---
title: East Madeira Guided Tour with Balcões Levada Walk
lang: en
alternate_de: https://guidekin.com/de/portugal/madeira/tours/east-madeira-guided-tour-with-balc-es-levada-walk/
type: tour
city: Madeira
country: Portugal
price: 40
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.73
reviews: 124
duration_minutes: 420
languages: [pt, en, fr, es]
free_cancellation: "true"
guidekin_pick: Short walk?
rank_in_category: 22 of 24 (Hiking Tours)
schedule_checked: 2026-10-03
data_updated: 2026-11-01
canonical: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/tours/east-madeira-guided-tour-with-balc-es-levada-walk/
---

# East Madeira Guided Tour with Balcões Levada Walk

**Guidekin's take:** A guided east coast day that combines Pico do Arieiro and the Santana houses with a short levada walk to the Balcões viewpoint and a free rum tasting at a north coast distillery, with certified guides and free pickup in the Funchal area. Food, drinks and paid entries are extra. 4.73 from 124 reviews at €40 per person.

**Short walk?:** Choose the Balcões east coast day for a short walk and Funchal pickup: 7h tour, 4.73 from 124 reviews at €40 per person; paid entries extra. Trade-off: Paid entries cost extra. (last checked September 15, 2026)

In our comparison: #22 of 24 in Hiking Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

Marvel at the magnificent views of Pico Areeiro
Admire the splendid landscape of the Eastern part of Madeira Island.
Learn about the typical Santana Houses.
Discover the Madeira Rum with a free taste at the North Mills Distillery

## Before you book

- Hotel pickup: from 88 pickup points
- Entry ticket not included: buy it separately
- Starts 09:00: one departure a day
- Food not included: bring or buy your own
- Strollers OK: infants accepted
- Children from €22: ages 0 to 8

**Pickup:** Hotel pickup from 88 pickup points

## Key facts

- Price: from €40 per person
- Duration: 7h
- Rating: 4.73/5 from 124 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Likely to sell out
- Operator: bearded madeira tours & walks
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish
- Tickets: Admission not included, pay on site
- Start times: 09:00
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03

## Reviews

4.73 from 124 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
94% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 116 of 124.

- 5 stars: 100 (81%)
- 4 stars: 16 (13%)
- 3 stars: 7 (6%)
- 2 stars: 1 (1%)
- 1 star: 0 (0%)

### What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the guides, varied scenery and Balcões walk; bad weather can hide mountain views or prevent the walk.

**Praised:**
- Friendly guides share local knowledge and drive confidently on winding mountain roads
- Small groups make the minibus trip sociable and personal
- Varied mountain and coastal viewpoints across eastern Madeira
- The easy Balcões forest walk is a recurring highlight
- Many enjoy the meals at the recommended local lunch stops

**Complaints:**
- Bad weather can hide mountain views and prevent the levada walk
- Some get detailed commentary while others find it sparse or hard to hear in the van
- Busy stops and crowds detract from parts of the route
- Some find little to do in Santana when skipping the group lunch

Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2022-12-23 to 2026-09-27); last checked 2026-10-04.

## What's included

- Certified Guides
- All insurances in accordance with the portuguese law.
- Free pickup at the Funchal Area

## Not included

- Food and drinks
- Entrance fee in paid places

## Itinerary

1. **Pico Do Areeiro** (30m) - Begin your adventure at the breathtaking Pico do Areeiro, Madeira’s third-highest peak standing at 1,818 meters. From here, enjoy sweeping mountain views and dramatic landscapes that set the tone for the day.
2. **Balcoes de Ribeiro Frio** (40m) - Your next stop is Ribeiro Frio, where you can enjoy a beautiful 40–45 minute Levada walk to an incredible viewpoint (entrance fee of 5.50€ per person not included. If you decide to do the walk, please inform the office so we can provide all the information on how and where to...
3. **Miradouro do guindaste** (15m) - Continue to the Guindaste viewpoint in Faial, where you can admire stunning panoramic views over Madeira’s wild and beautiful northeast coast.
4. **Santana** (1h 30m) - Arriving in Santana, you’ll have a generous 1.5-hour break — ideal for lunch and a leisurely visit to the village. Don’t miss the iconic triangular thatched houses, a symbol of Madeira’s cultural heritage.
5. **Porto da Cruz** (20m) - In the charming seaside village of Porto da Cruz, enjoy a 20–30 minute stop. Visit the North Mills Distillery, one of the island’s oldest rum producers, and sample Madeira’s traditional sugarcane rum.
6. **Ponta de Sao Lourenco** (30m) - End your tour at the striking Ponta do Rosto, located on the easternmost peninsula of Madeira. This must-see viewpoint offers dramatic scenery and sweeping views of both the north and south coasts — and on clear days, you may even spot Porto Santo Island in the distance.

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 09:00
- Schedule last checked: 2026-10-03
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Pickup points listed by the operator: 88

Ends: back at the meeting point

## Good to know

- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels

## Compared with other Hiking Tours

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #22 of 24** | €40 | 7h | 4.73 (124) | shared |
| [Real Life, Mountains & Sea Cliffs + Lunch + Levada walk - 6 hours](/portugal/madeira/tours/real-life-mountains-sea-cliffs-lunch-levada-walk-6-hours/?format=md) | €385 per group | 6h | 5.0 (72) | private |
| [Gastro hike (Private Tour)](/portugal/madeira/tours/gastro-hike-private-tour/?format=md) | €80 | 5h | 5.0 (54) | private |
| [Walk with a local](/portugal/madeira/tours/walk-with-a-local/?format=md) | €55 | 4h | 4.96 (67) | shared |

Ranked #22 of 24 in Hiking Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €31 to €109, median €48; typical length 7h 15m. 3 of 24 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/hiking-tours/?format=md

## More in Madeira

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