Full Day East of Madeira Tour
Traveler rating
4.5/5
Based on 153 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Full Day East of Madeira Tour worth booking?
Full Day East of Madeira Tour is a 8-hour experience in Funchal, Portugal, from $46 per person. It scores 73 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.5/5 rating across 153 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 73 / 100
- Rating
- 4.5/5 (153)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $46 per person
Start your journey towards Pico do Arieiro (1.818 m), the third highest point in Madeira and one of the few peaks accessible by road. Enjoy panoramic views of mountains, deep valleys and the island’s lush nature. Follow to Ribeiro Frio, in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Laurissilva Forest, where you can enjoy one of the oldest forests in Europe, rich in biodiversity and tranquility. Continue along the north coast, passing through Faial to Santana, famous for the traditional triangular houses of colmo, a symbol of Madeirese culture. After lunch break, visit Ponta de São Lourenço, a volcanic peninsula with arid landscapes and impressive cliffs over the Atlantic. End in Machico, the historic Villa where Portuguese sailors landed in 1419, before returning to the hotel, bringing with you unforgettable memories of Madeira’s natural and cultural diversity.
What you get
About this experience
Start your journey towards Pico do Arieiro (1.818 m), the third highest point in Madeira and one of the few peaks accessible by road. Enjoy panoramic views of mountains, deep valleys and the island’s lush nature. Follow to Ribeiro Frio, in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Laurissilva Forest, where you can enjoy one of the oldest forests in Europe, rich in biodiversity and tranquility. Continue along the north coast, passing through Faial to Santana, famous for the traditional triangular houses of colmo, a symbol of Madeirese culture. After lunch break, visit Ponta de São Lourenço, a volcanic peninsula with arid landscapes and impressive cliffs over the Atlantic. End in Machico, the historic Villa where Portuguese sailors landed in 1419, before returning to the hotel, bringing with you unforgettable memories of Madeira’s natural and cultural diversity.
What's included
Included
- In-vehicle air conditioning
Not included
- On-board WiFi
What you'll see and do
Pico do Arieiro
One of Madeira's highest peaks at 1810 m
20 minutes here
Balcoes de Ribeiro Frio
Here we visit a trout nursery and take a short walk along the Levada dos Balcões ending with a view of the three highest mountains.
35 minutes here
Santana
Stop for lunch and see the famous thatched houses
120 minutes here
Miradouro da Portela
Viewpoint of Portela, passing by Santo da Serra, known for its beautiful rural landscapes and the famous golf course where international tournaments are held annually.
20 minutes here
Ponta de Sao Lourenco
Stop at one of the most iconic and fabulous views of the island overlooking the entire area of the São Lourenço peninsula located in Caniçal
20 minutes here
Machico
Stop at a viewpoint called "Pico do Facho" where you can see the entire bay of the city of Machico and the beautiful golden beach
20 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Funchal
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, pt, en, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 16 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Ilha Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 153 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
153 verified traveler reviews for Full Day East of Madeira Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Maderia - The Island
It was an excellent tour and the guides shared a lot of information about the island. We did the east, west and nun’s valley tours — all interesting and busy and gave us a great orientation to maderia
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the East, West and Nun’s Valley tours and that our guides helped you discover so much about Madeira. It’s great to know that the tours gave you a fantastic introduction to the island. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Madeira for another memorable experience!
via Tripadvisor
Nice trip in east Madeira island.
Wonderful day with Ilhatour to the beautiful East part of Madeira! Our gide Alberto told us a lot of information about the island. The program is rich and interesting. Is really good to take this trip...recommend!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your day exploring the beautiful east side of Madeira with us. We’re especially happy that Alberto could share his knowledge and make the tour both informative and interesting. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back to Madeira and on another Ilhatour adventure in the future! Warm regards,
via Tripadvisor
East madeira tour- mixed feelings
We had already done the West tour and the Nuns' valley tour and had been very happy with our experiences (will write reviews for these). However this one did not live up to our expectations. Although we were picked up first, the guide ushered us into the back of an old, rickety minibus without introducing himself. The seats in the back were very low and uncomfortable so we asked if we could sit at the front but he mumbled a negative reply. However, at the next pick up he opened the front door to let two younger women in. We had to actually ask him what his name was (Antonio). The tour itself was interesting but we did not feel at ease with him. He kept on going on about getting us on to the Balcon without having to pay and saying "I have saved you money" and offering us a deal with his friend's restaurant in Santana (we declined). His driving at times was aggressive and at some stops he was shouting at people, sometimes in an aggressive way, sometimes in a jovial way at people he knew, but it didn't make a relaxing trip. He was hinting at wanting tips: "I saved you money!" and was repeating himself over and over with the same irrelevant information. We didn't give him a tip and he wasn't impressed.
Response from the operator: Dear guest, Thank you for taking the time to leave such detailed feedback. We truly appreciate that you chose to join several of our tours, and we're delighted to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed both our West Tour and Nuns Valley Tour. We're very sorry that your experience on this occasion did not meet the expectations set by your previous tours. That is certainly not the experience we want our guests to have. We regret that you felt unwelcome at the start of the tour and that the seating arrangements, communication, and overall atmosphere made you feel uncomfortable. We also take your comments regarding the repeated references to savings, restaurant recommendations, driving style, and interactions throughout the day very seriously. Our aim is for every guest to feel relaxed, well looked after, and under no pressure at any point during the experience. Your feedback has been shared with our team and will be discussed with the guide to ensure that our standards of professionalism, hospitality, and guest comfort are consistently maintained. Thank you again for your honest comments and for travelling with us on multiple occasions. We hope we will have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future and provide you with the enjoyable experience you experienced on your previous tours.
via Tripadvisor
Ilhatours failed to pick us up twice
Booked the East tour for Wednesday 14th January with Ilha Tours but they failed to pick us up. They said the computer was down so they didn’t have a record of the booking. After phoning several times the trip was rearranged for Thursday 15th. Yet again they failed to pick us up. I phoned several times and eventually they agreed to collect us by car to join the tour. The excuse this time was they had the wrong name and the wrong hotel. This was very stressful. Finally we joined the minibus. Later in the day the excuse was changed saying we were not at the pickup point. This was untrue as we had arrived 15 minutes before the agreed time. On our return I called Nelio to tell him how stressful the experience had been. He then offered us a free West tour which we accepted. However after consideration we decided we couldn’t face the possibility and stress of a third failed pickup and so declined the offer. The East tour of the island is spectacular so well worth taking but if you want a relaxing day I would not book with Ilha Tours.
Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry for the stress and inconvenience you experienced during your attempts to join our East tour. What you described is not the standard of service we aim to provide, and we sincerely apologise for the confusion with your booking, the missed pick-ups, and the inconsistent communication on the day. We understand how frustrating and disappointing this must have been, especially when you were simply trying to enjoy your holiday. We also regret that our attempts to resolve the situation at the time did not restore your confidence in joining another tour with us. Your comments regarding coordination and pick-up procedures have been taken seriously and will be reviewed with our operations team to prevent this from happening again. We are pleased to hear that you found the East tour itself spectacular, though we are truly sorry that your overall experience with us fell short.
via Tripadvisor
MARVELLOUS MADEiRA
What a marvellous tour - stunning scenery , great stops to enjoy the sights and lovely weather.We used ILHATOURS,having been nobbled by the lovely Nina , whilst passing their shop . ALBERTo collected us from our hotel and 13 others in a minibus and ragaled us with info about the island ,whilst driving and speaking two languages! What a star ! We stopped for lunch in Santana, a pretty place and found Restaurante BRAGADOS, having the best meal of our holiday - bacalhau ( salt cod) and picado ( beef stew) . This trip is marvellous - go for it !
Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your comment. Your feedback means a great deal to us. We try everyday to improve our services. Kind Regards,
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 54
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by Ilha Tours, who run 9 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 61.8.
See everything Ilha Tours runsWhy this scores 73
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Full Day East of Madeira Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Funchal.
How much does Full Day East of Madeira Tour cost?
+
Prices start at $46 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Funchal usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Full Day East of Madeira Tour take?
+
Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Funchal is not rushed.
Is Full Day East of Madeira Tour worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 73 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.5/5 across 153 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Funchal, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Full Day East of Madeira Tour?
+
Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Full Day East of Madeira Tour suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Full Day East of Madeira Tour?
+
Around 54 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Funchal can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Funchal and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Full Day East of Madeira Tour start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Funchal within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Funchal?
+
On Outty we rank every Funchal experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Jeep Tour Amazing West to Natural Pools -Full-Day, Porto Moniz, Seixal, Fanal Forest, Cliff Skywalk in Open Roof 4X4, Madeira 4x4 Jeep Safari : Porto Moniz, Lava Pools & Fanal Forest. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Funchal?
+
Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Funchal?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Full Day East of Madeira Tour?
+
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning. Not included: On-board WiFi. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Full Day East of Madeira Tour include hotel pickup?
+
Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 108 listed pickup locations in and around Funchal. Be ready about 30 minutes before the start time.
What languages is Full Day East of Madeira Tour offered in?
+
It is offered in German, Portuguese, English, French and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Full Day East of Madeira Tour?
+
Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Full Day East of Madeira Tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?
+
The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and Specialized infant seats are available. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Full Day East of Madeira Tour if the weather is bad?
+
This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Full Day East of Madeira Tour?
+
Across 153 reviews averaging 4.5 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, food and drink. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Full Day East of Madeira Tour.
Pick your date
