---
title: Magnificent East Tour
lang: en
alternate_de: https://guidekin.com/de/portugal/madeira/tours/magnificent-east-tour/
type: tour
city: Madeira
country: Portugal
price: 35
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.61
reviews: 61
duration_minutes: 480
languages: [de, pt, en, fr, es]
free_cancellation: "true"
rank_in_category: 20 of 20 (Santana)
schedule_checked: 2026-09-30
data_updated: 2026-10-12
canonical: https://guidekin.com/portugal/madeira/tours/magnificent-east-tour/
---

# Magnificent East Tour

**Guidekin's take:** Visit Camacha's wicker factory, Pico do Areeiro, Ribeiro Frio's trout nursery and Santana on an eastern Madeira circuit. Air-conditioned transport and all fees and taxes are included at €35 per person, with 4.61 from 61 reviews. Allow 8h for the full route.

In our comparison: #20 of 20 in Santana, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

Departure from the hotel at 9:00 am towards the parish of Camacha to observe the wicker factory and all its process. Afterwards, climb to Pico do Areeiro at 1818m, where you can observe the beautiful mountains and surrounding valleys and even the parish of Curral das nuntas, deep in one of the great valleys. Descent to Ribeiro Frio, where there is a nursery of trout that later are dropped in the brook.

A visit to the center of Santana is followed to observe the typical triangular houses with thatched roof, followed by another stop in Faial. Returning to Funchal, you will have two more stops, at the belvedere of Ponta de São Lourenço and Machico.

Return to the hotel by 5:00 p.m.

## Before you book

- Hotel pickup: no car needed
- Starts 09:00: one departure a day
- Strollers OK: infants accepted
- Age rule: Specialized infant seats are available

**Pickup:** Hotel pickup included

## Key facts

- Price: from €35 per person
- Duration: 8h
- Rating: 4.61/5 from 61 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Operator: Feeling Madeira - Tours & Walks
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: German, Portuguese, English, French, Spanish
- Start times: 09:00
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-09-30

## Reviews

4.61 from 61 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
95% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 58 of 61.

- 5 stars: 43 (70%)
- 4 stars: 15 (25%)
- 3 stars: 1 (2%)
- 2 stars: 1 (2%)
- 1 star: 1 (2%)

### What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the guides and varied scenery; some families report missing or unsuitable child seats

**Praised:**
- Guides explain local history, traditions and plant life in detail
- Friendly commentary and humour keep the journey engaging
- Careful driving helps passengers feel safe on difficult roads
- Varied stops cover mountain viewpoints, villages and coastal scenery

**Complaints:**
- Problems supplying suitable child seats despite advance requests
- Advertised stops or activities have been omitted or replaced
- Some find the Santana stop too long, while others consider the overall pacing right
- Rain and fog can obscure views at outdoor stops

Written by Guidekin from the 47 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2019-10-05 to 2026-06-06); last checked 2026-10-04.

## What's included

- All Fees and Taxes
- Air-conditioned vehicle

## Itinerary

1. **Camacha parish church** (20m) - Camacha is a beautiful village located in a wooded area, over a high plateau, at the Northeast of Funchal, in Madeira. This village is famous for its excellent basketing and its folkloric group.
2. **Pico do Arieiro** (30m) - Be surprised by the imposing views offered by the third highest peak in the island of Madeira. Pico do Areeiro Pico do Areeiro © F.C. Madeira Tourism The Pico do Arieiro Pike, 1818 meter high, is the third highest summit in the Island of Madeira. It is highly advised to climb...
3. **Balcoes de Ribeiro Frio** (30m) - Ribeiro Frio is an exquisite place, surrounded by aromatic forests, offering a welcoming environment. Its hillsides are crowded with numerous plant species and make up the Forest Part of Madeira. Here, taking advantage of environmental benefits, it has been installed a little...
4. **Fortress of Faial** (20m) - Main town of Santana with an incredible view to the Eagle's Rock, Porto Santo, Ponta de São Lourenço and the farming villages that were crossed after Ribeiro Frio.
5. **Santana** (2h) - is one of the nicest and most colorful villages in Madeira. Here, its inhabitants used to live in beautiful wooden cottages with roofs ending in the narrow head (Palheiros). Some of them still survive among the modern constructions, especially those close to Queimadas area.
6. **Ponta de Sao Lourenco** (25m) - You'll visit Ponta de São Lourenço, and your experience will be enriched by having a guide to point out native vegetation and wildlife, that you might miss if you were alone.
7. **Praia de Machico** (20m) - The city of Machico takes up a little cove in the mouth of the Valley of the Ribeira de Machico. Here took place the landing of Zarco in Madeira for the first time in 1420, claiming for Portugal an island which was known by the sailors since ancient times.

## Schedule

- Runs: Tue, Fri, Sun
- Departures: 09:00
- Schedule last checked: 2026-09-30
- 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.

## 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

Booking asks for: dates of birth

## Compared with other Santana

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #20 of 20** | €35 | 8h | 4.61 (61) | shared |
| [4x4 Safari Private Jeep, Full Day, Customizable Santana or Porto Moniz or other](/portugal/madeira/tours/4x4-safari-private-jeep-full-day-customizable-santana-or-porto-moniz-or-other/?format=md) | €295 per group | 7h | 4.98 (164) | private |
| [East Madeira 4x4 Jeep Tour with Local Guide](/portugal/madeira/tours/east-madeira-4x4-jeep-tour-with-local-guide/?format=md) | €89 | 8h | 4.95 (239) | shared |
| [Private 4x4 Jeep Full Day Porto Moniz or Santana ](/portugal/madeira/tours/private-4x4-jeep-full-day-porto-moniz-or-santana/?format=md) | €300 per group | 7h | 5.0 (89) | private |

Ranked #20 of 20 in Santana by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €31 to €89, median €45; typical length 7h 30m. 3 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/santana/?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/magnificent-east-tour/

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