Skywalk, Porto Moniz, Seixal and Fanal 4x4 Tour Madeira

Overview

This full-day shared 4x4 tour explores the wild west of Madeira in an open-roof vehicle, with a guide and pickup from hotels in central Funchal and near the port. You stop at the Cabo Girão Skywalk, the waterfalls and black sand of Seixal, the volcanic pools of Porto Moniz and the mossy Fanal laurel forest, cross the Paúl da Serra plateau and finish with an off-road descent to Ponta do Sol. It suits active travellers who prefer fresh air and back roads to a standard coach tour.

Highlights

• Open-roof 4x4 with a guide, hotel pickup in central Funchal and near the port
• Cabo Girão Skywalk, a glass-floored platform high above the sea
• Volcanic natural pools of Porto Moniz on the north-west coast
• Seixal's black sand beach and the Bridal Veil waterfall near São Vicente
• Fanal, an ancient laurel forest of twisted, moss-covered trees
• Off-road descent from the Paúl da Serra plateau to Ponta do Sol
• Lunch break at a local stop and a safety briefing before you set off

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickup in central Funchal and near the portThe guide collects you at the pickup point and gives a short safety briefing about the open-roof 4x4 (about 8 hours in total).
2. Cabo Girão SkywalkPhoto and coffee stop at the high sea cliff; entry to the glass platform is not included.
3. São Vicente and the Bridal Veil waterfallA short stop to see the waterfall and the green valley on the north side.
4. Seixal and Chão da RibeiraViewpoint stops at the black sand beach and the traditional farmland valley.
5. Porto MonizTime to see the volcanic pools, walk the seafront and have a lunch break at a local stop.
6. Fanal forestWalk among the moss-covered laurel trees with your guide.
7. Paúl da Serra and off-road descentCross the high plateau, then descend on rough tracks towards Ponta do Sol.
8. Ponta do Sol and return to FunchalFinal viewpoint and drive back to your pickup area.

What's included

• Free pickup and drop-off in central Funchal and near the port
• Tour guide
• Open-roof 4x4 vehicle
• Lunch break at a local stop
• Safety briefing and first aid kit
• Vehicles sanitised with ozone
• Insurance according to Portuguese law

Not suitable for

• Children under 3 years
• Pregnant women
• Wheelchair users

Meeting point

Pickup is included from hotels in central Funchal and near the port at around 08:45; the exact time is confirmed before departure. Pickup outside central Funchal is not included in this option and may involve an extra fee, so tell us your hotel when you book.

Important information

• Bring comfortable shoes, a sun hat, sunscreen, a jacket and rain gear; the mountains are much cooler and wetter than the coast.
• Swimwear and a towel are useful for the natural pools at Porto Moniz.
• Entry to the Cabo Girão Skywalk and to the Porto Moniz natural pools is not included.
• Luggage and large bags cannot be taken on the vehicle, and pets are not allowed.
• The tour runs for about 8 hours and includes some rough forest and mountain tracks.
• The order of the stops may change with the weather and road conditions.