Madeira moves fast on this two-day circuit. You’ll cover a lot of island terrain from Funchal pickup, with short stops at big hitters like Cabo Girão, Porto Moniz, Pico do Arieiro, Santana, and Cristo Rei.

I especially liked the high-impact stops that mix famous views with real local life—fishing villages like Câmara de Lobos and seaside towns like São Vicente. I also liked that you don’t need to rent a car to see both coasts in one go.

The main catch is the schedule feels tight, and weather can steal views—especially around Pico do Arieiro and the cliff viewpoints.

Key Things I’d Prioritize on This Tour

• Two coasts in 2 days: west-side highlights plus the east and north viewpoints.
• Cabo Girão glass skywalk area: breathtaking height, but the admission is not included.
• Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools: a full break for volcanic pools and sea views.
• Santana’s iconic thatched houses: lots of time to wander the village style.
• Pico do Arieiro timing: short stop, but the views can be spectacular if the weather cooperates.
• Small group size (max 15): easier than big coaches, though vehicle type can vary.

Two Days, One Island: Why This Route Works

If your Madeira days are limited, this tour is built for speed with a purpose. You’re not doing long hikes or deep museum time—you’re collecting viewpoints, seaside towns, and landmark stops across the island.

Day 1 leans west: Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, then inland roads toward Encumeada before you hit Porto Moniz and the north coast. Day 2 swings east and north-east: Pico do Arieiro, Ribeiro Frio, Faial’s viewpoint fortress, Santana, São Lourenço, Machico, and finally Garajau for Cristo Rei.

This is a smart “first orientation” trip. You’ll get your bearings fast, and you’ll know what you want to return to when you have more time.

Price and Logistics: What You’re Really Paying For

At $72.41 per person for about two days, you’re mainly paying for two things: transport and not having to plan a route. With Madeira’s curvy roads, that alone can be worth it, even if you’re an experienced driver.

Most stops in the itinerary are listed as free admission, but two key viewpoints aren’t. Cabo Girão has admission not included (the glass skywalk is the big reason to go). Cristo Rei in Garajau also shows admission not included for that stop.

The tour includes pickup where it’s convenient. It starts at 9:00 am, with pickup from Funchal city centre and the main tourist area. Hotels in Caniço de Baixo and Garajau can get pickup too, but only if there are at least two people in the group from that area. If your accommodation isn’t in those zones, you’ll be directed to the nearest meeting point in Funchal.

One more practical note: the group is capped at 15 travelers, and you’ll use a mobile ticket. Service animals are allowed, and the tour is offered in English.

Day 1 in Madeira’s West: Câmara de Lobos to São Vicente

You begin with one of Madeira’s most “Madeira” scenes: small-scale fishing life with dramatic surroundings. The stop at Baía de Câmara de Lobos takes about 30 minutes and is free. It’s also tied to the famous painter Sir Winston Churchill, who was inspired by the village and its views.

This stop is more than a photo op. Even with limited time, it gives you that sense of place: fishermen, boats, and a coastline that feels lived-in rather than staged.

Next up is the “hold-your-breath” moment: Cabo Girão. It’s about 30 minutes and admission is not included. This spot is often described as the highest sea cliff in Europe, and the glass skywalk viewpoint is the headline experience. If you’re afraid of heights, you’ll still appreciate the viewpoint, but the skywalk is the thing you’ll want to think through before you step out.

Then the tour continues along the south-west side with Ribeira Brava Beach (30 minutes, free). The name means wild stream, and the area covers several parishes. The time here is short, so use it to soak up the coast and reset before the climb toward the interior.

Encumeada Pass and Encounters on the Road

After the coast comes the island’s road drama—in a good way. The stop at Caminho Real da Encumeada (PR12) is about 30 minutes and free. This is tied to the Encumeada pass, around 1004 meters high, with a road winding from Ribeira Brava up toward Serra d’Água, which was the island’s first water power station.

What makes this stop worthwhile is the perspective. You’re getting a view of the south side and then the north side—an instant lesson in why Madeira feels split into different worlds depending on which slope you’re on.

After that, the itinerary gives you your first longer break: Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools. This is listed as 2 hours and free admission. Porto Moniz is known for volcanic pools in the sea, and it’s one of those places where the scenery is practical: you can swim, you can just hang around and watch the water, and you don’t feel rushed.

One of the best “tour success” signals is when a stop isn’t just a viewpoint. Porto Moniz is set up for real downtime.

Veu da Noiva, Santo Antão, and North Coast Flavor

From Porto Moniz, the tour moves toward Miradouro do Véu da Noiva (about 20 minutes, free). The area is linked to the Seixal parish and mentions features you’ll likely want to notice: Santo Antão Church and the chance to see volcanic natural pools with sea and mountain views.

The north coast can feel wilder and more exposed than the south, and this is where the vibe shifts. Even in a short visit, you feel the difference in air and coastal shape.

Then you finish Day 1 with São Vicente (about 30 minutes, free). This coastal village also has a more sheltered inland character. The highlight is a boulder by the sea with a chapel built into it. It’s one of those weird-and-wonderful Madeira details that doesn’t need a long explanation to land.

Day 1 ends with plenty to remember: cliff height, sea pools, and north coast surprises.

Day 2 Starts High: Pico do Arieiro and the Weather Factor

Day 2 is where Madeira flexes altitude. The first stop is Pico do Arieiro at 1818 meters, around 30 minutes, free. It’s the third highest peak on the island and the second highest with pedestrian access. Since it’s reachable by car, you still get a big viewpoint without committing to a long hike.

The view can be spectacular. On clear days, you can even see Porto Santo, about 30 nautical miles away. The drawback is also obvious: when it’s misty or low-cloud, you might get clouds instead of the distant island. This is one reason the short time at the top can feel both exciting and risky.

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes a “plan B,” you’ll probably enjoy this day. The journey up and down the mountains has a lot of character even when visibility isn’t perfect.

Ribeiro Frio: Levada Country Without the Long Trek

Next is Ribeiro Frio (about 30 minutes, free). It’s a popular starting point for levada walks—Madeira’s famous irrigation trail system. You’re not doing a full hike in this stop, but you get access to the idea of the island’s walking culture.

The area is also tied to Laurissilva forest remnants. This matters because Laurissilva is part of what makes Madeira feel so specific: a kind of subtropical forest that’s more than just scenery.

If you want to come back later for longer levada walks, this stop helps you identify what kind of route you might want.

Faial’s Fortress Views and Santana’s Time Block

Then the tour moves to the east side viewpoints with Fortress of Faial (about 30 minutes, free). This is positioned to give you superb views over the north and south coasts. The stop duration is short, but it’s a classic “see the island’s geometry” moment.

After that comes Santana (about 2 hours, free). This is one of the itinerary’s best time allocations. Santana is known for small thatched triangular houses made from natural stone and straw. The tour description notes these houses have served locals as stables and dwellings for centuries, which gives the stop more meaning than architecture-only sightseeing.

Two hours is enough to wander, take in the village feel, and notice details you might miss in a quick photo stop.

Ponta de São Lourenço and Machico: East Coast Identity

Next is Ponta de São Lourenço (about 30 minutes, free). This is described as one of the last nearly untouched places in Madeira. The draw here is the rock-and-sea combination—natural geometry created by nature, not by city planning.

The short time makes it feel like a “taster,” but it’s a good one. If you’ve ever wondered what Madeira looks like when it’s less developed, this is where you get it.

Then you arrive in Machico (about 30 minutes, free). It’s one of the more populated areas and has historical importance because explorers first arrived in 1419. Machico gives the tour a more settled, town-side feeling after the wild coasts and viewpoints.

Garajau’s Cristo Rei: The End Stop With Admission Not Included

Your last stop is Miradouro do Cristo Rei do Garajau (about 20 minutes, admission not included). Cristo Rei is described as an emblematic monument on the east coast, and the viewpoint setting is part of the appeal.

This final stop is quick, but it works as a strong closing image: the statue, the coastline setting, and the sense that you’ve wrapped up both sides of the island.

What Makes the Tour Feel Great: Guides and Driving Skill

This tour lives and dies by the guide. The best reviews talk about exactly that: people who explain without turning it into a lecture.

I saw repeated praise for guides such as Leonel/Lionel, Renato, Paulo, Jose, Sérgio, Gloria, and Paulo again. Common themes: safe, smooth driving on curvy roads and storytelling that makes quick stops feel connected rather than random.

If you get an energized guide, the two days feel fun and personal. If you get a quieter or less enthusiastic one, the same itinerary can feel like a list. That’s not your fault, but it’s real—and worth keeping in mind when you choose a tour.

There are also notes about language. One review flagged that mixing English and Spanish-speaking participants can affect how much time each language gets. If language balance matters a lot to you, it can help to check tour language mix when you book (or choose tours that clearly match your language needs).

Pace and Small Annoyances: The Real Tradeoffs

This is a highlights tour with fixed stop durations. That’s the point—but it means:

• You’ll have limited time at each place.
• Weather can affect what you actually see.
• Some details may vary by day.

One review mentioned that certain items, like caves, were closed during their visit. Another mentioned that Pico do Arieiro was misty, so the top didn’t deliver the distant views.

Also keep in mind that pickup logistics can vary with the number of people. In peak season, the transport may be more coach-like, which can mean waiting time for everyone to be collected. One review described a longer pickup delay where the group had to loop back after getting contact.

Value Check: Does $72.41 Really Deliver?

For $72.41, you’re buying a two-day “highlights circuit” plus pickup. In practical terms, that’s saving yourself:

• route-planning stress,
• driving fatigue,
• and the problem of trying to fit far-flung coast areas into a short schedule.

Where the value shifts is in admissions not included. Cabo Girão and Cristo Rei can add extra costs, and you’ll want to budget for that. But most other stops are listed as free admission, and you do get a full stretch of the island across Day 1 and Day 2.

This is also good value because the itinerary includes multiple “types” of Madeira: fishing village culture, sea cliffs, volcanic pools, forest-trail starting points, historic towns, and distinctive architecture in Santana.

Who This Tour Suits Best

This fits best if:

• you’re short on time in Madeira,
• you don’t want to drive or don’t want to figure out parking and timing,
• you want a strong overview across both coasts,
• and you enjoy viewpoints and memorable quick stops.

It might not fit if:

• you want long hikes or deep time at nature spots,
• you strongly prefer slow travel,
• or you get stressed by tight schedules.

Consider These Extra Notes Before You Book

One review described a bad end to the experience after an additional bar stop near the end of Day 1, with illness that prevented finishing Day 2. I can’t connect that to the tour itself based on the data here, but it’s a useful reminder: optional drinks and shared drinks are your choice, and you’ll want to listen to your body.

There was also a serious complaint involving refund handling after a message was sent on the morning of the start day. The operator response indicated the tour started and pickup had been attempted, and that the company treated it as a no-show after waiting. Bottom line: if anything goes wrong on pickup day, communicate quickly and clearly, and don’t assume last-minute changes will be accepted.

Should You Book All Madeira in 2 Days?

I’d book this tour if your goal is to see major Madeira highlights without driving. The route hits west and east in a way that feels efficient, and the best part is often the guide, especially drivers like Renato and Paulo who turn the road into a story.

I would think twice if you’re weather-sensitive or you hate quick stop pacing. Pico do Arieiro and the cliff viewpoints are weather-dependent, and with only about 30 minutes at the top, you can’t “wait it out” for long.

FAQ

How much does the All Madeira in 2 Days Tour cost?

It costs $72.41 per person.

What is the duration of the tour?

The duration is approximately 2 days.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 9:00 am.

Where does pickup happen?

Pickups are available from Funchal city centre and the main tourist area. Pickup is also provided from hotels in Caniço de Baixo and Garajau for a minimum of two people. If your accommodation isn’t in those areas, you’ll be directed to the nearest meeting point in Funchal.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

How many travelers are on the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.

Are admission fees included at every stop?

Not at every stop. Cabo Girão and the Cristo Rei viewpoint at Garajau are listed as admission not included. The other stops listed are free admission.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid won’t be refunded.