The west coast of Madeira has a romantic and poignant beauty so it is highly recommended to do this tour that lasts almost a day.
In 8 hours you will leave from Funchal or Canico on board of a pick-up, the first stop is Câmara de Lobos, a small fishing village where Winston Churchill loved to stop and paint for days. Here the landscape is typically marine, with a marina and a series of cliffs where the blue sea is broken. You will then be taken to Cabo Girão, one of the highest cliffs in Europe where you can take stunning photos and videos.
The next stop of the program is Ribeira Brava with a wonderful Flemish church, not far from Ponta de Sol, a picturesque seaside village illuminated by the sun, this area is in fact the sunniest of the island. For some tourists it is the most beautiful village of Madeira and you will not find it hard to believe it.
Afterwards you will take a scenic walk from Laurissilva Forest to Paul da Serra, also passing through a Levada (a path on an irrigation canal).
One of the most impressive stages is the following: Porto Moniz. This area is full of unique volcanic pools, nobody can say that they have been in Madeira without having seen them so do not miss the opportunity to take some incredible photos. If time permits, you can also take a swim in the crystal clear waters of the place and stop for lunch if there are not too many tourists. Alternatively, the guide will find another restaurant in Seixal, and here it will be possible to swim.
In the afternoon, plenty of room for the famous waterfalls of San Vicente and the Encumeada Pass, a magical place with a view that stands out in the mountains.
At the end of the day, you can refresh yourself in a local bar while enjoying a poncha, a typical Madeira drink made from sugar cane juice, honey, sugar and orange or lemon juice.
The ticket costs 45 euros, a low amount if you consider that the tour lasts 8 hours and includes the pick-up, the guide in German, English or French, a 3-course lunch with water and wine at the table. The entry tickets and the final poncha are excluded.
If you make a stop with your cruise ship you still can take the tour, and the pick-up can stop at the terminal and pick up the tourists. However, it is necessary that you have a schedule starting at 8.00 am and going on until 5.00 pm.
