Madeira East Jeep Tour: Pico Do Arieiro, Santana & Porto Da Cruz

What a day! Ricardo was a spectacular guide. He was easy to work both with Email and WhatsApp before our trip. If he were busy working, he still got back to us promptly, before the day was out. We were 4 people in total that all thoroughly enjoyed our day with Ricardo. He promptly picked us up at our designated place and time. It was about a 10 minute walk from the cruise ship to our meeting spot. He took us to magnificent sites on the island. He made sure to take us to places that there is no way the average tour bus or guide could or would bring you to. As a native of this island, it seems as if he knows every road, back road, special viewpoints and people . He brought us to mountain tops to view the valleys and the ocean below. He brought us to waterfalls. He even brought us to a locally made Apple cider spot that I’d be surprised if anyone could even tell you how to get there other than Ricardo. His passion and knowledge of this island is beyond anything that I could describe to you. His upbeat attitude, always smiling, always answering all of our questions, both personal and generic. What a guide! He made our day one of the most perfect days we’ve ever had with a private tour guide. He made our day fun, knowledgeable, exciting, and showed us lots of hidden gems around Madeira. He started our day out as our guide, but ended it as though we found a new friend. Please book him. You will not be disappointed. The only disappointment you may have is if he is not available , as he is that good. But it is a small company. I believe it is just Ricardo and his brother.

Marjorie and I have just spent another unforgettable day once more with Ricardo, this time with 3 other travellers from Romania. They were Dad and his two delightful children. Ricardo took us on a tour always keeping the children in mind and giving them lots to keep them entertained. If you want to have a great day out in Madeira there’s no better way to spend a day than with Ricardo. His encyclopaedic knowledge of Madeiras flora and fauna are second to none. We have spent many days with Ricardo over the years and he never disappoints. Thank you once again Ricardo for making our holiday in Madeira so special. Love George & Marjorie

We booked two full-day tours via email a couple of months in advance, the West tour with Vitor and the East tour with Ricardo, and we absolutely loved both! We had the best time and came away with incredible experiences and memories. Both tours were relaxed, personal and incredibly informative. Their knowledge of Madeira is outstanding, and you can see how much they love their island. These were so much more than just sightseeing tours. We experienced an off-road drive through the forest, picked and tasted wild fruits, and visited little local gems we would never have discovered on our own. From a small local pub and a traditional poncha tavern to an authentic traditional house, a hidden waterfall and breathtaking viewpoints, every stop added something special to the experience. We felt like we were discovering the real Madeira rather than just visiting the usual tourist spots. We honestly couldn't recommend these tours highly enough! Vitor and Ricardo are both excellent guides, and fantastic hosts. If you want to experience Madeira in a relaxed, authentic and unforgettable way, these tours are an absolute must! Thank you both for such an amazing time! ❤️

Including a jeep tour of Eastern Madeira has to be on everyone's must-do, but no one would be better than these two brothers! We booked easily via WhatsApp and paid at the end of the tour. Ricardo collected us from our hotel. He was instantly warm and welcoming. A really lovely man. He explained what we'd be doing, but be aware, Ricardo is not going to pressure you at different sites. He's going to let you enjoy your day, at your pace. Wherever we went, locals called our to greet him! He's genuinely kind and likeable. The east was very different to the west and it really isn't something you'd want to miss! Ricardo is so knowledgeable about Madeira. He told us so many childhood stories and gave us a real insight into the real Madeira. This tour was UNIQUE! When we went to the beautiful houses at Santana, we avoided the tourist houses, instead, visited a genuine house belonging to Ricardo's friend. We were invited in to a glass of coffee liqueur and told to make ourselves at home. The owner's grandfather used to live there! It still has everything inside! You go totally offroading at times. It is beautiful. No one else was there. Ricardo knows the island very well and picked great spots for us. We picked fresh blueberries hanging down above us in the jeep, sampled wild passionfruit bananas, went through at fragrant scented laurel and eucalyptus forests, sampled wild herbs and laughed plenty! We were in awe! We visited a rustic cafe that made their own cider was made (great taste!!!!), had a delicious lunch elsewhere, went up Pico de Arreiro (carpark is near the top, so no heavy hiking!), drank water at source, visited Cascata de Aguage waterfall and others. We went to see homegrown vegetable sites with a unique irrigation system. If you want to see the real Madeira, this is it! Where else would you get to feed pigs with exotic vegetables?! We visited more beautiful places, but I don't want to spoil the surprises for you. Ricardo has a lot of thoughtful surprises to take you to. Go! Enjoy it! We did the West tour the week before. Next time, we'll definitely do another tour with Ricardo. Listen, you WON'T get to see the real Madeira with just a hire car. Cars won't get down those roads and tracks. There aren't any roadsigns in the middle of the forests! Ricardo just knows the area so well. On the way back, happy and tired, I slept. We made some lovely friends too. Only 6 people are in a jeep, so you get to know each other a little. It was an experience I'll always treasure. Thank you, Ricardo and Vitor. We've really enjoyed it very much!

No experience as tour operator cancelled an hour before start time. Very disappointing and unprofessional.

We booked this tour through an agency( it would be better to book directly through their website). Our guide was Ricardo. He is very knowledgeable , accommodating and personable. We did the East coast full day tour. We met at the pick up point at 9:00 and came back around 5:30. We had an amazing time, and were able to experience and explore places we would have not been able to on our own. It was well worth it. We definitely recommend .

We had an amazing day today on the East adventure tour. Our driver/guide Recardo was so knowledgeable and friendly from start to finish. So, if you want to experience the real Maderia then this trip is for you. Gary & Jennifer

The vibes were great, the guide adapted to everything we asked for and we got to see and experience far more than we would have with a bus or a rental car. The car itself was an experience- an old military jeep made in portugal. These guys know all the tiny, scary looking roads that no normal tour bus dares to drive on. As well as plants and animals and the people in local cafes. We took several guided tours during our vacation in Madeira and this one was definitely the highlight. During other tours, driving is usually the more boring part, but with these jeeps tiny local roads and, it’s super exciting. If I come back yo madeira within a few years, I’m 100% taking the west/fanal forest tour with these guys. They may forget to mention, but you definitely should pack a jacket, since it might get cold driving up the mountains, especially in an open top car.

We had an amazing experience on this tour! Our guide, Lucas, was absolutely fantastic. He was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so many interesting facts about Madeira, making the tour both fun and informative. On top of that, he was so kind, friendly, and genuinely cared about making sure everyone had a great time. Madeira is an absolutely beautiful island, and exploring the off-road trails was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. The scenery was breathtaking, and the adventure made the experience even more memorable. We highly recommend this tour, especially if you have Lucas as your guide. Thank you for an unforgettable day!

We had 2 absolutely fantastic days with Vitor visiting the West and East sides of Madeira. These two days were the highlight of our holiday on this beautiful Island. He took us on incredible routes off road and along the old roads of Madeira, visiting some stunning sites. His knowledge of Madeiran history, geography and wildlife brought every detail to life. His compassion and kindness helped to create perfect experiences for us. We are encouraging our old daughter and friends to come here and experience this most beautiful Island and make a tour with Vitor a key part of their holiday too! Thank you so much and hopefully we will see you again soon. Simone, Chris and Alice from Brazil and England 🇧🇷 🇬🇧

Loved every part of it. I’m not going to spoil it by saying what pleasant surprises there were. You’d just have to book it for yourself. I would not for a second hesitate to refer people. May the Lord bless you Lucas on all of your future endeavors!

We did the East and West Adventure Jeep tour with Ricardo and it was absolutely unforgettable. His passion for Madeira is contagious-he brought the island to life with stories- history and genuine love for every viewpoints and hidden part we saw. The landscapes were breathtaking and his insight into the local culture and food made it so much more than just a tour. Ricardo was welcoming and really knew Madeira well. He was a exceptional driver and we felt completely safe even on steep cliffside roads. 100% recommend and we’ll definitely book more when we return.

We did the East adventure Jeep tour of Madeira with Miguel and it was brilliant! Miguel was a fantastic guide and we were lucky to hear so much about the local area and to explore some of the most beautiful places, highlighting wonderful viewpoints and spectacular landscapes. Miguel had so much knowledge and passion about the island, and provided lots of insights into the local culture and food. We enjoyed it so much we also did the west tour on our last day with NuNo, which was also brilliant. We met Victor and Ricardo on route at some of the stops who again were so easy to talk to and had so much passion for the tours they provide. Would 100% recommend and will definitely be doing more tours when we return.

We had a fantastic trip with Victor on the east side of the island. He really knows how to look after people and made the whole experience special. We're heading back to Madeira in August for our 4th visit and already have talked about more trips with Victor. Victor has a real passion for the island, especially the plants and history, and it shows throughout the tour. He's also a genuine family man who speaks so warmly about his family, which says a lot about him as a person.

What a fantastic day we had! Highly recommend this company, Ricardo was a fabulous guide & driver. He educated us with stops along the way to show us various plants, herbs & fruits. We got a real taste of the true Madeira.

Very friendly, there were 2 other couples and the guide with us. The scenery is breathtaking, local knowledge and beautiful restaurant for lunch. Must do! Best day of our holiday so far.

We decided to take the private east tour to Santana, instead of the mini bus. Our tour guide Felipe was fun, knowledgeable, personable & respectful. He was considering our circumstances and took the time to show us a local spot for fresh poncho and a quite place by the water to lay out mother to rest. Thank you for making it perfect t for such a difficult circumstances.

We booked two tours with Filipe – the West Tour and the East Tour – and both were absolutely amazing experiences. Everything was perfectly organized and full of wonderful little local touches, like tasting poncha regional and espetada :) Even though it seemed impossible to visit one particular place that day, Filipe arranged it for us, which we really appreciated.He adapted the plans to the weather conditions, and even fallen trees on the road were not a problem, making sure we had the best possible experience :) The off-road driving with the open roof was definitely the highlight and the best fun for the kids – they absolutely loved it! Highly recommended if you’re looking for unforgettable experiences and a great guide!

Great day the south west and north of Madeira. Filip was an excellent and knowledgeable guide and it a great day for out of 5. Highly recommended!

We did a second day with Vitor because we enjoyed the first day so much. We were not disappointed. The east was very different to the west and it was great to have Vitor showing us all the places and pointing out some of the wonders of nature. It was a really interesting and enjoyable day with Vitor and we cannot recommend it highly enough. We are now home and have been saying that the two days spent with Vitor really made our holiday. Thank you

We again spent another most memorable day with Madeira’s best off road driver, namely Ricardo from Ricardo Off Road Madeira. If you want a truly off road experience in Madeira then look no further than Ricardo’s company. We will be back in Madeira once again in October next year and will definitely spend another day in Ricardo’s company.

We had an amazing day of exploring the island with Filipe! He showed us the tour with such passion for his beautiful island. The pick up and drop off was seamless and we so enjoyed the restaurant he chose for lunch. We highly recommend this tour and Viator!

Wonderful family business the East Coast tour was just brilliant. Our driver Philipe took us to so many special spots off the beaten standard tour spots hence we often missed the busy tourist buses and jeeps I cannot recommend them highly enough and I know all of the rest of the group felt the same.

Ricardo Off Road tours are a local family business and they make you feel part of it. The east coast tour was awesome. Our driver Philippe taking us to so many special places not just the usual tourist spots. I could only say if you want a jeep tour on east or west of the island these guys deliver a day you will never forget. Thank you

We had an amazing tour with our driver Filip ! He showed us the most beautiful places in Madeira and knew where the best local hidden spots were. He was also very knowledgeable and answered all our questions about the island. Would definitely recommend this trip if you want to see as much as you can in a day with a local ! The jeep was super fun and the views were amazing.

Unreal! We had Vitor the absolute legend. Very professional & accomodating, took us to a range of tourist spots great lookouts & local spots, some beautiful local restaurants with authentic Portuguese food. The day was unfortunately raining for a couple hours so he was flexible to change plans or take us where we’d like, we done abit of 4WD and he showed us some extra waterfalls that weren’t included & a rum distillery + some local back tracks, Vitor is the man & very knowledgeable on the island. Will return 👌🏼 Obrigado Vitor!

This is the third tour with Vitor and they just get better and better!! Previously we have done the 4 hour morning tours which were great, but this was on another level!! We have been coming to Madeira every few years for 26 years and thought we knew this lovely island well, but Vitor showed us otherwise!! We saw so many new things and as usual, what Vitor doesn’t know about Madeira, simply isn’t worth knowing!! Thank you once again - we will be back (if you’ll have us!!).

We met Ricardo at our hotel and was immediately impressed by his enthusiasm, knowledge and willingness to create a bespoke tour for us. We has a super day and ended up going on a second tour with him. A great driver and felt totally assured that we’d have a great tour - which proved correct.

This tour was awesome and a must do! Our guide Philip was great! Highly recommended do this if you. The places you stop at are incredible.

Wow wow wow. 5 stars is not sufficient it should be at least 6 stars. What a great way to see this fantastic island. Vitor’s driving was supreme. His knowledge of the island, its history and horticulture is second to none. If you want the best day out in a 4x4 book this company and ask for Vitor.

Vitor was the highlight of our stay in Madeira. He was so knowledgeable, kind, & funny. He made the tour very unique for our interests & even showed us some "behind the scenes" stuff like cool vegetables, herbs, & lookout spots for great pics. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

From start to finish an amazing trip with an even more amazing guide! An unforgettable experience. We had many unusual experiences with the original people who live on the island.

Excellent experience. Francesco is very nice, kind, knowledgeable. Because of him I have learned a lot about plants. Thank you very much.

My son and I had a magical day with Felipe exploring the east side of Madeira. Felipe was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable, funny and clearly loves the island. He brought us to all the best spots. The off roading was great fun with the open roof jeep allowing us to stand up and admire the amazing views. Would highly recommend Felipe and the Ricardo Off Road Madeira Jeep Safari Tours. We will definitely do another tour when we are next back in Madeira.

It was a great experience, he showed us so much about the culture and nature of Madeira. Can only recommend. Wishing the best to ricardo from Alexandra and Ian :)

Ricardo is a very friendly and easy going guide. He brought us through numerous great spots and viewpoints. I can only recommend

Terrible experience. I did a tour in Madeira with my two brothers and a friend through this company, and honestly, it was a complete waste of time and money. The guide, some guy named Vítor, was anything but professional: rude, impatient, and acting like he didn’t even want to be there. He’d give us a set amount of time at each stop, and if we went just a few minutes over , literally just 5 minutes, he’d already be standing there sulking with a face like thunder, treating us like we were a burden. Total jerk with zero sense of hospitality or respect for clients. I’m honestly shocked by all the positive reviews this company has , it’s a complete scam for tourists who think they’re getting a nice experience. Don’t be fooled. Madeira is beautiful, but this tour was absolutely not the way to enjoy it. Avoid this company if you actually want to make the most of your trip.

Fantastic way to spend a day seeing some of the island. Ricardo is a lovely and fun guy who takes the time to provide all the information needed to take in the beauty of the surroundings. The stops we had were all great and I’d thoroughly recommend taking a trip with him.

Ricardo is awesome ! Personable, funny and knows the island like the back of his hand. A great day for everyone ! Don't think twice, book your tour with Ricardo !

Ricardo was awesome ! Great car, great driver ! Funny and personable ! He was a pleasure to spend the day with. Highly recommended !

We took this jeep tour the day before our departure. This tour was probably the best thing we had during our stay on Madeira. They took the effort to proceed with our reservation even though there were only my wife and I booked for this day and time, and they took into consideration that we weren't able to postpone the trip to the next day because of our departure flight. As a result, there were only 3 of us in a jeep. My wife, I, and our guide and driver, Ricardo, who took extremely good care of us, and we could not think of a better guide. We were picked out personally at our apartment location on the northern side of Funchal. Our guide, Ricardo, took us to many very beautiful natural points across the east side of the island of Madeira, including off-road paths that cannot be accessed with a rent-a-car, such as forest roads. Our guide, Ricardo, has shown that he knows the island extremely well, and besides the main points, took us to a few very special, hidden, beautiful natural places not yet overrun by crowds. The views he took us to were breathtaking. The bar he took us to was very good, and the local place where he drove us to eat was good and at a good price. To mention, the stops had to follow a schedule, but we've seen a lot more in a day than we could have by ourselves in a couple of days (not to mention that there is no way we could ride through the forest ourselves or find the secret spots). If you're staying on Madeira for a week or less and you worry that you won't have time to see all the main places, then I would EXTREMELY recommend taking this jeep tour. The ticket is very much worth it, just make sure that you reserve your place at least 3 days beforehand, otherwise there is a high chance all places will be taken. I believe we were extremely lucky to be able to make a reservation 1 day prior. We're extremely grateful to Ricardo Off Road Madeira Jeep safari Tours and to Ricardo itself for the experience we had, and we'll keep it forever in our memory.

Vitor met us on time, told us a little about the day and off we went. Due to the weather we did the tour in reverse, which turned out to be the best decision. Traditional Santana houses, off road through fantastic mountains, beautiful views throughout. Lovely lunch in a BBQ style restaurant over looking a lush green valley. Up to pico 2 nd highest mountain to see the views. And back via Monte to hotel drop off. Vitor is very knowledgeable about his island and speaks very good English. All this delivered in a humorous way. We learnt a lot in a short time and also had a fantastic day out

We had an unforgettable experience with Victor. He thoughtfully customized the trip to suit the needs of my elderly parents (70+), making sure it was comfortable for them while still adventurous and full of incredible sights. We didn’t miss a single highlight! Victor is a warm, kind, and empathetic guide with a great sense of humor. As a local, he adds a personal and authentic touch to every destination, making the journey even more special.

You can bring snacks and tissues and essentials if you want as the trip is long, but you will not regret it, our guide Andre was a very cheerful and professional guide who knew the island as his back of his hand, we really loved the trip and took very nice photographs and saw amazing sights in this heaven on earth

Local guide who could not have been more welcoming and shared the love of his own Island. Provided a picture of island living as we explored the area both on track and through off road forests. We loved the time here and want to return and explore further areas with the same team

André is the best guide there is, super nice with great knowledge of the island. Can’t recommend him and Madeira enough, the best island with the best views. Highly recommend 🌟

This was our third jeep safari with Ricardo and he took us to some fantastic places with magnificent views. We missed out last time seeing the views from the highest point on the island due to low cloud. Today the sun was shining brightly and we had magnificent views in all directions. We also visited beautiful coastal locations and a hidden waterfall! Thank you Ricardo, our trip was 5⭐️

Excellent tour of east Madeira. Ricardo is knowledgeable, friendly and ensured that everyone had a great time. He adapted the tour according to the weather and we had a great time. Highly recommended

An incredible experience, André was an excellent guide, we went to amazing places, unbelievable views, will be doing it again next time i come to Madeira, 100% recommend!