---
title: Madeira East Tour from Funchal
lang: en
alternate_de: https://guidekin.com/de/portugal/madeira/tours/madeira-east-tour-from-funchal/
type: tour
city: Madeira
country: Portugal
price: 43
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.68
reviews: 502
duration_minutes: 480
languages: [de, pt, en, fr, es]
free_cancellation: "true"
rank_in_category: 19 of 20 (Funchal City Tours)
schedule_checked: 2026-10-03
data_updated: 2026-10-12
canonical: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/tours/madeira-east-tour-from-funchal/
---

# Madeira East Tour from Funchal

**Guidekin's take:** A guided coach day through the east of Madeira: Pico do Arieiro, the Ribeiro Frio trout pools, lunch time in Santana, the Ponta de São Lourenço lookouts and Machico. Pickup is free only from Funchal hotels and lunch is at your own expense. 4.68 from 502 reviews at €43 per person.

In our comparison: #19 of 20 in Funchal City Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

You’ll ascend to the island’s third-highest mountain, Pico de Arieiro, which affords stunning island views.

The next stop is Ribeiro Frio, the starting point of a famous levada (irrigation channel) walk, where you’ll marvel at trout pools and learn about the prehistoric forest that covers Madeira.

Following lunch in the colorful town of Santana, you’ll visit more incredible lookout points such as Ponta de São Lourenço, and stop off at Machico before drop-off at your Funchal accommodation.

## Before you book

- Hotel pickup: from 111 pickup points
- Starts 08:30: one departure a day
- Food not included: bring or buy your own
- Strollers OK: infants accepted
- Children from €22: ages 5 to 10

**Pickup:** Hotel pickup from 111 pickup points

## Key facts

- Price: from €43 per person
- Duration: 8h
- Rating: 4.68/5 from 502 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Operator: Lido Tours
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: German, Portuguese, English, French, Spanish
- Start times: 08:30
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03

## Reviews

4.68 from 502 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
93% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 468 of 502.

- 5 stars: 386 (77%)
- 4 stars: 82 (16%)
- 3 stars: 25 (5%)
- 2 stars: 5 (1%)
- 1 star: 4 (1%)

### What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the informative guides and varied scenery, but some find the stop timings uneven.

**Praised:**
- Knowledgeable guides explain local history, plants and island life
- Mountain and coastal viewpoints give a broad introduction to eastern Madeira
- Drivers inspire confidence on steep, winding roads
- Punctual pickups and clear communication about arrangements
- Many reviewers consider the range of sights good value

**Complaints:**
- Some find the stops well timed, while others want less time in Santana and more at other stops
- Some appreciate bilingual commentary, while others dislike hearing the information repeated
- Some find the minibus comfortable, while others describe cramped seating
- Fog and rain can obscure mountain views

Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2025-01-28 to 2026-10-02); last checked 2026-10-04.

## What's included

- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (Free for hotels in Funchal only)

## Not included

- Lunch

## Itinerary

1. **The first stop is at Terreiro da Luta, a beautiful viewpoint a few kilometres...** (20m) - The first stop is at Terreiro da Luta, a beautiful viewpoint a few kilometres from Funchal.
2. **Pico do Arieiro** (30m) - , at an altitude of 1818 metres it is the third highest peak on the island and affords breathtaking views.
3. **Ribeiro Frio** (20m) - , where you can see its interesting trout farm. This area still has much of its original vegetation.
4. **Santana** (1h 30m) - is characterised by its small thatched triangular houses. This is where we'll make our main stop for lunch.
5. **Ponta de Sao Lourenco** (20m) - Situated in the eastern part of the island, this is the place where a fantastic combination of rocks, sea and nature combine.
6. **Machico** (10m) - The last town to be visited is Machico, a viewpoint where you can watch the bay and golden sandy beach.

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 08:30
- 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.

## Meeting point

At the bus stop near the cable-car station in the "Old Town" part of Funchal
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJQ8yX_QVgYAwRX3jNPMYVp18

Pickup points listed by the operator: 111

Ends: back at the meeting point

## Good to know

- Specialized infant seats are available
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide

Booking asks for: arrival flight or ship details

## Compared with other Funchal City Tours

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #19 of 20** | €43 | 8h | 4.68 (502) | shared |
| [Madeira Private Sunset Boat Tour from Funchal](/portugal/madeira/tours/madeira-private-sunset-boat-tour-from-funchal-2/?format=md) | €310 | 2h 30m | 4.99 (98) | private |
| [Coasteering Adventure with Snorkeling from Funchal](/portugal/madeira/tours/coasteering-adventure-with-snorkeling-from-funchal/?format=md) | €70 | 4h | 5.0 (82) | shared |
| [Private Tuk Tuk Tour to Old Town + Monte in Funchal](/portugal/madeira/tours/private-tuk-tuk-tour-to-old-town-monte-in-funchal/?format=md) | €40 | 50 min | 4.94 (131) | private |

Ranked #19 of 20 in Funchal City Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €16 to €310, median €45; typical length 2h 45m. 10 of 20 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/funchal/?format=md

## More in Madeira

- All Madeira tours: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/?format=md
- This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/tours/madeira-east-tour-from-funchal/

Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/?format=md