Jeep Tour Of Madeira – Madeira

Madeira is a small island, but its mountains, valleys and cliffs make it hard to see by ordinary road, and a jeep tour is a popular way to reach the places in between. The eastern tour, which leaves from Funchal and takes most of a day, combines the highlights of the east of the island, from forest to sea, and uses tracks and back roads that small coaches cannot follow. The guide drives and explains, and you can concentrate on the views.

The east of Madeira is drier and more open than the west, with a landscape of ridges, bare headlands and terraced farmland. A typical route climbs from Funchal through the villages of the south slopes, among them Camacha, famous for its wickerwork, to the viewpoint at Portela, which looks across the north-east coast and the rocky headland of Penha d'Águia. From there, the road may run along the north coast to Porto da Cruz, where a sugar-cane mill still produces rum and cane honey, and to Santana, with its traditional triangular thatched houses, painted in red, white and blue. Inland, the tour often stops in the forest around Ribeiro Frio, where a stream runs through laurel woodland, a trout farm and the start of levada walks. The laurel forest, the Laurisilva, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a stop here gives a taste of the island's ancient woods.

Off-road sections are the main difference from a normal sightseeing tour. The jeeps use unpaved forest tracks and narrow mountain roads, open to the air, and the guide stops at viewpoints that are not on the main routes. The unpaved sections can be bumpy and dusty, and the vehicle may be open-topped, so wear layers, sunglasses and a hat. Weather in the mountains can differ greatly from the coast, so bring a jacket even on a sunny day. Most tours include a pause for lunch in a local restaurant, where you can try regional dishes such as grilled black scabbardfish, espetada, the beef kebab on a laurel stick, and bolo do caco, the round bread served with garlic butter. The cost of lunch is sometimes extra.

Other stops may include the first landing place of the island's discoverers at Machico, a small town on the east coast, and the Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula, a wild headland of red and ochre rock with trails along the cliffs, which can be reached at the end of the road. Itineraries differ between operators, so check what is included and the departure point. Many companies collect passengers from hotels in Funchal.

Jeep tours suit those with limited time, those who dislike driving mountain roads and anyone who wants a guide's commentary. Book ahead in high season. Tours usually run daily, weather permitting.