Madeira’s East: The Untamed Side of Paradise

Take a self-guided tour through Madeira’s untamed east, where sunrise lights the peaks and green valleys flow into the sea. Discover ancient huts, dramatic peninsulas, and sky-high viewpoints while uncovering island stories — a mix of tradition, beauty, and calm adventure.

Includes

• Pioc do Arieiro • Ribeiro Frio • Laurel Forest • Santana • Porto da Cruz • Pounto Sao Lorenco • Jesus Statue (It covers roughly 120 km and takes around 10 hours, including all the scenic stops along the way.)unto

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Recommended: • Swimsuit • Light Jacket • Madeira Island Pass (for discounts) • Mobile data • Brakefast at Hotel or Rentalplace • Be at first Stop at 9:00 am (avoid croweds)

Your Guide

Banana Joe the All-Knowing

Disclaimer

Most of our self-guided tours are exclusive to Island Pass holders — available in both Digital and Printed versions. Once you grab your Pass, you’ll get a special password that instantly unlocks all our tours across Madeira. 🎧✨

The only self-guided tour you can try for free is the Taste & Tales of Funchal City Walk.It’s the perfect way to see how our tours work — fun, easy to follow, and full of stories, food, and local flavor!

Bom Saber

Just press play and let our guide Banana Joe walk you through this awesome tour. Tip: on mobile, you can enlarge the tour by clicking the yellow button in the upper right corner.

Madeira’s East - The Untamed Side of Paradise
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Introduction: Madeira’s East
Banana Joe
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The Untamed Side of Paradise

Press Play to meet your guide for the day and discover what today’s epic tour has in store for you — go on, tap it… the adventure starts there!

👋 For this tour, you’ll need a car. Some sections of the road are very narrow and winding, so drive carefully and know your limits.
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Banana Joe
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The East Tour is currently in development and will be available soon — stay tuned, adventure is on its way! 🌄🚗

Only those in the know have the super-secret, ultra-mega-difficult password — the rest will just have to guess… and fail gloriously. 🔒😏

Get Digital Island Pass (€8,95)
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1st Stop: Jesus in the early light keeps all your troubles out of sight.
Banana Joe
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Jesus Statue Madeira

Jesus Crist Statue

Madeira’s Christ the King is part spiritual, part scenic, and totally selfie-worthy. Ocean vibes included.

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“Fun fact: this is the oldest Jesus statue in all of Portugal. Sorry, Lisbon — better luck next century.” 😇⛪🇵🇹😉
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2nd Stop: Under the Airport
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Under the Airport Madeira

Landingbridge of CR7 Airport

Driving under the actual landing strip of Madeira Airport feels completely surreal.

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They built this extension because the old runway was too short — a flaw that tragically caused a terrible accident in 1977, claiming the lives of 133 passengers aboard.
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3rd Stop: First settlement in Madeira
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Old Road to Machico

Machico

Machico holds a special place in Madeira’s history — it was the island’s very first settlement, the starting point of everything that followed.

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More and more tourists are parking their rental cars as if there were no rules. 🚔 Police are getting stricter with fines, so please park responsibly.
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4th Stop: A Church & a Beach - What a mix
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Machico Church

History & Fun in Machico

Depending on the mood of the weather, you can explore the church, take a swim, or do both — just don’t mix up the outfits.

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The sand isn’t local — it was shipped in from Morocco. Fake sand, real fun… and absolutely no one can tell the difference. 🏖️😎🌞
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5th Stop: Most eastern Viewpoint of Madeira
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Miradouro da Terra Grande

Viewpoint of Ponta de São Lourenço

The easternmost point of Madeira, where the island dramatically ends, but the views just keep getting better!

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Just below, you’ll find the start of PR8 — one of the most famous hikes in Madeira. It got so popular that they now charge a walking tax. Fame isn’t cheap, I guess. 🌄😮
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Banana Joe
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6th Stop: Scenic Road to Portela Viewpoint
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Encumeada Hotel

Viewpoint of Portela

Perched at 670 meters above sea level (hello, lungfuls of fresh air!), this spot delivers a jaw-dropping panorama that makes you feel like you're floating between heaven and Instagram.

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You can take a quick toilet break at the bar right below — just grab a coffee as “payment.” 😉☕ Fair deal, right?
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7th Stop: Porto da Cruz
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Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Fatima

Porto da Cruz Walk

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Don’t be lazy — climb those 175 stairs! 🏃‍♂️💪 It’s a small workout for the body… and a surprisingly big one for the mind and spirit. 🧘‍♂️✨
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8th Stop: Rum Baby Rum
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Rum Factory Porto da Cruz Madeira

Engenhos do Norte - Rum Factory

Finally… it’s time to uncover the juicy past of rum and poncha – the two troublemakers behind many Madeiran smiles (and a few wobbly walks). 🥃📖 Ready for a sip of history?

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Head to the shop and let the rum tasting begin! From baby-faced bottles at €2 to smooth, aged legends at €8 – there’s a rum for every budget and mood. 🥃💸 Just don’t try them all at once… or do, we’re not judging. 😄
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9th Stop: Madeira’s newest showstoppers
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Viewpoint of Guindaste

Viewpoint of Guindaste

Glass floors suspended over the ocean's dramatic cliffs.

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Stay behind the fence. Falling off cliffs is bad for your holiday… and your everything.” 🚫⛰️😬
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10th Stop: Santana Huts & History
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Santana Huts

Santana

Quirky triangle houses with straw hats? Only in Santana, baby!

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These houses weren’t even fixed to the ground. If you didn’t like your neighbor, you could just pick up your home and move it overnight. Ah… simpler times. 🏡💪😄
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11th Stop: Lunchtime with Espada & Maracuja
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Road to Porto Moniz

Restaurante O Colmo

The north is still wonderfully wild and untouched — and this is one of its best roads. Don’t forget to look back… the view behind you is just as stunning.

While driving, you’ll spot sections of the old road on your left. If you’d like, you can stop and walk a bit along it — just be careful, as there may be falling rocks. 🪨🚶‍♂️
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12th Stop: Ancient Laurel Forests & Traditional Trout Farming
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Restaurant Cachalote

Ribeiro Frio

This spot combines the rich history of Porto Moniz with an amazing seafood restaurant — it’s both a Whale Hunting Museum and a fish restaurant in one. History, food, and ocean views… what more could you possibly want?

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Madeira Island Pass holders get 10% off their lunch here — nice, right? We highly recommend trying the Espada with banana — it’s a true Madeiran classic, and the portions are huge! 🍌🐟🍽️
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13th Stop: Where the eagles hatch & the sun sets
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Viewpoint of Ninho da Manta

Pico do Arieiro

Welcome, adventurers and brave souls, to the Miradouro do Ninho da Manta — aka the "Eagle's Nest" for those of us who like to pretend we're in a dramatic nature documentary!

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Sadly, a recent severe fire means the famous Pico do Arieiro–Pico Ruivo hike is closed for now, until it’s safe again. 🔥🚫⛰️
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14th Stop: Sorbet delivery — only for the rich, of course.
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Miradouro da Santhina Porto Moniz

Ice House of Pico do Arieiro

Welcome to Miradouro da Santinha in Porto Moniz—a place where Mother Nature shows off like it’s her runway debut.

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For the next section, there won’t be any gas stations, so make sure you’ve got enough fuel before heading on — running out up here would make for a very long walk. ⛽🚗💨
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Last Stop: Chicken Soup & Poncha Time (for the soul)
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Abrigo do Poiso

Abrigo do Poiso

The most famous — and honestly the best — place to watch Madeira’s most beautiful sunset is at Estalagem in Ponta do Sol. Add a good cocktail and some chill music vibes, and you’ve got pure perfection. 🌅🍸🎶

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Owners of the Madeira Island Pass get 10% off cocktails and food — the perfect excuse to treat yourself while enjoying the view. 🍹✨
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Tip Box

If you enjoyed this self-guided tour, a small tip helps us keep these website running smoothly. Thank you! 💛

🔒Secure checkout via ThriveCart.
📧Due to money-laundering rules, we kindly ask for your email address in the next step — and we’ll also use it to send you a little banana-thank-you-dance video.

This self-guided drive and walk takes you on an unforgettable journey through Madeira’s untamed east — a land of sky-high peaks, rolling green valleys, and dramatic ocean peninsulas. You’ll stand atop the island’s highest mountains, wander through the traditional Santana huts, and explore the windswept beauty of Ponta de São Lourenço, where the land ends and the Atlantic begins.

And of course — every great adventure comes with great flavor. Along the way, you can taste local treasures like Espetada, Bolo do Caco, sugarcane rum, fresh seafood, and other Madeiran classics served in cliffside cafés and cozy village restaurants.

It’s the perfect blend of scenery, tradition, and calm island charm — all yours to enjoy at your own pace.

All these extras are completely optional and instantly available when you show your Madeira Island Pass (digital or printed) at the recommanded stops. The best part? No need to book ahead! Just show up, join in, and enjoy everything at your own pace, all on the same day. 🍌

Instalações

Localização

To start navigation on your phone, click 'View larger map' in the top left corner of the map.

Sometimes, finding the exact location of the hike can be challenging. That’s why we’ve included GPS coordinates to make it easier to reach.

32.648011425874444

-16.900141499516174