We had a fabulous experience having arranged two tours-one on the East side and the other on the West side of Maderia. Our tour guide and driver Christophe was amazing at going above and beyond in making our experience memorable- that it was! He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about touring us around his homeland, and was super attentive to our needs. Christophe shared very useful tips to avoid tourist traps. He was a fabulous driver and even on the steep hill and cliffs we felt safe in our travels. I was ill during my stay and Christophe took us to a place where they made traditional fisherman's poncho which helped my recovery. I would highly recommend booking with Christophe if you want an life experience to remember!
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Private transportation
- Private Guide English, Spanish, French and Portuguese
Excludes
- Lunch
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Pass through 2 viewpoints in Santa Cruz, coffee break in Santa Serra.
Off-road to Pico do Areeiro in Madeira, which offers a privileged view of the majesty of the Madeiran Mountain Massif.
Discover the Aquícola post, whose rainbow trout nurseries have a concrete goal.
The Vereda dos Balcões is a small track, 1.5 km (+ 1.5 km of return), which leads you to enjoy the views of the Miradouro dos Balcões. The Miradouro dos Balcões offers wide views of the Ribeira da Metade valley. It is a picture of monumental proportions, dominated by the Laurissilva forest.
Santana is distinguished as a “Biosphere Reserve” by UNESCO, the municipality of Santana preserves a valuable natural but also cultural heritage. The “Casinos de Santana” have become widely known icons nationally (and not only) for the peculiar beauty of their architectural style. With a triangular shape and coated colm, they are the largest symbol of this municipality on the north coast of the island of Madeira. Council where lunch will take place.
Small trip to Porto in Cruz
The Northern Engenhos are the main living testimonies of the island's historic sugar production. Visiting these facilities is therefore synonymous with enjoying an authentic journey in time.
The easternmost end of the island constitutes a place of obligatory passage for anyone who intends to explore the charms of this Madeirese coast. Ponta de São Lourenço offers a unique and imposing landscape, with panoramic views over the north and south sides of the island.
End the day overlooking the bay of Funchal, at the iconic Garajau spot at the Christ the King statue.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Great tour, Christophe was a great guide, funny and open to suggestions. No stress and lots of laughter! We really recommend island tours!
Another spectacular adventure with Christophe! After an amazing experience on the West coast trip, I decided to see what his East Coast trip had to offer. Wow!!! He did not disappoint. Both of these trips will stand out in my memory for a lifetime. I can’t say enough about all he has to offer- history, flora, fauna, off-roading, secret spots, the works! And such a genuine, kind human. Look no further, you have found your destiny in Island Explorer!
We had such an amazing time with Christophe we actually did two tours with him while on our honeymoon. He has so much knowledge of the island and the east side is not to be missed- stunning viewpoints and such a diversity of climates. 10/10 highly recommend!
Christoph was a great guide! Friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. He showed out group a great time. I did the tour of the North/west side of the island. Stunning scenery and a fun ride in the car. There was enough time to stop at various places to walk around and take pictures. A 2 hr lunch break also allowed for time to eat and swim in the lava pools. Overall a great day and would highly recommend:)
A real holiday highlight! Such a fun and informative tour from beginning to end. So many different sights and great off road fun. Our guide Christophe was informative, fun and a v skilled driver and made our trip so memorable. We would highly recommend!
We had the most incredible experience with Christoph. We first booked the West Madeira Tour and had such an amazing time that we decided to book the East Tour too! Christoph is very knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. He made every stop interesting and made sure everyone had a great time. What made this tour even more special was that I proposed to my girlfriend during the trip… and she said yes! Christoph was part of one of the happiest days of our lives, and we will always remember that! If you’re visiting Madeira, I highly recommend booking a tour with Christoph. It was an unforgettable experience, five stars!!
Christopher is a fantastic tour guide. He picked us up on time from our condo and kept us busy all day. He is very knowledgeable of the area and a superb driver. Get ready to rock and roll!
Having had the good fortune to go on many, I am a firm believer that a tour guide can make or break a tour. Christophe was a brilliant guide. It was a pleasure to spend the day with him, and the passion for what he does was infectious. The tour itself was excellent, with lots of beautiful spots to explore and interesting things to see. I would recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore Maderia, and I would especially recommend doing the tour with Christophe, who made a good day into a great one.
We had so much fun on this tour with Christophe! The other people on our tour cancelled so we were able to take our time at each location. We didn't know that there would be a portion where we could stand in the jeep going through a dirt road in a forest. It was like a fun rollercoaster ride. Every spot we went to was great and it was a very comprehensive list of places on the east side of the island. He seemed to know the tips and tricks. We even got to do our first levada walk! Christophe was extremely friendly and welcoming. He gave us recommendations for the rest of our trip which was really helpful! I would definitely book with him again and will be recommending him to anyone I know going to Madeira!
Christophe did it again! My wife and I had an absolutely fantastic day tour of the West of the island three days after the East coast tour. Every stop was memorable. There was nothing in our trip that I’d want to take out. Again Christophe was very knowledgeable and passionate about the island. Because we were the only two on the trip he was able to custom it a bit more to our tastes. For example he missed out a fishing village we’d already been to but added an additional stop. Once again he was able to take us on roads we would never have driven a hire car on. I was keen to get a hire car but my wife wanted to do a guided tours. On this occasion she made the right call but I won’t admit that. 😂
We had the most wonderful day with Christophe exploring the western side Madeira. It was the absolute highlight of our holiday. Christophe brought Madeira alive with his knowledge of the history, geography and flora of the island. He was also enthusiastic and great fun and our son had a fabulous time too. We already plan to go back later in the year and book Christophe to show us the eastern side of the island. Cannot recommend more highly - if you book one thing on your holiday book Christophe.
Best out of the best to discover the island with Christopher- highly recommended .I have Great experience,he picked on time from the hotel and keep everyone well informed about the trip and journey,give enough time for lunch and explore by ourselves too and always gives clear instructions,no drama pure fun and adventure .pure worth of every euro you spend on him .great experience and have fun 😊.
This is the second year we have taken a tour with Christophe. Last year, we explored the western part of the island, and this year we did the east. We truly enjoy Christophe’s vibrant and entertaining personality and his flexible approach, he always adapts to our needs. We also feel very safe with him, even when we venture off-road. I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone who would like to discover Madeira.
I have already been on a few trips, but this was definitely one of the best experiences ! Thanks to Christophe, I was able to see many beautiful places in just one day. The nature was breathtaking. Our guide really took good care of us, and even though I was traveling alone, he looked after everyone so that I felt comfortable. Next time I come to Madeira, I will definitely do this trip again.
This tour was completely amazing. Christopher was a great host and very knowledgeable about the wildlife, plant life, and surrounding areas. He made the trip so much fun and didn’t rush us at any point during the stops. He provided excellent recommendations for places to eat and visit even after our trip. I would highly recommend this tour, it is completely worth it.
My wife and I had a very special day tour of the East of this wonderful island, guided by Christophe. Island Explorer is his own company and his Land Rover seats 6 people rather than the more common 8 people, so he offers a more personalised experience. We joined the Madeira Island West tour a few days previously (see my review of that), and enjoyed it so much that we quickly signed up for the East tour. This was made very special due to some cancellations from other guests leaving my wife and I as the only participants that day. Many thanks to Christophe for proceeding with the tour anyway, giving us the most personalised experience we could wish for. As with the West tour, we visited some very diverse terrain, climates and sites all in one day (the Pico do Areeiro and Ponta de São Lourenço were very different but equally breathtaking), and this East tour allowed us to round off our week on this most charming island in perfect fashion. As with the West tour, I throughly recommend Island Explorer for an interesting, memorable and fun tour of the East of Madeira.
Had the most amazing day touring the Island. All the stops were absolutely beautiful. Christophe was a brilliant, knowledgeable guide. So much information about the fauna and the Islands history, delivered with humour. 10/10 would recommend
We booked this tour after having an amazing experience on the West Island tour with Christophe, and it was once again an incredible day. We had mentioned on our previous tour that we wanted to hike the part of Pico do Arieiro that was open, so he kindly adjusted the itinerary to meet our needs. Christophe gave us lots of interesting info throughout the day and made the whole experience fun and exciting. He is very knowledgeable about the island as well as being a fabulous person! Timing was again perfect to avoid other tours, and we were given plenty of time to enjoy ourselves at every stop. There were beautiful views everywhere we went and we really enjoyed the variety of locations and the interesting facts to go with them. Thanks for another awesome day, Christophe! Highly recommend!
East tour really not to be missed with Christophe as a guide. The off-roading is mind-blowing, the trails in the forest, the small winding streets, the landscapes, the vegetation. Christophe is super knowledgeable about Madeira, all his explanations are relevant and inform us about this part of the island.
Visiting Madeira with Christophe is an experience not to be missed! Being in a small group, going through "off-piste" paths, and having a great knowledge of the island, plants and little-known corners makes the day exceptional. Thank you very much!
“People don’t make the trips, they make us,” said John Steinbeck. The Island Explorer prevails for professionalism and sympathy watered with sense of humor. The tour of the island brought together adventure, fun and culture. Immersion in nature, beautiful and bright, will stay in my eyes and in my soul. The palette of colors and sensations looked like a symphony and appealed to a journey through the senses... It was the perfect symbiosis and a balm that I highly recommend!
Beautiful excursion to the east of Madeira! Breathtaking scenery: spectacular cliffs, typical villages, lush forest of Laurisilva, not to mention breathtaking views from Pico do Arieiro. Swimming break very popular at the beautiful beach of Prainha, a real moment of relaxation! The experience was all the more enriching thanks to our guide Christophe: dynamic, passionate, very professional, with in-depth knowledge about the island and an excellent sense of humor. He knew how to transmit his love of Madeira throughout the day in a friendly and warm Mood. A big thank you for this unforgettable discovery!
After going around Madeira West with Christophe and enjoying my day so much, I had no choice but to repeat the experience to visit the East of the island this time. Once again, Christophe allowed us to maximize our time while making us discover the most beautiful corners of Madeira, while avoiding the crowds. He is an experienced, friendly and funny guide - You are guaranteed to have a great time! Thanks again Christophe for helping to make our stay in Madeira unforgettable.:)
Beautiful panoramas and beautiful discoveries! Flexible, educational, caring, passionate and full of good humor! Thank you Christophe for a wonderful day!
Everything was great. Christophe is a great guide. Interesting story. Learned a lot of things you can't read online. Nice locations. Saw half of Funchal in a day.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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