Northwest Madeira in one wild day. This shore excursion strings together volcanic pools, black-sand coasts, and misty Laurisilva forest in a single 4×4 loop. I like the tight timing that gets you to big photo stops without turning the day into a rush parade, and I especially like the harbour pickup option for cruise days. One thing to consider: several viewpoints and stops are short, so you will want comfy shoes and an easygoing mindset.

The vibe here is practical and outdoorsy, not museum-heavy. The guiding gets praised by name, with people calling out friendly, funny driving and a calm handle on the mountain roads. Expect a lot of scenery time, plus a couple spots where you may pay for access, like the Porto Moniz natural swimming pools.

Key highlights worth planning around

• Small-group 4×4 day, capped at 24 people, often split across a few jeeps
• Porto Moniz lava pools and coastline swimming time, with entry not included
• Black-sand stops like Seixal and Ponta/Poca Das Lesmas for a totally different Madeira coast
• Ribeira da Janela viewpoints for cliff photos and quick valley breaks
• Fanal Laurisilva forest moments in a UNESCO World Heritage setting
• Paul da Serra plateau + levada viewpoints for high-elevation calm and wide views

Northwest Madeira by 4×4: the rhythm of a long day

This is a north and northwest Madeira day designed for people who want the island’s drama without renting a car or studying tight roads. The total time is about 7.5 hours, starting at 8:30 am, which is a smart choice if your goal is to see multiple regions before the light changes.

The logistics are simple. You get mobile tickets and a local guide, and the tour runs in English. Pickup is free in the Funchal area and Caniço, plus a free option at the CR7 statue/museum. If you are on a cruise, there is a €5.00 cruise dock fee listed for that pickup. Everything else depends on where you are staying, since other pickup and drop-off points can have an extra charge.

Now for the reality of the schedule. The day moves stop to stop, with many breaks around 10 to 20 minutes. That is not a drawback if you travel like a photographer or a nature walker, because you get repeated looks over the cliffs and coasts. It is a drawback only if you hate brief stops and want hours in one place.

Porto Moniz town time and the lava-pool swim option

Your day starts with Porto Moniz, about 1 hour for the town. Porto Moniz is famous for its volcanic past, and you will feel that fast. The big feature is the natural lava pools: seawater trapped and shaped by ancient volcanic rock, sitting right along the Atlantic. Even if you do not swim, it is one of Madeira’s easiest places to understand the island geologically.

After the town break, there is another 30 minutes at the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools. This is the part that turns the excursion from scenic to memorable. Admission here is listed as not included, so plan to pay at the site if you want to use the pools. If the water looks tempting, it probably is the main activity on this leg.

Practical tip: the pools are made by lava rock, so it is not like a spa deck. You will want to wear shoes you trust on uneven surfaces, then transition to swim options. If you are sensitive to cold water, go in with expectations. The Atlantic can be chilly even when the rest of Madeira feels warm.

Seixal, Poca Das Lesmas, and São Vicente quick hits

After Porto Moniz, the route heads through the north coast with a couple of short “reset” stops. You get Seixal for about 20 minutes, known for its black sand beach and an overall laid-back feel. This is where you trade lava textures for sand and ocean color, and it is a nice contrast to Porto Moniz.

There is also Poca Das Lesmas timed at about 30 minutes. Like Seixal, it is tied to the black-sand coastline experience. The itinerary notes it as a place to unwind and stroll, and since admission is listed as not included, you are mainly paying for yourself in time and comfort, not for an attraction ticket.

Then comes a brief São Vicente stop (about 10 minutes). São Vicente is described as charming and full of landscapes and villages worth exploring. With only 10 minutes, this is more about getting a feel for the area than ticking off every viewpoint. If you like to walk slowly, you will have to accept that you are sampling.

What I like about this cluster of stops is pacing. You get coast, sand, and village flavor without losing the day. What you should consider is that the time windows are tight, so it is best if you come with a short list of what you want most: swim, photos, or a quick stroll.

Ribeira da Janela cliffs: where the photos get serious

The heart of the northeast-style “cliff drama” comes in the Ribeira da Janela area. You have a sequence of short visits that stack up to a satisfying dose of views.

First, Ribeira da Janela itself is listed at 20 minutes. Then you have additional points around the same region: Ilheus da Ribeira da Janela (about 20 minutes), plus multiple miradouro viewpoints timed around 10 minutes each. In plain terms, this is a stop where you do not just look once. You look from slightly different angles, and the scenery shifts as the coastline bends and the cliffs change color.

This is also a place for hiking and photography. The area is known for lush greenery and dramatic coastal walls. Since several of these viewpoint entries are listed as not included, you are not dealing with paid attractions. You are doing outdoor sightseeing, which is ideal on a shore day because it cuts waiting time.

A helpful mindset: treat these as view breaks, not full hikes. If you want a longer walk, you could get tempted to go further each time you stop. With the 7.5 hour schedule, it is better to stay on time and enjoy what you do see from multiple angles.

Fanal and the Laurisilva fog feeling (UNESCO time)

Next up is Fanal, and this is one of the most distinctive parts of the day. Fanal is known for an ancient laurel forest, and it is tied to Madeira’s UNESCO World Heritage Laurisilva. The stop is given as time in the Fanal area and includes a forest hiking element, with one of the forest stops labeled Posto Florestal Fanal at about 20 minutes and noted as free.

If you have never walked in laurel forest, it can feel like a different planet. The canopy and misty atmosphere are part of the experience, and the trail idea here is more about atmosphere than distance.

What to expect: changing weather. North and northwest Madeira can shift quickly, so bring a light layer that you can throw on if the fog rolls in. This is also where you should slow down. Short stops still work here because the forest atmosphere does most of the work for you.

Paul da Serra plateau: high air, wide views, and levada viewpoints

After Fanal, the day climbs toward Paul da Serra. You get Pico Ruivo do Paul da Serra at about 10 minutes. Then later there is a Levada do Paul da Serra stop around 20 minutes.

Paul da Serra is described as a plateau with expansive vistas. Even when a stop is short, the payoff is in the view range. You do not need long hikes to feel the altitude difference and see the island spread out below you.

There is also a note that sunset is spectacular at Paul da Serra, but your tour timing likely puts you earlier or later depending on road conditions. Either way, high plateaus tend to reward you with clear angles for photos, and they often feel calmer than the coast.

If you are the kind of traveler who loves “one big viewpoint” rather than constant walking, this part of the route fits you well. Just remember: some of these stops are timed for quick look-and-shoot moments, not long meandering trails.

Tabua waterfall jeep ride and Ponta do Sol village pause

The tour then heads toward Tabua, with a stop at about 30 minutes. The notes mention a scenic jeep tour to see a cascading waterfall in lush greenery. That is a clever detail because it suggests you are not just waiting at a roadside. You are getting closer to the waterfall experience with additional transport.

After Tabua, there is Ponta do Sol for about 20 minutes, described as a picturesque village with a laid-back rural atmosphere. Here, the goal is simple: slow stroll, traditional island life feel, and a break from constant cliff looking.

Admission notes for Tabua are marked free. For Ponta do Sol, the listing also shows admission as free. In other words, your cost risk is lower here, and your time value comes from walking and views rather than ticket surprises.

Lombo do Mouro and Bica da Cana: the outdoor “bonus” feel

Near the later portion of the day, you pick up a couple more nature-focused stops. Lombo do Mouro is listed at about 20 minutes and described as a place for hiking trails through lush forests and panoramic viewpoints. Then Bica da Cana is timed at about 20 minutes, described for rugged terrain, viewpoints, and panoramic hikes.

These segments can feel like Madeira’s wild side. The time is short, so you will not do a huge trek, but you can still enjoy the walking views and the sense that you are getting off the main tourist track.

If you have limited mobility, these may require more caution, since they are described as hiking trail areas. If you have good shoes and comfort with uneven ground, you will likely love this part for the raw, outdoor energy.

Guides, driving, and the small-team touch

This tour has a strong reputation for its guiding, and names pop up repeatedly in the feedback. I like that guides such as Luis and Lino are described as friendly and informative, and that people specifically highlight a good sense of humor. Another plus is the way the team is portrayed as flexible, which matters on Madeira roads where weather and traffic can change your day.

There is also a memorable extra mentioned with Lino: he is said to send photos from the 4×4 after the day. That is not a guarantee for every booking, but it is a nice example of how this operator treats the experience as more than just transporting you between stops.

One more practical point: the group cap is 24 travelers, and at least one group was split across three private jeeps. That usually means you are not squeezed into a massive bus, and the driver can take the route at a comfortable pace for photography and viewpoint stops.

Value check: time, entry fees, and what you get for about $81.66

The listed price is $81.66 per person, plus the cruise dock pickup fee if you are boarding from the harbour (€5.00 per person). You also get a guide, local insurance according to Portuguese law, and all fees and taxes are listed as included.

The real value question is what is not included. Lunch is not included, and the most important potential add-on is the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools, where admission is explicitly not included. Some coastal spots around the Ribeira da Janela area are also marked as not included, but those are largely viewpoint style breaks where you may not need to buy anything on the spot.

So is it worth it? If you want a structured day that hits multiple northwest regions with minimal decision-making, this is strong value. If you are the type who hates paying for entry tickets at stops, and you only want one or two places, the add-ons could annoy you.

Either way, bring snacks or plan lunch on your own. With a day like this, hunger creeps in fast, and you do not want to burn time deciding where to eat.

Who this shore excursion fits best

This tour fits best if you:

• Want northwest Madeira scenery in one day without driving yourself
• Like a mix of short photo stops and nature walking
• Are comfortable with outdoor ground and potentially cold seawater if you swim

It may not be the best match if you:

• Need long stays at a single site
• Hate brief stops and prefer slower travel
• Are not comfortable with walking on uneven outdoor terrain

There are also physical limits stated: maximum height 1.90 m and maximum weight 120 kgs. If you are on the edge, it is worth checking with the operator before booking so you do not end up disappointed.

Should you book Green Devil Safari’s Northwest tour?

If your Madeira goal is variety, this is a smart booking. You get a coast-first route with Porto Moniz lava pools, black-sand beach contrasts at Seixal and Poca Das Lesmas, cliff viewpoints around Ribeira da Janela, and a forest moment in Fanal. The format is built for a shore-day mindset: see a lot, move efficiently, and enjoy the island’s big natural features without thinking too hard.

Book it if you want energy and outdoors time with a friendly, humorous guide team. Skip it if you want slow, deep time in only one or two locations, or if swimming and paying a few entrances is not your thing.

If you want my “decide fast” advice: pack water, wear good shoes, bring a light layer for forest and coastal weather, and plan to treat this as a highlight-hunt day. Done that way, it delivers the kind of Madeira day you will remember long after the cruise ship leaves the harbor.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 8:30 am.

How long is the excursion?

The duration is listed as approximately 7 hours 30 minutes.

Is English available?

Yes, the tour is offered in English.

Where does pickup happen, and is it free?

Free pick up is offered in the Funchal area and Caniço, and also at the Funchal CR7 statue/museum. Pickup from the cruise dock has a €5.00 per person fee. Other areas may have an extra pickup or drop-off fee.

What is included in the price?

Included items are listed as all fees and taxes, a local guide, and insurance according with Portuguese law. There is also a note that pickup is included in certain areas.

What is not included?

Lunch is not included, and the €5.00 cruise dock fee may apply if you are picked up from the harbour. Also, admission for Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools is listed as not included, and some other stops show admission not included.

Do I need a ticket on my phone?

Yes, the tour includes a mobile ticket.

Is there a group size limit?

Yes, the tour has a maximum of 24 travelers.

Is there a cancellation option?

Yes. Free cancellation is available if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.