Signature experience — Funchal
Peaks and laurel forests
Duration
Full day
Price
From €620
Mercedes
Dedicated vehicle & chauffeur
From Atlantic swell to thin-aired ridgelines, the day flips worlds: in about 20 minutes from Funchal you reach Poiso Pass, then climb to Pico do Arieiro at 1,818 m, where a cloud ocean can hide Curral das Freiras below. The island’s volcanic backbone shows itself—dark dykes, knife‑edged crests, and trachyte tunnels carved since the 1960s. In clear weather you can spot Pico Ruivo 5.6 km along the ridge. Drop back down and the mood changes again in Ribeiro Frio’s laurel forest, a Tertiary remnant inscribed by UNESCO since 1999.
It’s a full day with you exploring while your driver handles the road. Hotel pickup in Funchal, a private chauffeur in Madeira keeping a Mercedes on standby, adapting stops to the weather and waiting during visits. Take in Ninho da Manta, stroll the easy Levada dos Balcões (1.5 km round trip, 30–40 minutes), consider lunch in Santana or Faial depending on time, then pause at Eira do Serrado on the way back. Distances are short but roads twist; comfort rises markedly when an expert manages the bends.
Your itinerary
- I
08:30 – Depart your Funchal hotel, ascend via Poiso Pass to Pico do Arieiro.
- II
10:00 – Stop at Ninho da Manta viewpoint, ridge views toward Pico Ruivo (15–25 min).
- III
11:30 – Ribeiro Frio: walk the Levada dos Balcões, 30–40 minutes round trip, then sample local trout.
- IV
14:00–17:00 – Lunch in Santana or Faial, return via Eira do Serrado for final views over Curral das Freiras.
What’s included
- ✓ Dedicated driver
- ✓ Recent Mercedes
- ✓ Hotel pickup
- ✓ Waiting at stops
Your chauffeur’s tip
In summer, start before 8 am to catch Pico do Arieiro above the clouds; at Ribeiro Frio, park near the snack bar to dodge tour buses after 11 am.
Book this experience
Confirmed within 30 minutes · Fixed price quoted in advance