Go West Tour - Madeira Island Excursion

Had a great day with our guide Nico. It was definitely worth going on, especially if you haven't got a car and want to see some of the different areas of the island. There was the 2 of us with 5 other people in our group. Nico shared some very interesting information about the island and the places we visited, and was able to answer the questions we all had. Our favourites were the stop at Porto Moniz and the pools, as well as some of the amazing views from the higher parts of the island. Unfortunately other members of the group were very late for their pick up and then late getting back to the minibus at almost every stop. Nico was very patient with them, but was frustrating for both us on the group and him.

Wow, just wow! These are wonderful excursions. I booked two days of tours: the first one was to the west, and the second one to the east. Thank you to Marco for the extremely detailed and helpful consultation on WhatsApp, as well as for the hiking recommendations. 😊 And a huge thank you to our driver and guide, Tino. It was absolutely amazing, interesting and incredibly beautiful. I fell in love with Madeira thanks to you! ❤️

We had an amazing tour on the West part of Madeira. Our guide/ driver, Hugo, was very knowledgeable, polite and funny. We loved listening to his information about the history of Madeira Island. Thank you very much for a great experience.

Really good value for money. Saw all we had hoped to see. Didn't ever feel too rushed. Driver/tour guide very knowledgeable and helpful, with a good sense of humour!

A great day out with lots to see Our Guide is full of fun and useful information and pay great attention to our safety

We booked this tour on recommendation of a blog we’d read and were not disappointed. The pick up was a little crazy due to the number of tour buses picking up in the same area, but our guide Hugo came looking for us and we were soon safely aboard the comfortable minibus. Hugo was very engaging and informative throughout the entire trip, telling us about the history of Madeira and general information as well as the sights we were visiting. If we had more time, we would definitely have booked another trip with this company!

Hugo (Boss!) took us on the Go West Tour on a sunny day on a Saturday. It was an excellent way of seeing a large part of the island in one day. The stops were well timed and allowed opportunity to see the sights. Hugo gave an amazingly informative commentary during the day and kept us well entertained. An excellent tour!!

This was a brilliant value for money tour. Hugo our guide and driver was fantastic he is so knowledgeable and helpful. Tour bus was also comfy. Would definitely recommend and would use again when we come to Madeira.

The tour on 25/9 tour was excellent. We made a special request when booking and that was remembered. The driver/guide was very knowledgeable, arrived on time at the appointed place and had a nice new very clean minibus. He kept us very well informed throughout the day with Madeira history and facts related to the tour which were really helpful. One minor point was that the initial email confirmation said an 08:30 pick up but the tickets said 09;00 pick up which was confusing so we arrived in time for 08;30 to be safe. Overall, a great full day tour which we would recommend

Quite good. We toured around the west side of the island in a full minibus that had seen better days. The driver was informed and fun and he drove that bus pretty hard!

I have booked this tour for my family, ( kids 10 and 20 years old) and we all enjoyed the experience. We were visiting Madeira for the first time and during the tour we had a chance to see the highlights of the island . Hugo our tour guide and driver was very friendly and informative. I would highly recommend this company.

Our guide was easy to talk to and has a great sense of humour. We got to experience a very intimate look at Madeira, eventhough it was only for a day. The trip brought us to some truly beautiful spots, made even better by the recommendations of our guide what to do and what to avoid. We were only briefly in Madiera due to circumstances, but because of this tour we will never forget our trip. It's well worth the price!

Priced right. Good use of the day to see the island's west side. Hugo is the guide and driver. Excellent driving skills. Small mini bus holds about 18. New, clean air conditioned. About 7 to 7.5 hour tour once all pick ups were done. Beware stop at tallest cliff toilets are not free 50c Euro and to see the cliff the line tor tickets and view was long. If you want to see if get ticket online before arriving. The stop at the top in the laurel forest was the best part.pastures of cows. Wish we had an extra 30 minutes here. Naturals swimming pools and lunch stop good. Pools in May were very cold. We did not swim and already very crowded. I recommend justvrelaxung with a chcolate banana gelato from cafe just up the hill. Could have skipped the next waterfall on the cliff stop and St. Vincent stop in order to add more time at laurel tree forest stop or to cut the trip by 30 minutes or more to make it an 830 am to maybe 3pm or 330om tour - this allows for afternoon return to relax by the pool or bay. Hugo did French English and Portuguese guided tour on this day. Just enough good information. Enjoyable music when not talking. I recommend.

Hugo is the driver and the guide. Beautiful small size ban 'mini bus' double seat obe side single on the other holds about 18? New and clean. Air conditioning. Tour was about 9 to 430 pm. Stops good, but last stop in st Vincent and waterfall stop not really necessary. Might be nice to reduce trip time by an hour (still a this great price). Could have returned by 330 pm to enjoy t8me by the hotel pool. Would have liked more time at the top in the laurel tree forest. The fields and visit with cows in the forest was lovely. 30 more minutes would have been ideal. All in all excellent tour. Hugo excellent driver and I recommend this tour. Interesting information. He guided in English, French and Portuguese the day of our tour. The stop for lunch and natural pools was nice, but also a bit long if not going to swim. In May the pools were already very crowded and still cold. I recommend the chocolate banana gellato/ice cream just up the hill at the Cafe. First stop of the day was nice, but beware no free toilets at cliff overlook. 50c Euro. Very sad to charge here. No reason for it. We didn't get to see the cliff as it too cost money and a big tour group arrived at the same time so no time to get ticket and get in line to look out.

Picked up on time. Knowledgeable driver. Take your swimming so you can swim in the pools. Weather permitting.

A great day out with an our knowledgable guide Nico . We saw several amazing views and stopped in some interesting places. This was a good value trip and would recommend it to other first time visitors to Madeira.

This tour was amazing. Everyone who visits the island should take it to view the amazing landscapes and climates in the day tour. Tino, took us safely round the island carefully and it was evident he had great knowledge of the island and brilliant coach driver. It was a fantastic trip. I'd unreservedly go on Happy Tours trip next time we visit Madeira.

The whole trip was amazing. Our driver Hugo made it interesting and he was very knowledgable and a safe driver. The places we stopped at were very good! The skywalk was an extra €5 but well worth it. We were reserved front row seats due to travel sickness on the mini bus. All i would say is bring pocket tissues for the toilet stops and some hand sanitizer.

Great experience. As a solo traveller this is such a great way to get out and see a lot of sights. The driver was fantastic and really added a lot with his local knowledge. I just booked about tour through them.

Fantastic tour guide, would recommend

We loved our day tour with Tino. The weather was not great (Storm Theresa and ice and snow in the mountains ) but Tino adapted our tour to give us a fulfilling and informative day. Small group, great driver and very friendly. Highly recommended.

We thank Hugo for providing such a well- organized, interesting and informative full-day tour of western Madeira aboard a clean and comfortable van. During the journey thru a variety of micro-climates, Hugo shared with us so much about the island's history, farming methods, commerce, flora and fauna and culture.

Rather a chilly day but made good by our guide, Hugo. The tour was fascinating and very enjoyable with lots of info about the island, its history, the traditions, the nature and the topography. Well done Hugo you get a gold star ⭐️

Picked up on time and enjoyed a busy tour of the west of the island. Sadly the weather was poor so our guide slightly adjusted the schedule to make the trip more enjoyable. The driver/guide spoke fluently in English & German and gave us lots of information without overdoing it.

I did the West tour with Hugo and had a fantastic time. My family have been on many tours with him over the years as we enjoy his company so much. He’s very knowledgeable and has a great sense of humour. I highly recommend Hugo and the whole crew at Happy Tours. Thank you for the great time!

A good amount of time doesn’t at each stop so that you get a good feel for the west side of the Island.

If you are looking for a professional, insightful, and seamless way to see Madeira, look no further than Happy Tours. We spent two days with them—the "Go West" tour with Luis Junior and the "Go East" tour with Luis Senior—and the experience was top-tier from start to finish. The Guides: Both Luis Senior and Junior are incredibly knowledgeable. They don't just give you the "tourist brochure" facts; they share deep, local insights and "lesser-known" information that makes you want to absorb every word. Their respect for the nature and heritage of their island is clear in every story they tell. Go West Tour (Our Personal Favorite): While both days were excellent, the West tour was the highlight of our trip. * Fanal & Porto Moniz: These are breathtaking. The cliff and ocean views are some of the best on the island. * The Comfort: The transfers were very comfortable, and the pace was perfect—giving us a great "taster" of spots we want to explore more deeply on our next trip. Dining & Local Tips: In Porto Moniz, we took Luis’s advice and ate at Cachalote. It was fantastic! * Must Order: Do not miss the Bolo do Caco (traditional garlic bread) and the Black Scabbard fish with banana. It’s a local staple and absolutely delicious. * Pack a Swimsuit: There are free natural volcanic pools right at the restaurant. We highly recommend bringing your gear so you can take a dip between the views and the food! Final Verdict: There are many tour companies in Madeira, but Happy Tours stands out for their professionalism and genuine admiration for their land. We cannot recommend them highly enough.

Hugo was a briiliant tour guide, right level and so informative and passionate about maderia.

The driver was excellent and very informative. It would have been helpful to know that the Salt water pools were closed as this was a major factor in choosing the trip. But we enjoyed the day.

Brilliant day out booked at the happy tours shop near the shopping centre . I’d researched happy tours after other people on trip advisor recommended they did not disappoint . Picked up on time at the shop small luxury mini bus 9 am . Wonderful driver who was our guide using a microphone so we could hear gave detailed history of Madeira as we travelled so knowledgeable think his name was alfonzo . Told us how long we had at each stop which was more than enough time he made our day so good and the scenery just amazing . Top tip when you go to the volcanic pools go to the local cafe one street back from the sea front lunch was more than half the price than cafes on the front . Lovey food too . Can’t recommend this enough . We also did a Levada walk just one morning a great walk just listen to the guide and follow instructions some people in our group. Just didn’t . It’s high up and you must stick to the path great guide again and make sure you dress for cold rain wind sun all seasons . Recommend the walk.

Very well done. Extremely friendly and informative driver/guide. Lots of unexpected stops on the way and enough time to explore. The natural pool at St Monitz were unfortunately closed due to big waves, but that was not their fault 😆

Great experience with Luis he is very knowledge He had a lot of wealth of information regarding the island and it’s history

This was a great tour. Our guide Hugo was so good. He was warm and friendly and very knowledgeable. He gave an entertaining and informative commentary as we explored the west of the island. We learned about the history of Madeira - from its discovery, through its development and right up to the modern day. The minibus was clean and comfortable. We were a group of nine which felt just right. The tour information provided at time of booking was completely accurate and we felt it was very good value for money. We were quickly exposed to the various micro-climates around the island travelling between warm and sunny to damp, cold and misty within a very short time period. So please take appropriate clothing! The views and vistas were excellent. Heartily recommend.

We booked West tour today, and I don’t have nothing bad to say about it. First of all, the tour guide was on time to pick up us from the hotel. We enjoyed the tour at all, despite the weather, that sometimes was rainy and windy, but its something that they cannot control and understandable. But that made the tour more interesting. Our tour guide was Louis or Luis ( I don’t know how to spell it) , and I think It’s the best tour guide I’have ever had, he explained us everything he know about Madeira throught the journey, let us ask him questions and he answered them with kindness. Also the way he explained everything was very enjoyable to hear. I would rate him a 10 out of 10, If you book a tour and you have Louis as your tour guide, you’ll enjoy it 100% sure.

Booked a Christmas Eve tour of Madera, Louis did a great job making everyone feel welcome and comfortable. Gave great recommendation for lunch and provided information about the island as we toured. Would recommend

The coach was full with 14 guests and although it was a really stormy day it was still enjoyable. Hugo had to change route due to a blocked road and still had to remove a fallen tree to get by on our alternative route to the west coast but he drove carefully in poor conditions and ensured we were always safe. A continuous running commentary was maintained in both fluent English and French to provide history of the Island and delivered with true knowledge and just enough humour. Well done Hugo.

This is NOT a typical tour. You don’t get taken to rug/rum/jewellery factories & expected to buy things. You also aren’t herded to a pre chosen restaurant to eat a set meal. Thank goodness! We were a small group of 8, in a very comfortable minibus with an English speaking driver/guide. He drove us to the various points of interest, & talked about Madeira’s culture & history. We were left for pre arranged periods of time at the various stops, all enough to have a good look round with the exception of Fanal, where we only had 20 mins, & could have done with an hour. Overall, about 8 hours of touring, getting a good impression of about a quarter of Madeira. Won’t give spoilers as to the sights, but suffice to say there was a great mix of the beautiful and the breathtaking.

Hugo, our driver/guide was a great guy to give us all the info in an amusing way. The tour gave you an insight to the west/northwest part of the island. Our favourite stops were the Laurisilva forest with the fantastic old Laurel trees and watching the waves crash into the rocks at Porto Moniz.

The agency worked hard to get us on the tour that was almost filled up, really good work. The tour was fantastic, the guide had a good knowledge about history, biology and geography making the tour very enjoyable. Comfortable bus and sufficient time at all stops. We can recommend both the agency and tour

Excellent full day tour of West Madeira with Hugo, who was both a safe driver and an informative guide. Great value trip and would definitely use them again. Just the right amount of time in each stop and not too long on the bus (which was modern and comfortable). The bus holds 19 people but only 10 went on our tour which was even better!

Highly recommended! Bring your bathing suit and towel if touring West island. All questions well answered. Great driving skills. Very courteous on the road.

Really enjoyable excursion despite the low cloud. Our driver Luis Mateo was brilliant. Very knowledgeable and his language skills excellent. Very professional. Good viewing stops. If the time had been two hours at Porto Moniz you could have gone swimming in the pools instead of having a meal.

Great trip. Not too big a group. Guide was informative and friendly. We spent the right amount of time at each stop. Pick up and drop off efficient.

We found Happy Tours, efficient and friendly. They picked us up on time and were informative and professional. My husband managed to leave his hat on the minibus. After emailing Happy Tours they found it and kept it ready for us collect - thank you Susana.

Very professional and knowledgeable guide. Minibus in showroom condition arrived promptly and our guide treated everyone with respect and humour. He spoke fluently in English and French keeping us all informed throughout the journey. Plenty of stops along the way to appreciate the views, stretch our legs and for general comfort. My favourite stops were the Fanal forest covered in cloud - so eery - and the wonderful volcanic pools. Thanks for a great introduction to Madeira and an insight into its history

The tour (West tour, full day) was excelent. Very good timing, good and comfortable car. The guide (Ugo) was excelent! Usefully informations, safe driver and excelent level of English.

Fabulous tour of the west of beautiful Madeira with the brilliant Luis. We enjoyed it so much we went back two days later for another tour

Very enjoyable trip. We got to see some spectacular scenery and other parts of the island that we wouldn't have visited whilst enjoying a very informative commentary from Hugo. The minibus was comfortable and we had long enough at each stop. Communication from Madeira Happy Tours was excellent, the pick up and drop off worked perfectly. We would definitely recommend.

Great comms with pick-up and itinerary details from the tour company and the tour guide was excellent, very knowledgeable and friendly. Thoroughly recommend.