Day Trips from Funchal in Madeira

Few places in the world have the variety of scenery and activities as Madeira Island. Funchal, the capital, is the perfect place to stay and tour the island, as most tour companies offer tours to explore the most interesting areas.

If you still haven't decided what to do and see in Madeira, here are some of the best tours and walks you can do to explore the island and its surroundings from Funchal.

Madeira Island is a privileged place for dolphin and whale watching. This is because not only do many of them live here, but throughout the year it receives migrations of species from all over the world.

This allows this type of marine animal watching activity to be done during all four seasons.

If you are visiting Madeira, this is one of the best tours you can choose. Most tour companies offer boat, catamaran, sailing boat or yacht tours. This wide variety is very interesting, as it adapts to any budget.

Please note that none of them guarantee dolphin or whale watching, as they are wild animals in their natural habitat. But some companies do offer "insurance", which is an extra free ride if you don't get to see any species.

However, while whale watching can be difficult, there are plenty of dolphin species year-round that are easy to spot. In addition, the boat drivers usually communicate where they have sighted a species, which makes it easier to make the tour a success.

The prices of this type of tours vary according to the amenities, services and activities you choose. The good thing about these tours is that they offer parallel activities such as diving, snorkelling, trips to the islands of the archipelago, as well as swimming with dolphins or sea turtles. Funchal is a perfect place to dive in Madeira because of its crystal clear and warm waters.

The tours usually last 2 to 3 hours, so you should consider the services offered to suit your needs.

All tours can be compared and booked online, but I recommend not to book them for the same day you arrive on the island, as Madeira is famous for its strong winds and sometimes flights are delayed or postponed.

Advantages of the catamaran

• Bigger boat = More freedom: While the boat captain will guide the boat so that you can watch the spectacle from all angles, having ample mobility can be an advantage.
• Seating comfort: Tours usually last between 2 to 3 hours, and if you tend to suffer from back pain, more lumbar comfort can be helpful.
• Toilets: Catamarans have toilets on board, which on longer tours is a major advantage.
• Accessibility and space: Another plus point of the catamaran is the accessibility and space for everyone to enjoy the sightseeing. Some tours also offer refreshments and snacks.
• Price: The price of the tours tends to be lower on catamarans, as they have a larger capacity than a boat. It is important to bear in mind that sometimes the number of people on the catamaran means that you may have to wait for a photo.

Advantages of the speedboat

• Speed: The speedboat offers something that the catamaran does not, and that is speed. Speedboats can easily visit several places, which increases the likelihood of seeing cetaceans. Many people enjoy the speed and the waves on this type of boat.
• Smaller size: Another favourable point of the speedboat has to do with its size. By having a shallower draft, it allows the boat to easily access caves or beaches.

Useful data

• Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours
• Route: From Marina do Funchal along the coast to Cabo Girão
• Approximate price: From 25 euros

Madeira has a number of tours that take you around the island while admiring the beautiful scenery. If you choose not to rent a vehicle, or the vehicle you rented does not have 4-wheel drive, I recommend you choose one of the many 4X4 Jeep tours and safaris from Funchal.

Most of these tours offer different routes to tour the island from all points. Shorter tours last between 4 and 5 hours, while full day tours usually take between 8 and 10 hours.

Madeira Island has great cliffs, mountains, vineyards, forests and charming villages to visit. By doing it in a 4x4 you will not only have the experience and knowledge of the guides, but you will also be able to get into all types of terrain, no matter what the weather.

If you decide to go on a multi-person tour or manage to get together with other tourists, some tours offer VIP tours where you choose what you want to see of the island. While this is not the cheapest option and availability may be limited, it is an excellent option if you want to see a lot of things on the island that are not linked to the tour.

Useful facts

• Duration: 7 to 8 hours
• Departure time: 10:30 am
• Route: Departure from Funchal. There are excursions that take you to Ribeira Brava, Porto Moniz, Miradouro do Veu da Noiva and other spectacular places.
• Approximate price: From 44€.

One of the most popular tours on the island is the Porto Moniz Lava Pools, which are located in the northwest of Madeira.

One of the advantages of this tour is that you will have to cross the entire island, so many tours choose to include other tourist attractions along the way.

To cross the island, some tours take you on the island's off-the-beaten-track roads, where the main protagonist is the jeep. On this tour you will see how any obstacle in the terrain is part of the entertainment while enjoying what **Madeira'**s nature has to offer.

The centre of Madeira Island is very wooded, in fact the name of the island derives from the word Madera, thanks to the abundant resource offered by the Laurissilva forest.

On the way some tours take the opportunity to visit the highest points of the island where you will be able to see incredible panoramic views. Pico Ruivo, Pico do Areeiro or Pico das Torres are the most interesting places to visit along the way.

The lava pools of Porto Moniz are the perfect place to rest after the trip, as you can dive into its warm waters.

When you arrive at Porto Moniz, you will see two types of pools: the natural pools, which overlook the Ilehu Mole, an islet in front of Porto Moniz, and the western pools, which are natural pools that have been modified for the comfort of tourists.

Both are pools formed from volcanic lava and shaped by the waves of the Atlantic over hundreds of years. The difference is that the ones in front of Ilehu Mole can be a bit dangerous because the black basalt rocks are sharp and slippery. Slipping or tripping could be a potential hazard.

I recommend you visit these pools to take photos and approach with caution, and head to the Natural Pools of Porto Moriz.

Useful facts

about the pools

• Opening hours every day from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
• Address Rotunda Das Piscinas and Rua Dos Emigrantes
• The place has: Parking, changing rooms, storage for personal belongings, bar (open only in summer) and umbrella rental.

If the whale watching tour interested you, you'll love this one. What better way to tour Madeira Island than with a recreation of Columbus' caravels?

This tour offers an incredible experience for young and old alike, as you embark on an adventure on a replica of the Santa Maria, admiring the beautiful landscapes of Madeira Island. This tour is one of the best activities to do with children on the island of Madeira, as in addition to the ride there are guides who offer a historical tour of the ship.

This boat is an exact replica of the ship with which Columbus arrived in America. The crew is dressed as real pirates and even has a friendly parrot!

An extra attraction of this tour is that it is very common to see dolphins, and if you are lucky, whales. The boat also has a wine cellar on board, where adults can taste local wines.

The boat departs from the Marina do Funchal, which is less than 1 kilometre from the historic centre. I recommend you to go on foot, as it will be a perfect opportunity to walk around and contemplate the beautiful bay of the city.

Also, if you have a car, remember that it is quite difficult to find a parking space in this area, so you will probably have to leave it in a paid car park.

Useful facts

• Duration: 3 hours
• Departure time: 10.30 am
• Address: Marina do Funchal, 9000-055
• Approximate price: Adults 35€ and children between 3 and 12 years old: 17€.

Also called "Valley of the Freiras" is one of the most beautiful places in Portugal. It is a small village named after the nuns of the parish of Funchal who decided to enter the island after a pirate attack in 1566.

This village, as its name suggests, is located deep in the valley, and besides being very picturesque, it has preserved many historical buildings since its foundation. In addition, the tours that make this route often include a tasting of cherry and chestnut liqueur, a traditional Freiras drink.

For a long time this village was quite isolated due to the inaccessibility of its geographical surroundings, but thanks to the construction of the asphalt road it is now easy to reach.

If you happen to be on the island in late October or early November you should not miss the annual "Chestnut Festival", which is celebrated with traditional dances, local music and lots of wine.

If you are not lucky enough to visit on this date, don't worry, as you can taste the local chestnuts in soups, cakes, liqueurs and puddings made by the locals.

The best place to appreciate the beauty of this valley are the viewpoints of Eira do Serrado and Paredao.

Useful facts

of the tour

• Duration: Approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes
• What's included: Pick up and drop off in Funchal, professional guide, lunch and tour of Eira do Serrado, Valley of the Nuns and the fishing village Camara De Lobos.
• Approximate price: From 22€.

Madeira offers many options to enjoy a kayak tour. The crystal clear waters, the temperature of the water and the beautiful scenery from the sea are some of the reasons why I recommend this activity.

Some tour companies offer kayaking tours in Punta de San Lorenzo, one of the most popular tourist sites on the island.

Although Punta San Lorenzo is located in the northeast of the island, many tours depart from Funchal to do it, including most of the time picking you up from where you are staying.

This is not only quite convenient, but also allows you to enjoy the views that the road between Canical and Funchal offers.

The tour of Punta San Lorenzo lasts approximately 2 hours and you can paddle your own kayak following the instructions of the guide. If you have never paddled before, before embarking you will be taught the basics and do a practice paddle.

During the kayak tour you will visit the cliffs of San Lorenzo, the hidden coves of the Baía d' Abra and sea caves.

Useful facts

of the tour

• Duration: 2 hours
• What's included: Round trip boat transfers, snacks, life jackets and kayak guide.
• Approximate price: From 35 euros

Although some tours offer this tour together with whale watching, not all of them include it due to the timetable of each tour. I recommend that you consider scheduling this option for your trip.

You will find companies that offer this tour by schooner, as you sail out into the Atlantic. The Desertas Islands are made up of 3 islands uninhabited by humans, but teeming with subtropical marine flora and fauna.

This tour offers something that others do not, which is to see Madeira from the distance offered by the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, you can disembark at Deserta Grande to walk among ancient volcanic formations that are sharpened by the Atlantic winds.

Also, if you're lucky, you'll get to see its seabird sanctuary and the friendly monk seals.

Some tours offer local food during the transfer and many offer the option of snorkelling. It is important to know that many activities such as snorkelling, diving or swimming with dolphins are always linked to weather conditions. I leave you this post to inform you about all the activities that Madeira has to offer and how to book them.

Useful facts

of the tour

• Duration: 9 hours
• What's included: Depending on the excursion you book it may include a catamaran cruise with transfers from the hotel and snorkelling equipment.
• Approximate price: From 80 euros

This tour sometimes includes stops at picturesque sites before reaching the north of the island. A frequent stop is the village of Ribeira Brava, where you will appreciate both its panoramic beauty and the possibility of tasting typical local food.

The village of Ribeira Brava has a breathtaking view due to its location on the edge of the cliff. If you like what you see and want to visit it in depth, there are private tours to visit only this village.

Sao Vicente is a village that has the honour of receiving tourists who want to visit its famous caves. Discovered in 1885 by local villagers, these caves were created by magma more than 890,000 years ago.

During the tour, a volcanologist will explain the origin of everything around you, you will learn to recognise different rocks and you will find out what secrets the centre of the earth hides.

Some tours include visits to the Volcanology Museum of Sao Vicente, where you can see in detail the geological origin of Madeira.

Guided visits to this museum not only explain in detail the formations you have just experienced, but also about the origin of space, the planet and geological formations.

Useful facts

about the tour

• Route: Departure from the hotel with a stop in the village of Ribeira Brava and continue the journey to Sao Vicente where you will visit the most important volcanic caves of Madeira.
• Duration of tour: Approximately 4 hours.
• How to get there: Many of these tours include transport by minibus with pick-up and drop-off back at the hotel.
• Price: From 25 euros