Northeast meet the locals 4×4 tour – Santana / Caniçal

Madeira’s northeast feels like a different island. This 4WD day tour is built for getting off the main roads, with stops that mix sea cliffs, rural villages, and classic Madeira scenery in one long day. I especially like the 4WD access to remote spots and the big photo lineup around Sao Vicente, Santana, and Porto da Cruz, plus the easy pickup from the Funchal or Caniço area. One thing to watch is that lunch is not included, and there are extra local fees listed for certain stops.

You start at 8:30 am, and the ride is paced like a guided day, not a rushed bus circuit. Group size caps at 24, so you usually get to hear what’s happening without feeling lost in a crowd. The overall time is about 7 to 9 hours, so plan for a full day outdoors, with comfortable shoes and layers.

Key highlights worth planning for

• 4WD rides to remote viewpoints: Great when the best scenes are too far for standard sightseeing buses.
• Sao Vicente, Santana, and Porto da Cruz in one day: You cover the northeast without piecing together multiple trips.
• Photo breaks built into the route: Foresty areas, cliff views, old terraces, and village streets.
• Free admission included at key stops: The listed stops show admission ticket free.
• Smaller group size (up to 24): Easier managing for timing and photo stops.
• Pickup from Funchal or Caniço area: Makes the day feel stress-free.

Entering the Madeira Northeast by 4WD, not by bus

This tour is all about pace and access. Madeira’s northeast has dramatic coastlines, small settlements, and hillside scenery that does not always fit the straight lines of big coach routes. A 4WD vehicle means you can reach rural areas and viewpoints that feel more local and less manufactured.

What I like about this setup is that it turns a day into a sequence of “stop, look, shoot a few photos, move on.” That matters on Madeira. The island is steep, and the best angles often need you to stop in the right place at the right time of day. With a guided route, you do not have to guess which roads lead where.

The tour is run by Green Devil Safari, and it caps at 24 people. That size feels practical for a day trip: enough people for a lively vibe, small enough for the group to actually stay together when roads get twisty.

Price and logistics: when $73.16 is just the start

The price is $73.16 per person, and the tour runs about 7 to 9 hours. That alone is a good sign for value if you are trying to cover multiple northeast highlights in one go, because you are paying for a guided route plus the ability to get to off-road nature areas.

But do not ignore the add-ons. Lunch is not included. And there are local fees listed that can change your final total depending on where you board and which charged stops apply. The not-included list mentions:

• $5 per person at the cruise dock or harbor
• $5 per person at places like São Vicente, Machico, Santa Cruz, and Ponta do Sol
• $10 per person at places like Caniçal, Porto Moniz, Santo da Serra, and Ponta Delgada

So here is how to think about the money: the $73.16 gets you the core guided day and the free admission tickets shown for the main stops. Your wallet might get hit by the local fees only if those charged items apply to your day or boarding point. If you are on a cruise, the $5 at the dock is one extra item to plan for.

Pickup is where the price feels most reassuring. You get free pickup from the Funchal or Caniço area. If your accommodation sits outside Funchal city, pickup can cost extra. In plain terms: if you stay near Funchal or Caniço, you get a smoother start with less hassle.

You also get a mobile ticket, and you should receive confirmation at booking. Start time is 8:30 am, so you will want breakfast planned, not improvised.

Sao Vicente stop: short timing, strong first impressions

Sao Vicente is the kind of place you notice from the road. The northeast here is known for sharp coast views and green hillside pockets, and this stop is built as a quick hit. The scheduled time is about 15 minutes, with admission ticket free.

A 15-minute stop sounds tiny, but it can work if the goal is orientation and photos. You are not expected to do a long “wander for hours” session here. Instead, it is a photo and viewpoint window that helps you understand the coast before moving on to villages deeper inland.

On top of Sao Vicente itself, the route includes additional points you will likely see while you are out and moving: Boaventura and Arco are listed as stops. These sound like the sort of viewpoints where the scenery does the talking. With Madeira’s terrain, a small change in elevation can completely change what you can photograph, so brief stops are actually efficient.

What to consider: because time here is limited, you should be ready to move quickly. Wear shoes you can walk in right away, and keep your camera gear easy to grab. If you like slow, long strolls, you may feel a little rushed at this particular stop.

Santana visit: an hour to connect with village life

Next comes Santana, and this is your bigger time block. The schedule gives about 1 hour here, again with admission ticket free.

Santana is one of those Madeira places where the village look is the attraction. You will be able to soak in the traditional feel, take photos, and get a sense of how the northeast communities sit on steep terrain. The tour’s description flags traditional village scenery, and an hour is just enough time to do a loop, find your best viewpoints, and still have time to regroup.

The route also lists Faial as a stop. Even without a specified time, you can treat it as a “look for photos where you’re told” moment. On a guided day like this, it is usually safer to follow the group timing than to rush to the nearest spot on your own.

The main drawback at Santana is the trade-off between breadth and depth. This day is designed to tick off multiple key locations, so you do not get a half-day here. If Santana is your top priority, you will still come away with a solid first impression, but you may want an extra free day later to linger.

The payoff is efficiency. You cover the iconic village feel without losing the chance to see what comes after.

Porto da Cruz and Engenhos do Norte: the rum-and-cliffs break

Porto da Cruz is where the northeast begins to feel like a mix of sea and tradition. The scheduled stop at Engenhos do Norte is about 20 minutes, with admission ticket free. The tour also names Caniçal in this general section, which suggests you are moving through that stretch of coastline during your day.

Here is what the tour is setting up for you: a contrast from the villages. You get a chance for coastal scenery and old terraces, and the overview specifically mentions a rum factory. That is a nice detail because it gives your “Madeira day” more than just views. It adds a local product connection that fits Madeira’s identity.

Twenty minutes is short, like Sao Vicente, but it feels more like a focused stop. You are likely doing a quick walk-through, snapping a few photos, and getting the key sights before the route moves on.

What to bring to make this stop better? Keep water in your day bag. It is easy to underestimate how tiring Madeira can feel in a full day, even if you are not walking for hours. A short stop still means you are getting out, repositioning, and photographing on uneven ground.

If you care a lot about food and production, this is the part of the day that gives you something different from pure scenery. Even with limited time, the rum factory mention signals that the stop has a concrete Madeira story attached to it.

Caniçal and the drive back: where your best photos may happen

By the time the itinerary references Caniçal, the day has already shown you coast, village, and production. This is the section where the 4WD route and the road itself start to matter more than the time sitting still.

Because the schedule does not list an exact standalone duration for Caniçal in the info provided, treat it as part of the overall driving-and-photo rhythm. You can still plan for it: keep your phone charged, your jacket accessible, and your camera strap ready.

This is also a good moment to manage comfort. A 4WD vehicle ride on Madeira can mean bumpy stretches and sudden turns, especially when the route heads toward remote viewpoints. If you are the type who gets motion discomfort, consider taking it seriously and dressing accordingly.

The best strategy for this final stretch is simple: be ready when you are told to stop. The views likely change quickly, and the tour is designed around photo opportunities. If you spend your time rummaging through a bag, you will miss the best angle.

Who this 4×4 tour suits best

This is the kind of tour that works well when you want a lot of northeast Madeira highlights in one day without doing a lot of driving yourself.

You will probably enjoy it if:

• Your time on the island is limited and you want to cover Sao Vicente, Santana, and Porto da Cruz in one outing.
• You like roads that feel closer to real daily life, not just a paved bus loop.
• You enjoy photos and want a day structured around viewpoints and short, useful stops.
• You want pickup convenience from Funchal or Caniço.

It may not be ideal if:

• You want long, unhurried wandering in one village. Santana is the longest stop at 1 hour, and the rest is shorter.
• You are tightly budgeted. Lunch is not included, and there can be extra local fees depending on what applies.

From a “fit” perspective, this tour also makes sense for couples, solo travelers, and small groups who prefer guided timing and easy meeting points over DIY navigation.

What the highest-rated experience seems to get right

The strongest feedback for this tour is about how smoothly the day runs. One highlight mentioned in the reviews is that everything worked out well, including the ride to places you might not find on your own. That matches the core design here: you are paying not just for sightseeing, but for access.

When a 4WD route is done well, you feel it quickly. You start reaching areas you did not plan to visit, you get viewpoint stops that actually make sense, and you do not waste time guessing what road leads to what view. This is the kind of day where the route itself becomes the experience.

If you want a day that feels organized, with real northeast stops and enough time to enjoy each place, this tour is aligned with that.

Should you book the Green Devil Safari Northeast 4×4 tour?

Book it if you want a structured, efficient way to experience Madeira’s northeast. The combo of 4WD access, the three named highlights (Sao Vicente, Santana, Porto da Cruz), and pickup from the Funchal or Caniço area is a strong value mix, especially if you do not want to drive the steep roads yourself.

Skip it or think twice if you need a slower day, want lunch provided, or you are sensitive to the possibility of additional local fees listed for certain stops. It is not a “full-service” food and lounge day. It is a guided, outdoor, photo-friendly itinerary.

My quick decision rule: if you can handle a long day and you care about seeing multiple northeast highlights in one shot, this is a smart pick. If your ideal Madeira day is one place at a time, you may prefer a quieter, more flexible plan.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 8:30 am.

How long is the Northeast 4×4 tour?

It runs about 7 to 9 hours.

Is pickup included?

Free pickup is included for the Funchal or Caniço area. Pickup from hotels and guest houses outside Funchal city has an extra cost.

What is the group size?

The tour has a maximum of 24 travelers.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes free pickup for the Funchal or Caniço area. Admission tickets are listed as free for Sao Vicente, Santana, and Engenhos do Norte.

What is not included?

Lunch is not included. There may also be extra local fees listed as $5 per person at the cruise dock or harbor, $5 per person at places like São Vicente, Machico, Santa Cruz, and Ponta do Sol, and $10 per person at places like Caniçal, Porto Moniz, Santo da Serra, and Ponta Delgada.

Do I get a ticket on my phone?

Yes, the tour offers a mobile ticket.

Who runs this tour?

The provider is Green Devil Safari.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time for a full refund.