Santana – Private Full-Day – Safari 4×4 Tour – NorthEast

A made-for-adventure day in Madeira starts with a jeep. I love how this North East safari feels off the beaten track while still keeping things calm and easy to follow, from hotel pickup in Funchal to hilltop viewpoints above the clouds. I also like the mix of big-ticket stops (Pico do Arieiro, Santana, Faial) with smaller moments like local bars, Laurisilva forest paths, and a relaxed pace of photo stops. One thing to consider: you’ll ride and stop at altitude up to around 1,800 m, so weather and clothing matter.

You’re not stuck driving yourself on winding roads or guessing which turns are worth your time. This is built for real terrain—an open classic ex-army Portuguese jeep (UMM) with a cover for weather—so you get access and views without the stress. The possible drawback is simple: because it’s a private day in the mountains, you’ll want to be comfortable with bumpy track sections and some optional walking.

Key things that make this tour special

• Private 4×4 safari in a classic ex-army UMM jeep, with pickup and drop-off from Funchal hotels
• North East Madeira focus: Pico do Arieiro, Santana, Faial, and the north coast viewpoints
• Photostop-friendly pacing: short stops often, plus longer scenic breaks when you want them
• UNESCO Laurisilva moments plus optional light walking near Ribeiro Frio and Porto da Cruz
• Local experience stops: Santana House visit (A-frame) and a final poncha drink in Machico

Why a North East Madeira 4×4 Safari Beats Renting a Car

Madeira’s interior roads can feel like they’re designed for drivers with strong nerves and a lot of patience. With this tour, you get a private driver for the day and a vehicle that’s made for uneven terrain, not just pavement. That means you spend your energy on looking out the window and enjoying the island, not on braking for tight turns.

I also like that this isn’t only about the famous viewpoints. You’re guided through hillside backroads, remote valleys, and villages that you’d likely miss if you were trying to “figure it out” with a rental car. The day feels like someone knows where the good angles and quiet roads are—and keeps the whole thing relaxed.

One more value point: the stops are designed around short, frequent photo moments, plus a few longer breaks. That works well if you want variety without being stuck in one place too long.

Meet Miguel’s UMM Jeep: Open-Air Views with Weather Cover

This tour runs in an open classic ex-army Portuguese jeep, UMM, and it includes a cover for when conditions get changeable. You’ll feel the breeze on clear days, but you’re not exposed if the weather turns. For Madeira, that’s a big deal, because the island can go from sunny to cool-on-the-mountain in a hurry.

The ride is safari-style: you’ll go off-road when possible and stick to safer, calmer movement when roads get tricky. From what I can piece together from the experience details, the guide’s whole approach is about keeping things safe, calm, and flexible—so the “adventure” stays fun rather than stressful.

If you’re traveling with kids, older adults, or anyone who doesn’t love rough driving, this is still one of the better ways to do off-road Madeira because it’s private and the pace can match your group.

From Funchal to Poiso: Hillside Bay Views and the Start of the Climb

The day starts in Funchal, with pickup offered from your hotel or apartment. If you’re meeting at Praia Formosa (São Martinho, Funchal), you start at 9:00 am, then get headed out in the UMM.

Your first stretch takes you toward Poiso at about 1,412 m. Along the way, you’ll pass by the Shoupana Hills and Montado do Pereiro, described as a protected natural area, with the bay showing up in the background. This early portion is great because it sets the rhythm: viewpoints first, then driving, then another stop.

What makes this useful? It helps you adjust to Madeira’s elevation fast. You’re not just arriving at a high spot and hoping for the best; you’re building up to it while still enjoying “new views” every so often.

Choupana Hill (365) to Poiso (1,412 m): Getting the Views Without the Rush

After the first viewpoints, the tour keeps climbing via old roads and off-road sections. One listed stop is Choupana Hill S (365), where you’ll pause for photos and scenery.

Then comes Poiso again as part of the higher section of the day, while the tour ascends toward the 3rd highest peak on the island. You’ll often be above the clouds, and that can create a dramatic split-screen effect: sea on one side, cloud layers on the other.

This is where I think the “private” advantage really shows. You’re not fighting crowds for one overlook. You can linger at the photo points at a pace that feels comfortable.

Pico do Arieiro: Third-Highest Views and a Natural Pivot Point

The big altitude moment here is Pico do Arieiro (around 1,811 m or 1,818 m depending on the way it’s described in the day plan). This is the kind of place where Madeira’s vertical world becomes obvious fast.

You’ll stop to explore and take pictures, and the guide tends to spend a meaningful chunk of time there. Afterward, you start heading toward the north side of the island—into cooler air, different vegetation, and a very different mood.

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes photos but also wants the “walk around for five minutes and breathe” moment, this works. You get both: viewpoints and a bit of time to actually be there.

Ribeiro Frio and Faial: UNESCO Laurisilva and the Cool Side of Madeira

Once the tour moves toward Ribeiro Frio and Faial, it shifts from pure viewpoint drama to something more grounded: forest, terraces, and water.

You’ll travel along ancient royal footpaths (as described), with views that focus on the geometry of some of the island’s oldest agricultural terraces. Then you pass through Laurisilva forest, which is protected as a UNESCO site. The plan also includes water springs that supply trout tanks, and you get the feeling that this landscape has been managed for a long time.

Ribeiro Frio gets a dedicated stop. The tour mentions time in the forest area and an option to taste something (kept casual and humorous in the description). There’s also a chance to observe the fauna and flora that live in that long-protected forest.

This section is a great reminder that Madeira isn’t only cliffs and viewpoints. It’s also a living, maintained landscape—stepped, watered, and shaped by people over time.

São Roque do Faial, Eagle’s Rock, and Cruzeiro Bar Stop

As you continue down the mountain, the scenery includes the imponent rock formation called Penha d’Águia, or Eagle’s Rock. This kind of landmark helps you “read” the coastline direction later, because you’ll see it again as you drop and approach the north coast areas.

Next comes Miradouro do Cruzeiro, where the tour includes a stop in a local bar with local prices. This isn’t a staged souvenir pause. It’s meant for a break, a drink, and reset before the day turns into more off-road.

I like this because it keeps the day from turning into a nonstop driving-and-looking loop. Small breaks make the viewpoints more enjoyable later.

Cova da Roda Off-Road to Pico das Pedras: Where the Jeep Journey Gets Real

This is the “off-road scenery” chapter. The tour mentions crossing the mountain toward Santana via a spectacular off-road segment, including a longer stop in the middle to enjoy the view.

Then you arrive at Pico das Pedras, and immediately start descending to Santana. This is where the day starts delivering on the “Madeira postcard” version people come for: traditional architecture and rural terraces.

One nice thing: the way the day is paced means you’re not exhausted by the time you reach Santana. You’ve had breaks for photos and drinks, so the transition feels smooth.

Santana House Visit: Traditional A-Frame, Not Just the Tourist Photo

Santana is the headline stop for architecture. You’ll visit a genuine Santana House, a triangle-shaped A-frame style typical for the area, noted as being around 240 years old. The description also flags that the visit is to a genuine, more local property rather than a purely touristic house.

There’s also time built in for lunch at a local place nearby (and lunch is optional). One part of the plan lists lunch at 12,00€ at Santana, while elsewhere the tour notes an optional lunch extra fee around 17,00€. Either way, the key is the same: you’ll have the chance to eat local food without needing to hunt for it yourself.

Foods mentioned include espetada, tuna, and peixe-espada (swordfish). If you’re not sure what to pick, just ask on the spot. This kind of lunch is often more satisfying when you go with what they do best.

Faial to Porto da Cruz: Coastal Views Plus an Optional Levada Walk

After Santana, the tour heads back through the north coast, with views of Faial and Porto da Cruz. The driving still includes photo stops, but the atmosphere shifts toward the sea.

Porto da Cruz is the location for an optional levada walk. If you choose it, you’ll walk about 2 km along part of a levada water canal for roughly 30–40 minutes, as long as weather conditions permit. The levadas are one of Madeira’s signature “quiet adventure” experiences—manmade water channels that let you experience scenery up close without steep climbing.

I like that this is optional. If you want more movement, you can do it. If you’d rather just enjoy the views and save your energy for poncha later, you can.

Estrada dos Maroços and Machico: The Ending with History and Poncha

The route continues along the eastern coast via Maroços and Machico. The day plan notes that Machico is connected to the Portuguese landing in 1419/20, which gives you a bit of historical context as you drive the final stretch.

Machico ends the experience with a freshly homemade poncha drink. Poncha is one of Madeira’s most famous flavors, and getting it at the end feels like the right reward for a long mountain day.

Even if you don’t drink much, watching others try the different versions can be fun. It’s a simple way to end with something local.

What the Day Feels Like: Pace, Stops, and the Realistic Amount of Walking

This is a “drive to places, stop often, look closely, then move again” kind of day. The plan includes many short stops for photo opportunities, and a couple longer moments at viewpoint-heavy areas like Pico do Arieiro and the scenic off-road break.

Walking is limited, but not zero. You’ll have at least the option of a 2 km levada walk near Porto da Cruz. Also, the day mentions time for exploring at Pico do Arieiro and time in forest areas around Ribeiro Frio, but it doesn’t position the day as a heavy hiking trip.

So I’d call this a good fit for people who want nature and scenery without committing to long hikes. It’s also a solid “first tour” because you cover multiple regions of the island in one day.

Price and Value: What $493.07 Buys Up to 4 People

This tour is priced at $493.07 per group, with a maximum group size of up to 4. That means your cost can work out around $123 per person at full capacity, though your exact per-person value depends on how many people are in your group.

What you’re paying for is not just transportation. You’re paying for:

• a private driver who knows the routes and viewpoints,
• a vehicle that can handle off-road sections,
• hotel pickup and return,
• and a full day of planned stops across Madeira’s NE highlights.

If you’re considering hiring a car for a day, remember that Madeira driving can eat time and attention. A private jeep tour trades some flexibility for local expertise and easier logistics. For couples, families, or small groups, that’s often the best trade.

This tour also builds in optional paid meals (like Santana lunch), so your “all-in” spend depends on your appetite.

Who Should Book This 4×4 North East Safari (and Who Might Skip)

Book it if you want:

• a private day with a driver,
• off-road safari driving in Madeira,
• a strong hit list of North East highlights (Pico do Arieiro, Santana, Faial, Porto da Cruz, Machico),
• and an easy pace with frequent photo breaks.

You might consider another option if:

• you’re sensitive to bumpy off-road tracks,
• you dislike altitude areas (the plan says you’ll go up to around 1,800 m),
• or you want a fully independent, no-stops schedule.

It also helps that the tour says most travelers can participate and children (minimum age 3) must be with an adult. If you’re traveling with mixed ages, a guided private day is usually easier than trying to manage everyone’s energy level yourself.

Should You Book This Santana North East Safari 4×4?

If you want Madeira’s North East in one day without the stress of driving and route-finding, I think this is a strong choice. The combination of a classic ex-army 4×4, frequent photo stops, UNESCO Laurisilva forest time, and a genuine Santana A-frame house visit makes it feel like more than “just viewpoints.”

My best practical advice: pack for altitude changes. Bring a jacket even if Funchal is warm, because the plan notes it can be hot or cooler at the higher elevations.

If your group is 2–4 people, the group price also tends to feel fair for a private, door-to-door style experience.

FAQ

How long is the Santana North East private 4×4 safari?

It’s listed as approximately 8 hours.

What’s included in the tour price?

The tour includes all fees and taxes, with pickup offered and mobile ticket access. Photo stops and scheduled stops are part of the experience.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not included in the base price. The plan lists optional lunch costs (including 12,00€ at Santana) and also notes an optional lunch extra fee (listed as 17,00€).

Where does the tour start, and do I get pickup?

It starts at 9:00 am with a pickup option from hotels or apartments in Funchal. The meeting point is Praia Formosa, São Martinho, 9000-250 Funchal.

How high do you go, and what should I wear?

The tour goes up to around 1,800 meters. It can be hot or cooler up high, so bring a jacket and dress appropriately.

What happens if the weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. Cancellation is free if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance.