Valley. Essentially a coach trip, if you are in an hotel where the coach cannot park, you may not get picked up from the front door. We were told to meet outside their office, which is at street level in the Marina Shopping Centre (Store 143). Timekeeping wasn't the best but bearable: a hiccup on the 2nd day meant we spent 1 hr going 1 km!! OK bad stuff aside: the tour was good. Saves doing the Hop On Hop Off. Good commentary from our guide in EN and PT. Reasonably relaxed, if long days: always could do with more time at various places but the roads winding up the mountain sides prevent that. Some serious views tho: we stopped off for photo opportunities at several places along the way. Do expect changes to the schedule due to the weather or clouds. Affected us on day 2 (East of island) but it just meant doing things in reverse order. Avoids other coach loads of people too. Nice to see the inside of the island, esp when you go thru the clouds!! It's worth it just for Pico Areeiro!!
Renato Rodrigues is a gem! Based on reviews and personal suggestions, we requested that he be our tour guide and we were so glad to have him both days. We really lucked out! Renato was informative, funny, personable, and so knowledgeable. He really loves his job and and it shows. He knew every plant, every tree and fruit, every turn in the road. He knew the history and background of everything we did and saw. His personal experiences gave depth to the trip. My husband has mobility limitations and Renato made sure that John never had to walk too far. He went out of his way for us in countless ways. Although on the second day of our trip the weather wasn’t great when we were in the rainforest , he made it fun and worthwhile. We also were so grateful to have the small van as the trip was more personal that way. Because of my husband’s challenges, he immediately had us sit in the front seat so John would be most comfortable. He recommended great restaurants. His driving was superb. He made everyone comfortable. We have traveled a good bit and have never had an experience with such an informative and entertaining tour guide. We will never forget our experience in Madeira and are so grateful.
Excellent experience. Guides very knowledgeable and very interactive. Weather was a little rainy but they worked around it to give us a great view.
This 2 day tour of the island was an amazing experience and the best way to see some of the major tourist spots on the island. Our two tour guides Renato and Sergio were extremely knowledgable and entertaining. The tour included plenty of stops at various sightseeing spots en route and we were given plenty of time to explore at each stop. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to book an island tour!
Great trip overall. You discover everything you need from the Island in 2 days. 1st day was amazing with Sergio. He made few little stop surprises. All was amazing. 2nd day, it was good. However, we are 3 persons. And we got 3 single broken seats. The whole trip was uncomfortable. I had to back the seat of my friend with my knee the whole day. It is kinda blue now. Otherwise, it is a really good trip to discover the island. I recommend if no broken seats :) Thanks Sergio & Renato.
We had a wonderful day 1 until the end where we went to Nelson’s bar for a traditional drink. 2 of the 3 of us had a glass and ended up with some form of poisoning that resulted in us having to stay in bed on day 2 and having a very unpleasant night. After asking to do do day 2 another day and being ignored asked for a 50% refund which was also denied. All in all very unacceptable. Never to be repeated.
Awesome tour. Renato was great and explained everything in detail. I enjoy horticulture and was very impressed with Renato's knowledge of all of the flora of Madeira. Would strongly recommend.
Did this + nuns valley which is a half day trip. Fab experience from start to finish. Saw so much scenery and learned loads about the island,its history and all the flora,fauna and infrastructure found on the island. Sounds like a lot to take in but Renata is so experienced and he delivers the information very stylishly and makes it a great experience..mutch better than hiring a car and you will have a better all round experience. Next time we're on the island we will book a couple of guided walks with this company.
The tour covered all of Madeira, it was a wonderful experience. My only comment was that mixing English and Spanish people together causes dominance of the guide speaking more of one language.
I would absolutely recommend this 2-day concept of visiting the island if you don`t have much time. It is like a best of Madeira in two days, after the first day you will already know your guide, and on the second day, they can refer back to the info that has been said the day before. Like this, it is easier to understand history, geography, etc.. Our guide Renato was absolutely fantastic, very kind, knowledgeable, and flexible. (for example, swapped attractions according to the weather, that changes by the minute in Madeira) Also added extra stops when we had some extra time. I would definitely recommend a two-day tour and Feeling Madeira as well.
I did the 2 days tour and I need to say it was wonderful! It was definitely worth it!! I did the tour with Renato and Caty, and they were super nice and professional! I loved the Renato humor and his knowledge about the island. It is a good option for an excursion trip when you want to see the most of the island in short time. We did nice stops for photos, restaurants and drinking local drinks like Poncha! I enjoyed the two days and I would definitely recommend it! Obrigada! to all the "Feeling Madeira" team!:)
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