Madeira: Santana Jeep Safari and Referta Levada Walk

Madeira’s eastern side packs a remarkable amount into one day. This jeep and levada trip takes you from the high clouds of Pico do Areeiro to farm paths, mountain tracks, Santana’s old houses and the dry cliffs of Ponta de São Lourenço. It is a good way to see places that do not fit neatly into a standard sightseeing bus route.

I like the mix of short walking stops and off-road driving, which keeps the day active without turning it into a hard hike. I also like the local angle: farmers, sugar cane, vineyards, traditional houses and a working rum distillery give the scenery some context. The main caution is the pace. You cover a lot of eastern Madeira in eight hours, and Santana can feel more commercial than intimate.

Key points at a glance

• Pico do Areeiro reaches 1,818 metres: Allow about 20 minutes for views over Madeira’s sharp peaks and valleys.
• The Referta Levada adds a gentle rural walk: You pass cultivated plots, sugar cane and vineyards, with wide views toward Porto da Cruz and Penha d’Águia.
• The jeep ride is fun but fairly brief: The mountain tracks near Ribeiro Frio and Faial add excitement without making the whole day a rough ride.
• Santana combines culture and lunch: You see Madeira’s famous triangular thatched houses and have roughly two hours for a break, food and sightseeing.
• Porto da Cruz brings rum and coastal scenery: A traditional distillery gives the day a practical look at local production.
• Ponta de São Lourenço finishes with stark cliffs: Its dry, windy setting feels very different from Madeira’s wet mountain interior.

Why this eastern Madeira day works so well

At $72 per person, this is strong value if you want variety rather than one long walk. Transport, a driver-guide, insurance and selected hotel pickup are included, and the day lasts about eight hours. You still pay for food and drinks, but the price covers several distant parts of the island that would be awkward to combine on your own.

The appeal is the contrast. Madeira changes quickly. At Pico do Areeiro, you look across high, rugged peaks. Later, you walk beside agricultural plots and levada channels. By the final stop, the vegetation has thinned and the peninsula feels exposed to the Atlantic wind.

The tour also depends heavily on the guide. Pedro, Miguel, Gil, Victor, David da Silva, John, Michael, Ruben and others have received praise for clear explanations, humor and careful driving. Your guide will vary, but the best part of this format is having someone explain the plants, farming, roads and viewpoints as you go rather than simply dropping you at a lookout.

Pickup is available from accommodation or hotels in Funchal at no extra charge, depending on the option selected. If you are staying elsewhere, an additional fuel tax applies. Confirm the meeting point carefully before the day, since pickup details can matter more than the sightseeing itself.

Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 metres

The first major stop is Pico do Areeiro, one of Madeira’s highest peaks. You have about 20 minutes for photographs and a short walk, enough to get a feel for the height without committing to the much longer mountain routes associated with the area.

On a clear day, the view is the star of the morning. You see steep valleys and serrated summits stretching across the island. Clouds can gather quickly at this altitude, so the experience depends on conditions. A poor-weather day does not ruin the tour, but it can reduce the first stop to mist and partial views.

Bring a windbreaker even in warm weather. The open summit can feel cold, and the jeep ride later may also be breezy if you sit or stand in an exposed position. One useful point from the day’s feedback is that weather can change the mood of the tour, while a good guide can adjust the stops and keep the day enjoyable.

Ribeiro Frio, Faial and the mountain tracks

From the summit, the route turns toward the interior. The Ribeiro Frio section combines hiking, scenic views and an off-road ride, with about an hour allocated to this part of the day.

The off-road driving is one of the reasons to choose this experience over a regular minibus tour. The vehicle takes mountain tracks through evergreen areas around Faial, giving you a closer look at Madeira’s plant life and less-developed scenery. It is not an all-day 4×4 expedition, though. One guest described the off-road section as quite short, and that is useful to know if you are booking mainly for serious off-roading.

Think of it as a lively change of pace between viewpoints. The driving should feel exciting rather than extreme. Several guides, including John, Gil and Miguel, have been praised for making the ride feel safe while still keeping it fun. If rough roads aggravate your back, this is not the right activity. Pregnant people and those with back problems are specifically advised not to take part.

The Faial stop lasts about 15 minutes and works mainly as a viewpoint and brief visit. It gives you another look at Madeira’s green interior before the tour moves toward Santana. These short stops are useful for photos, but you should not expect a long exploration at every location.

Santana’s houses and the two-hour midday pause

Santana is best known for its small triangular houses with steep thatched roofs. Some of the oldest examples have survived for more than 250 years, and their shape reflects Madeira’s older rural building traditions.

The houses are worth seeing, but set your expectations properly. Santana is a popular stop, and one guest found the town more tourist-focused than charming. I would treat it as a cultural snapshot rather than a quiet village encounter. You get a quick look at an iconic part of Madeira, but not a full lesson in local life.

The schedule allows about two hours here for a break, lunch, sightseeing and walking. Lunch is not included in the $72 price, so bring money for a meal. One useful detail is that the restaurant stop may not be obvious when you book, so plan for a proper midday pause rather than assuming you will eat on the move.

That break helps the pacing. After an early mountain start, you have time to sit down and recharge before the levada walk and coastal stops. The value of the visit depends on what you want. If you care most about traditional architecture, Santana is worthwhile. If you prefer wild scenery and quiet paths, the stop may feel longer than necessary.

The Referta Levada and Madeira’s working countryside

The levada walk is the most grounded part of the experience. Madeira’s levadas are water channels built to carry mountain water across the island, and the paths beside them often pass through cultivated land rather than untouched wilderness.

Here, you walk through traditional agricultural areas with vegetables, sugar cane and vineyards. The views reach toward Porto da Cruz, the North Coast and the dramatic Penha d’Águia rock formation. You may also meet local farmers and hear about how the land is used.

The walk is described as short and gentle rather than strenuous. That makes it a good fit if you want to experience a levada without giving up the rest of the day to hiking. Wear proper shoes, though. Comfortable footwear matters on any path beside a water channel, and the surface may not feel like a smooth pavement.

This section gives the tour its strongest sense of place. A viewpoint tells you that Madeira is steep and beautiful. The farm paths show you how people work within that steep terrain. You see planted fields, old routines and the close link between water, crops and settlement.

The guide’s explanations can make a big difference here. David da Silva and Pedro, among others, have been praised for discussing plants, wildlife and the island’s natural features. Since the walking portion is not long, your attention is likely to go as much to the stories as to the path itself.

Porto da Cruz and the smell of local rum

Porto da Cruz provides a short coastal stop of about 30 minutes. The town is known for its views and for traditional rum production, and the distillery visit adds a useful taste of Madeira’s working culture.

You can see the time-honored process behind the island’s rum and take in the scent of spirits in the air. This is not a long tasting-focused visit, so treat it as an introduction rather than a full distillery tour. The stop works well because it breaks up the drive and connects local agriculture with something you can actually see being produced.

Porto da Cruz also brings the coast back into view. After the green mountain paths and farm plots, the scenery opens toward the ocean. The 30-minute stop is short, but enough for photographs and a quick look around.

Ponta de São Lourenço, the dry eastern edge

The final major stop is Ponta de São Lourenço, a rugged peninsula at the eastern end of Madeira. It is described as the lowest, driest and windiest part of the island, which makes it a sharp contrast to the damp, green highlands.

You have about 25 minutes for sightseeing, photographs and a short walk. Do not expect to complete the full peninsula route in that time. Instead, you get a taste of the cliffs and broad views over both the north and south coasts.

This is a strong ending because the scenery looks and feels different from everything earlier in the day. The cliffs are exposed, the vegetation is more sparse and the wind becomes part of the experience. Hold onto your hat, and keep a windbreaker handy.

The stop also gives you a final chance to compare Madeira’s two faces: a lush island shaped by water and farming, and a dry volcanic peninsula facing open sea. Guides sometimes add a small extra stop when timing allows. One such addition has been the Jesus the Redeemer statue, but you should not count on it as part of the fixed route.

Guides, vehicles and the feel of the day

This experience is offered in private or small-group formats, which can make a big difference. A smaller vehicle allows more conversation and makes the off-road section feel personal. It also means the guide’s style shapes the day more than it would on a large coach.

Names associated with especially well-received days include Pedro, Miguel, Gil, Victor, David da Silva, John, Michael, Ruben and Severino. The consistent qualities to hope for are safe driving, useful information and a good sense of humor. A guide who explains Madeira’s trees, crops and roads turns a series of photo stops into a connected day.

Solo visitors can fit comfortably into the group setting. One solo guest found the guide made a point of including everyone, even when the rest of the vehicle consisted of couples. That is worth keeping in mind if you are booking alone.

The ride itself is not a substitute for a full off-road expedition. It is a sightseeing day with some mountain-track driving, a short hike and several brief stops. That balance suits you if you want adventure without spending eight hours being shaken around in a jeep.

What to bring and what to expect

Wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat, and pack clothing for both warm and cold conditions. Madeira’s weather can shift between the summit, the coast and the sheltered farmland, so layers are more useful than one heavy jacket.

A windbreaker is especially important. The high viewpoints, open jeep and Ponta de São Lourenço can all feel breezy. Bring a camera, but do not let the short stops make you rush every moment. The best photographs may come from the changing views between stops.

Food and drinks are not included. Plan to buy lunch in Santana, and carry whatever water or snacks you need for the day. The tour is active enough to make food useful, but the walking is gentle enough for most people who are comfortable on ordinary paths.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Guides are available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Insurance required under Portuguese law is included.

Is this Madeira tour worth $72?

For $72, I see good value if your priority is coverage. In one day, you reach a high summit, an inland forest area, a traditional town, farming country, a rum-producing coastal settlement and the eastern peninsula. Reaching all of these by public transport would be difficult, and arranging a private vehicle would usually cost more.

The value is less clear if you want long walks or a slow cultural visit. The levada walk is short, Santana is fairly brief as a village experience, and the off-road driving is only one part of the day. You are buying variety and transport, not deep time at one location.

The 4.8 rating from 239 bookings reflects how well the format works for people who enjoy a full day with a friendly guide. The strongest praise centers on safe driving, good humor, useful information and the chance to see many sides of Madeira in one outing.

Should you book the Santana Jeep Safari?

Book it if you have one free day in Funchal and want a broad introduction to eastern Madeira. It suits couples, solo visitors, small groups and anyone who wants scenic stops without taking on a demanding hike.

Choose another experience if your main goal is a long levada walk, a quiet village visit or a serious 4×4 adventure. For most people, though, this is a smart first look at the island’s east: high peaks, working farms, old houses, rum, cliffs and a guide to connect the pieces.

FAQ

How long does the Madeira jeep safari last?

The experience lasts about eight hours, including pickup, sightseeing, walking stops and the return to Funchal.

Where does the tour begin and end?

Pickup and drop-off are available in Funchal, depending on the option selected. Pickup from accommodation or a hotel in Funchal is free. An additional fuel tax applies for other areas.

Is lunch included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. The schedule includes a break in Santana where you can have lunch.

How long is the levada walk?

The walk is described as short and gentle. The schedule allows about one hour for the Ribeiro Frio section, which includes hiking, scenic views and off-road driving.

Is the off-road driving intense?

The off-road section is a short part of the day and takes place on mountain tracks near Ribeiro Frio and Faial. It is intended as an enjoyable adventure, not a full-day extreme 4×4 trip.

What languages are available?

The live guide may speak English, French, Portuguese or Spanish.

Can I book a private tour?

Yes. Private and small-group options are available.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, a windbreaker, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, a camera and clothing for both warm and cold temperatures.

Who should not take this tour?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems.