The unspoiled North East coast Tour

Eight hours, one wild north coast.

This tour is built around the Sao Vicente Caves and the story of Madeira’s volcanic past, plus it gives you Funchal hotel pickup and drop-off so you can focus on the views. I also love how the day keeps moving, with real stops in working villages like Ponta Delgada and Santana. One thing to plan for, the caves entry is not included in the tour price.

You’ll travel with an air-conditioned vehicle and a professional guide in English, in a small group capped at 18. And yes, the route covers a lot of ground, so it feels like a full-day loop rather than a slow stroll.

Key Tour Takeaways Before You Go

• Sao Vicente Caves are the main event, and you get a tour built to help you actually see them
• Village-to-village pacing means you experience more than one postcard spot
• Santana’s A-frame houses are a big visual and cultural moment
• Ponta de Sao Lourenco is a dramatic finish, with the north and south coasts in sight on clear days
• Small group size (max 18) helps keep the day manageable

Madeira’s North East Coast, Where the Caves and Villages Do the Talking

If you like Madeira best when it feels practical and lived-in, this route fits. You are not just riding past lookouts. You are stopping in places with churches, sea pools, working bays, and even a sugar mill that still matters on the north coast.

The big win is that the day is anchored by Sao Vicente Caves, the volcanic underground formations that explain why the island looks like it does. Then the tour threads that same natural force into human geography: fishing villages on the water, farms up in the hills, and dramatic points of land jutting into the Atlantic.

Price and Value, $38.13 for an Full-Day North East Circuit

At about $38.13 per person for roughly 8 hours, this is the kind of price that works well if you want structure without paying for an all-inclusive package. You get hotel/port-style convenience for the included areas, plus a guide and transport.

Two value points matter here. First, you are paying for someone to run the route, handle timing, and translate the island’s details into something you can actually use while you are there. Second, the stops cover multiple distinct areas, so you are not stuck doing one theme all day.

The small catch: Sao Vicente Caves admission is not included. In other words, your base price buys the tour experience and access logistics, while you should budget separately for that cave entry ticket.

Hotel Pickup in Funchal, and the Real Rules for a Smooth Morning

This tour starts at 9:00 am, with pickup typically arranged at your hotel reception where possible. If you are staying somewhere other than a listed hotel, like an apartment or villa, you wait outside at the main entrance.

Pickup is included for accommodations in Funchal, and also the Camara de Lobos, Cabo Girao, and Canico areas. The driver waits no longer than 5 minutes after the scheduled pickup time, so set a buffer for a quick lobby check-in.

Two important boundaries:

• They do not pick up from Machico, Santa Cruz, or the cruise ship port, and cruise ship port pickup needs an extra fee of €5 per person
• Pickup is limited to the listed areas, so if you are outside those zones, plan on meeting elsewhere

If you want this to go smoothly, check the day before for the most precise pickup times and location details via email or WhatsApp.

Why Sao Vicente Caves Are the Anchor of the Day

The day’s “must-do” is the Sao Vicente Caves. These underground formations were created by volcanic activity, so they connect the Madeira story to something physical you can stand inside.

Here is the practical part. The stop for Sao Vicente Caves comes with a note that admission ticket is not included. So bring cash or card plans for the ticket, and keep your expectations clear: you are booking a tour that helps you get there and see it, not a fully paid cave ticket package.

The other practical consideration is timing and operating conditions. Even when you book with confidence, outdoor and natural attractions can close. One of the strongest lessons from the day is simple: if caves are unavailable on the day, you still get a full day of north coast stops. It is just that the underground highlight might not happen exactly as expected.

Stop 1: Ponta Delgada at Bom Jesus, Sea Walls, and Two Lifestyles Side by Side

After leaving Sao Vicente village, the route reaches Ponta Delgada, a quiet fishing village overlooked by forested mountains. What I like about this stop is how it shows two Madeiras at once.

On one side, the seafront is dominated by the church Bom Jesus. On the other, east of the church you see a more modern lido complex. That contrast helps you understand how coastal life works here: traditional community anchors, plus recreation facilities built for locals and visitors who want sea access without the risk and hassle of wild swimming spots.

You get about 30 minutes here, and admission is not included. So treat it as a quick orientation: short walk along the seafront, a couple of photos, and then be ready to move on. The village is best when you let it stay small. Do not try to cover everything in half an hour.

Stop Between Villages: Boaventura Scenery You Can Actually Appreciate

Leaving Ponta Delgada, you pass through Boaventura, and this is where the drive itself matters. Madeira’s north coast has a different mood than the south, with cliffs, forested folds, and coastlines that feel closer to the road.

I enjoy moments like this because you are not stuck only at stops. You are seeing the island’s shape as you travel, which makes the later viewpoints make more sense.

Stop 2: Santana’s A-Frame Houses, Faial’s High View, and Lunch in the Hills

Next up is Santana, one of Madeira’s most familiar images for a reason. Here you see the famous A-frame triangle thatched houses, used by local farmers as cow sheds and, traditionally, also where people lived. The value of this stop is not just that the houses look cool on a postcard. It helps you picture how people used space on a steep island, building practical structures in a style that still reads instantly.

Then you continue toward Faial, the biggest parish of Santana. Faial gets its name from beech trees, described as an indigenous myricaceae that grows in stream valleys and on the mountains. Even if you do not spot the exact species on a quick walk, the name gives you a hint about where the community ties into the island’s vegetation and watercourses.

Faial is high above the sea, with a small church and a seaside area at the river mouth featuring a modern lido complex. The stop includes a sea pool, a kid’s playground, and a rocky beach area.

You also stop here for lunch. The tour does not state that lunch is included, so plan to pay your own way at or near the lido or in the area.

A quick tip for Santana and Faial: wear shoes you can trust on uneven ground. The houses and sea areas are close together, but the terrain is not always paved for slow walking.

Porto do Cruz: The Sugar Mill, the Cross, and the Sea Promenade

After Santana and Faial, you reach Porto do Cruz, located at the foot of the rock Penha d’Aguia. The name ties to Cruz, the explores placed on the bay, which gives you a sense that this coastline has always been about navigation and trade as much as views.

What makes Porto do Cruz special is the mention of the only running sugar mill on the north coast. Even if you do not get a deep guided explanation of the machinery on your short stop, the idea matters. You are watching an island economy that still has threads running through the present.

And you get the setting to go with it: a sea promenade that’s made for walking and for letting your eyes track the coastline while the vehicle doesn’t move.

You are given about 40 minutes in this general stop area, and admission is listed as free. So think of it as: quick look, stretch your legs, take a few photos, then be ready for the final leg.

Ponta de Sao Lourenco: How the Island Turns Itself Inside Out

The last stop is Ponta de Sao Lourenco, the most eastern point of Madeira. Around Caniçal and Sao Lorenço, the climate is said to be similar to Porto Santo, and the natural vegetation changes accordingly. That is the kind of small detail that makes the island feel less repetitive. It is not just more “green.” It is a different kind of green, shaped by exposure and conditions.

You also get a signature moment: from here you can see the north and south coasts at the same time. And on a clear day, Porto Santo can also be visible. That north-south in one glance is exactly why I like ending a tour here. It makes the whole day click. You came from volcanic caves underground, moved through farms and villages, and now the island reveals its geometry to your eyes.

Before reaching the point, the route passes the eastern side of the Machico bay, featuring Pico do Facho, a 320 meter peak named after the beacon that used to be lit to warn residents of approaching pirates. Even if you just catch it from the road, the naming adds a layer of human story to the scenery.

This stop is listed as about 40 minutes, with admission noted as free.

Guide and Driver: What Quality Looks Like on a Busy Day

The tour experience lives and dies with the people running it. The strongest advantage of a professionally run day is not just safety or comfort, it is comprehension.

A good guide makes the difference between seeing “pretty towns” and understanding why those towns exist in those exact places. And in this kind of long loop across the island, driving skill matters. A route like this has tight timing, road changes, and enough turns that you appreciate when the driver handles them calmly.

The result, when it goes well, is a day that feels smooth even though you are covering multiple areas. And when the caves are closed, a good guide still helps the rest of the day feel intentional, not like a consolation prize.

Timing, Group Size, and How to Pack for an 8-Hour Loop

With a maximum group size of 18 travelers, you should expect a pace that is faster than a private tour but steadier than big bus chaos. Pickup happens around 9:00 am, then you are moving through several stops.

Bring what you need for a full day outdoors:

• Comfortable shoes for uneven ground at village stops
• Sun protection, especially for open stretches like the final viewpoint
• A light layer, because coastal breeze can change things fast
• Payment method for Sao Vicente Caves admission, since it is not included

If you tend to get hungry between stops, keep snacks in mind. The itinerary includes a lunch break in the Faial area, but the specifics of lunch timing and where you eat are not spelled out as included.

Who Should Book This North East Coast Tour?

This tour is a great match if:

• You want a structured day covering Sao Vicente, Santana, and Ponta de Sao Lourenco
• You prefer small-group energy over large group logistics
• You like learning the “why” behind what you see, from volcanic formations to farm buildings and coastal navigation

It might be less ideal if:

• You hate full-day schedules and would rather do fewer stops slowly
• You expect all major entrances to be included in the price, since Sao Vicente Caves admission is separate
• You are staying outside the included pickup zones and don’t want to figure out meeting points

Should You Book This Tour?

I think it is worth booking if you want the north east coast’s highlights in one day, with the convenience of hotel pickup and drop-off from Funchal and nearby listed areas. The price is reasonable for an organized day with a guide and transport, and the final viewpoint at Ponta de Sao Lourenco is a strong payoff.

Just go in with two expectations set: it is a full-day loop, and the Sao Vicente Caves ticket is not included. If you can handle that, you will get a Madeira day that feels like the island’s real parts, not just a set of quick snapshots.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 9:00 am.

How long is the tour?

It runs for about 8 hours.

Is pickup from hotels in Funchal included?

Yes, hotel/port pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in Funchal, and pickup is also included for accommodation in Camara de Lobos Village, Cabo Girao, and Canico areas.

Do they pick up from the cruise ship port?

No. Cruise ship port pickup is not included, and if you need it there is an extra fee of €5 per person.

Is the tour offered in English and do I get a mobile ticket?

Yes, it is offered in English, and the tour uses a mobile ticket.

Is the admission ticket for Sao Vicente Caves included?

No. Admission ticket is not included for the Sao Vicente Caves stop.

How long are the stops and is anything free?

Ponta Delgada is listed as 30 minutes, Santana/Faial is part of a stop area with lunch, and Ponta de Sao Lourenco is about 40 minutes. Admission is listed as free for the stops covering Santana/Faial and Ponta de Sao Lourenco.

How many travelers are in the group?

The maximum group size is 18 travelers.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Free cancellation is available with that deadline.