West is the Best

Eight hours on Madeira, westward and scenic.

What makes West is the Best interesting is the way it strings together high viewpoints and north-coast character in one steady day. You start near Funchal, then hop from Câmara de Lobos to the 580-meter Cabo Girão promontory, and keep going through places that feel like Madeira did things by water and steep roads long before modern travel made it easy.

I especially like the small group size (max 15) and the free admission at every scheduled stop, which helps keep your spending predictable. And I really like the guide detail, because one past guest praised Paul as very friendly and chatty, with interesting facts, and said he went out of his way to point out worthwhile spots. The one thing to consider is the day is tightly timed at many stops, so if you want long, slow wandering in just one place, this route may feel a bit “hit the highlights.”

Key points to know before you go

• A tight 8-hour loop that covers Madeira’s west-to-north arc without you having to plan between towns
• Free entry at every stop on the route, which makes budgeting simpler
• Cabo Girão is the star: a near-vertical promontory 580 meters above the sea, with big views
• Porto Moniz gets the longest visit (about 2 hours) for the natural pools
• North-coast variety: Seixal’s black sand beach area, then cave country in São Vicente
• Paul as guide is specifically called out for being warm, informative, and genuinely helpful

A west-to-north Madeira day that favors views

Madeira is famous for its dramatic elevations, and this tour leans into that. You’re not stuck in one town. Instead, you get a sequence of places that each teach you a different side of the island, from fishing-bay life to cliff-top scale to north-coast geology.

The pacing is also a big part of why this works for a short trip. The day runs about 8 hours starting at 9:00 am, with frequent stops that range from 20 to 30 minutes and one longer stretch at Porto Moniz. That structure is great if you want variety in one day, but you still want enough time to actually look around, not just ride by.

Funchal area start: Câmara de Lobos in about 30 minutes

You kick off at Câmara de Lobos, near Funchal. This is a place with deep roots in fishing and agriculture, and it’s tied to the bay and the maritime facility where vessels are moored. It’s also known as one of Madeira’s older areas, and it has nightlife energy, so it doesn’t feel like a museum stop.

In real life, a place like this is best when you do a quick, focused walk. Think of it as orientation for the day: you get your first feel for how the island’s coast shapes daily life. The scheduled visit is about 30 minutes, and since admission is listed as free, you’re spending time on atmosphere and views rather than tickets.

The only caution: with a short visit, you’ll want to be ready to move promptly. If you’re the type who likes to sit with a coffee and watch the same scene for an hour, you might find yourself thinking about the next stop before you’re ready.

Cabo Girão: Europe’s highest cliff viewpoint, 580 meters up

Next comes Cabo Girão, and it’s hard to oversell it because the numbers do most of the work. This promontory is an almost vertical drop, rising 580 meters above the sea, and it’s described as the highest promontory in Europe and the second highest in the world.

What you get here is scale. You’re looking out over the Atlantic, and the viewpoint area is designed for exactly that, with wide views across Madeira’s surroundings. The route notes that you can especially see Câmara de Lobos and Funchal, which is a smart touch. It helps you connect your morning start to what you’re seeing now, like the island is giving you a living map.

The stop is about 20 minutes and free admission. That’s enough time to get photos, read the scene, and enjoy the open-air feeling without turning it into a long detour. If weather turns moody on the coast, this is the part you’ll most wish you could extend by 10 or 20 minutes, but the tour keeps you moving.

Ribeira Brava: an old parish and a land-and-sea connector

Then you head to Ribeira Brava, described as one of the island’s oldest parishes. The tour background includes the timing after the death of infant D. Henrique in 1460, and it also frames the town’s early growth around connections: a mix of inland access routes and a small port used for freight connections to Funchal.

This stop is only about 30 minutes, but it pays off if you like historical context and “why this place exists” stories. Ribeira Brava also gets you closer to the interior roads that connect to the north, including through the gorge of Serra de Água and Encumeada. Even without a long walk, you can feel the island’s shape here, where valleys funnel movement and the terrain decides everything.

Since admission is free, you’re not paying to enter anything specific on the schedule. The value is more about perspective and transitions. Still, keep expectations realistic: 30 minutes is short, so this is not the stop for deep research or long museum time.

Caminho Real da Encumeada PR12 at Boca da Encumeada, 1007m

After Ribeira Brava, you climb to Caminho Real da Encumeada PR12, with a viewpoint at 1007 meters. The tour calls out Boca da Encumeada at that height, perched on the crest of the mountain range that crosses the interior of Madeira.

This is one of the best moments for understanding why Madeira’s roads and trails are so dramatic. The viewpoint is set up so you can look out toward both sides: north and south coasts, plus the valleys of Ribeira Brava on the south and São Vicente on the north. If you like “seeing the island’s plumbing,” this is it. You’re not just viewing a single town, you’re watching the valleys do their job.

The scheduled stop is about 20 minutes, and it’s free admission. That’s quick, but it works for viewpoints because your goal is essentially timing plus photos plus letting your eyes adjust to scale. If you’re the type who likes to linger, do it in small bursts. Look, shoot, breathe, then move on before the next stop calls you.

Porto Moniz natural pools: the big time slot

From viewpoints, the tour shifts gears to Porto Moniz, on Madeira’s northern part. Porto Moniz is described as one of the oldest northern towns and is famous for its natural pools.

What makes this stop interesting is the backstory of isolation. The region was said to be isolated for many centuries, accessible mainly by foot and by sea. After World War II, the road link between Porto Moniz and São Vicente helped connect the north more directly with the rest of the island. That context matters because it explains the feeling many north-coast places have, a sense of being shaped by sea access first, roads later.

You get about 2 hours here, which is the longest stop on the day. That longer window gives you breathing room for the pools area and just being around this part of Madeira. Since admission is listed as free, you can spend your time focused on the setting rather than budgeting for ticketed attractions.

One practical note: natural pools can draw attention fast. If you want photos without crowds, you’ll probably need to manage your timing and be ready to move a bit.

Seixal’s black sand beach and north-coast calm

Next is Seixal, a parish that the tour describes as calm, with scenery formed by green mountains and crystal-clear sea views. This is a softer-feeling stop compared with Cabo Girão’s dramatic height. You’re not staring into the void here. You’re meeting the coast at a human pace.

The route specifically points you toward Porto do Seixal Beach, a natural black sand beach next to the port. It’s a simple, strong pairing with the north-coast theme: dark sand, high cliffs, sea, and that quiet Madeira rhythm.

The visit is about 20 minutes, with free admission. That’s short enough that Seixal works best as a reset, a place to let the day cool down for a moment. If you’re craving more time on the sand, you might wish the schedule gave you longer, but the tour’s goal is to cover more ground in one day.

São Vicente: a limestone valley with cave country

The last scheduled stop is São Vicente, described as a village on Madeira’s north coast with a picturesque historic center and calm setting. The tour also adds a geologic detail that makes the visit feel more than scenic: São Vicente sits in a valley surrounded by high marine limestone slopes, and it’s known for its caves, said to result from lava channels.

This stop is about 20 minutes and free admission. Like Seixal, it’s not designed as a deep, slow exploration. It’s designed to end your day with the sense of “Madeira is not just coasts, it’s underground too.”

When the day ends with a geology story, it leaves you with a stronger mental picture of why the island looks the way it does. By the time you reach São Vicente, you’ve already seen cliff views, mountain crests, and north-coast pools. The caves reference just rounds out the theme.

Planet Madeira, pickup, and a guide who actually talks

This tour is run by Planet Madeira, and you’ll have pickup offered and a mobile ticket. That combo matters because it reduces friction on the day. You don’t have to hunt for meeting points in the morning fog, and your ticket is handled digitally.

Group size is capped at 15, which is a sweet spot for this kind of “many stops” itinerary. With a larger group, you lose the chance for small course corrections and clear guidance at each viewpoint. With a tight group, you’re more likely to get practical pointers on timing and where to stand for views.

The standout detail from the experience feedback is the guide named Paul. He’s described as friendly and chatty, full of interesting facts, and someone who went out of his way to show guests interesting places. For me, that’s a big value signal. A route like this only feels effortless when the guide helps you connect dots quickly, like why one town matters and how the next valley lines up.

Price and value: $40.71 for a full 8-hour island sweep

At $40.71 per person, the price is positioned as a budget-friendly way to see a lot without piecing things together. The biggest value lever here is that scheduled stops list free admission. You still pay for transportation and the guided routing, but you’re not stacking ticket costs on top of it.

You’re also getting a day that hits multiple regions: west of Funchal with Cabo Girão, then inland access context via Ribeira Brava and Encumeada, then the north coast with Porto Moniz, Seixal, and São Vicente. For a short Madeira stay, that geographic coverage is the real bargain.

One more value angle comes from the review praise about the meal being good value for money. The itinerary itself doesn’t spell out a meal stop in the info provided, so I can’t claim details on where or when it happens. But the overall day length makes it reasonable that you’ll want to eat, and it’s comforting when the guide approach includes practical food advice.

What the timing feels like (and who this suits best)

This is a tour for people who want variety and don’t need to spend hours in just one place. The pattern is clear: 20 to 30 minutes for most stops, then a longer 2-hour window in Porto Moniz.

Who I think this suits well:

• Couples who want a memorable day without car rental stress
• Families looking for a “see it all” framework, with lots of breaks and changing scenes
• Travelers who enjoy viewpoints and quick context over long museum-style time

Who might find it less ideal:

• Anyone who wants slow travel, long beach time, or deep exploration of a single town
• People who dislike structured schedules and tight stop windows

If that sounds like you, you can still love the route. Just be honest about how you travel. This is built for momentum.

Should you book West is the Best in Funchal?

Based on the way this route is put together, I’d say it’s a smart booking if your goal is a high-impact Madeira day. Free-entry stops, a small group, and a guide like Paul (friendly, chatty, fact-rich, and helpful) are the kind of ingredients that make a packed itinerary feel smooth.

If you want one place to be your whole world, then this might feel too quick. But if you’re the type who likes building a mental map of Madeira in a single day, the route makes that easy. You’ll end with both ocean viewpoints and north-coast character, which is a great mix for a first visit.

One last reality check: the tour has only one published rating, so it’s not statistically proven by volume. Still, the feedback is strongly positive, especially about the guide and the day’s value. For $40.71 and about 8 hours covering seven distinct stops, that’s enough to justify a booking for most short-stay visitors.

FAQ

Where does this tour start and what time?

The tour start time is 9:00 am, with pickup offered.

How long is the tour?

The duration is listed as 8 hours (approx.).

What is the price per person?

The price is $40.71 per person.

How many stops are included?

The tour includes seven scheduled stops: Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, Ribeira Brava, Caminho Real da Encumeada PR12, Porto Moniz, Seixal, and São Vicente.

Are admission tickets required for the stops?

The information provided lists admission ticket free for each stop on the itinerary.

What is the maximum group size?

This tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.

Is a mobile ticket used?

Yes, the tour includes a mobile ticket.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance, and free cancellation is available.

Is the tour suitable for most travelers?

The tour notes that most travelers can participate.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.