Majestic West Tour and Fanal Forest

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Funchal

   40 minutes is the duration of our pick ups seeing we have guests in Santa Cruz, Caniço and Garajau.

   40 minutes here

2. Camara De Lobos

   Camara de Lobos Fishing Village driving down to the bay of this village where the boats are all docked, boats are used to fish the popular espada scabbard fish. The surroundings view of the cliff cabo girão is incredible landscapes makes one understand why Sir Winston Churchill loved to paint here. The name of the village comes from the many seals that once lived in the hidden rocks. Poncha our traditional drink with rum from the sugarcane is also popular in this village. The drive through to the next attractions is through the banana plantations, vines and terraces divided in small little gardens and cliffs where houses are also built.

   20 minutes here

3. Cabo Girao

   Known as the hightest cliff in Europe and second in the world with its glasspatform looking down the terraces by the beach, the lanscape over Funchal, Bay of Camara de Lobos and surrounding villages leaves guests enchanted. To visit this attraction there is fee of 2.00€ that can be paid cash or card.

   20 minutes here · Admission not included

4. Ribeira Brava

   Surrounded by mountains almost hidden in the riverbed This village offers many monuments like the church with its amazing decorations, Fortress from the 17th century, the little market with all our vegetable and fruits. The famous queijada cake (cheese tart) the best in the island This is a stop for coffee and rest rooms before our drive to the mountains.

   30 minutes here

5. Ponta Do Sol

   45 minute drive through the warmest coast south west coast. Along the coast overlooking the banana plantations, old steep roads unto Paul da Serra (route 66 madeira) mimosa trees, eucalyptus, pines. Wild flowers, the cows that you can meet on every road corner or lying on the ground to enjoy the warmth of the sun in the mountains.

   Pass by without stopping

6. Levada do Paul da Serra

   At 1550m in the Plauteau of Madeira you will see the small levadas taking the water to the main levadas, this flat area surrounded by flat vegetation, when it rains it fills with water forming small lakes. In the winter this point is covered by snow almost like a perfect bed sheet. The springs and waterfalls is another great attraction. The rainbows in the winter season covers our skies with colour. This tour does not include any levada walk.

   10 minutes here

7. Vereda do Fanal

   Everybody looks forward to this stop. Our drive to the Fanal takes about 15 minutes and a 35 minute stop in our Fanal Forest. Known for its old centenary anciente laurel trees with over 700 years. There are days that the clouds come in covering the trees a mystical affect. This forest has been compared to movies such as Harry Porter and Jurassic park. This forest has been chosen by Hollywood for the making of the movie Star wars. These amazing old trees with its enourmous trunks almost like arms ready to welcome you and give you a hug. On the other side of this forest you can see the Laurel Forest and the north coast. Sensation of living a true live fanatasy in nature.

   50 minutes here

8. Levada Ribeira de Janela

   Different landscape over the north coast on one side and on the other end the forest and right in the middle is the window valley surrounded by old paths, houses and vines. This village made history because of the whale hunting, therfore there are still a few short caves without exit where they once stored the sea mamals. Our drive through this village is of 30 minutes with a 10 minute photo stop.

   30 minutes here

9. Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools

   Finally we arrive at our swimming and lunch break (this tour includes no lunch) This 2 hour break in summer/spring and one and half hour stop in winter. This stop will give the opportunity to swim in our natural old basalt volcanic pools the fresh natural sea temparatures is a challange for our tourists. There are two sets of Natural pools one is not paid for and the other is paid for. There is also restaurants, supermarkets. On the other side you can visit the aquarium of Madeira (there is an entrance fee to be paid)The surroundings with the vines are cultivated small gardens. The wave attractions especially in the winter are also a great must. The view of the northcoast and the window of the Ribeira da Janela are also visible in this stop. For this tour please bring your swimming wear.

   120 minutes here

10. Seixal

    Leaving Porto Moniz our drive through will be in Seixal known for its beautiful vine plantations, grapes used for the making of our Madeira wine and table wine the waterfalls along the road resembling brides veil where the water flows to the sea. During this stop you can see the beach of Seixal from the viewpoint. Due to the many rent cars that block the roads going down to the beach is now impossible especially in the spring and summer season. We will stop to see the waterfalls like the agua de alto.

    30 minutes here

11. Sao Vicente

    This will be the last stop in this tour. The great waves makes this popular for surfing, surfers find these seas a challange for those with experience and without. Being a wine village we stop for madeira wine tasting free of charge in an old wine cellar still with its old wine presser. They also make good poncha and nikita cocktails. The river bed coming from the mountains with the old foot paths, very old church monuments both in the river bed and in the mountains. Surrounded by the laurel forest and the mountains looks like a museum post card village. The drive from the waterfall is of 10 minutes and 30 minute stop in the village.

    40 minutes here

12. Serra de Agua

    the 30 minute drive to Funchal through the beautiful serra de Agua village in the southern part of Funchal is a nice way to finish our tour and drop off our guests.

    Pass by without stopping

Where it starts and ends

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 15 travelers per booking

Operated by

Secret Madeira Lda

Know before you go

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Animals or pets allowed in private tours.
• Infants must not sit on laps
• Wheelchair accessible
• Guests coming from Cruise liners pick up will be in front of the CR7 Museum.
• Guests that have pick ups in VILA GALÉ AND SANTA CRUZ VILLAGE will have an adiitonal cost to pick up of 12.00€ paid in cash to the driver on the day of the tour.
• Bring swimming wear to swim in the natural pools.
• Bring comfortable shoes and a jacket it might get cold in the mountains.
• Due to bad weather, closed roads, snow and heavy rain tours can suffer changes

Photos

Traveler reviews

27 verified traveler reviews for Majestic West Tour and Fanal Forest. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.