Madeira’s west coast goes by fast. I love the sweep of west-to-north sights packed into one day, and I also love the small-group feel with a guide who keeps things moving and clear. One thing to plan for though, the pacing is tight, so you spend more time in the van than you might hope.

This is the kind of day trip that starts in classic fishing country and ends on Madeira’s dramatic north coast. The guiding can really make or break it, and you’ll see that in the way drivers and guides handle narrow roads and get you to each viewpoint on time, with standout guides like Lionel and Sergio mentioned for clear directions and helpful, upbeat guiding.

If the weather turns, don’t panic. The route is designed around viewpoints and coast towns, but on rough-sea days Porto Moniz natural pools can close, with the upside being that the waves can be spectacular.

Quick highlights you’ll feel on this Go West tour

• Small group (max 15) for a more personal feel on a long day
• Free time at real stops across Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, Ribeira Brava, and the north coast
• Top viewpoint payoffs at Cabo Girão and Boca da Encumeada, high above the Atlantic
• Porto Moniz natural pools area gives you time to slow down for a longer stop
• North coast caves at São Vicente add something more than beaches and bays
• Pickup available from several nearby towns around Funchal

Go West from Funchal: what you’re really booking

The Go West tour out of Funchal is a classic “see the highlights” circuit across Madeira’s west side and into the north coast. It runs about 8 hours, starting at 9:00 am, with pickup available from Funchal city, Caniço city, Santa Cruz city, and Câmara de Lobos city.

At $42.06 per person, it’s priced as a budget-friendly way to cover a lot of ground without renting a car, figuring out drive times, or juggling multiple bus connections. The key detail for value is that the big sights on the route are free to access, so you’re mostly paying for transportation and a guide to stitch it together.

Also, this is offered in English, and the tour uses mobile tickets. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate, though you should still think about how you handle bus entry and steps, especially if you are unsteady on your feet.

Stop 1: Câmara de Lobos, fishing heritage and famous views near Funchal

Câmara de Lobos is your warm-up stop, about 30 minutes. It’s one of the older places on Madeira’s map, rooted in fishing and agriculture. The setting matters, too. This town sits near Funchal and is tied to the bay where boats are moored, which gives the harbor area that working, lived-in feel.

What I like about starting here is that it helps you understand the island fast. Before you jump into higher viewpoints, you see how people actually made a living. You’ll notice the colorful fishing vessels and the mixture of coastline and nightlife energy that makes Câmara de Lobos feel like Madeira, not just a postcard.

Practical note: since your time here is limited, keep your goals simple. Get a quick look from the waterfront, snap a few photos, and keep an eye on the meeting time back at the pickup point.

Stop 2: Cabo Girão viewpoint, 580 meters above the Atlantic

Then you head to Cabo Girão, only about 20 minutes, but it has a big impact. This is an almost vertical promontory rising roughly 580 meters above the sea, and it’s described as the highest promontory in Europe and the second highest in the world.

In plain terms, you get the kind of view that makes Madeira feel vertical. On a clear day, you can see the Atlantic spread out, with Madeira’s west coast towns and coastline visible from up high, including Câmara de Lobos and Funchal.

The tradeoff is time. With only 20 minutes, you’re not meant to wander for long. Go straight to the viewpoint area, take your photos, and be ready to move. If you’re traveling in fog or strong wind, the best strategy is to stay flexible and focus on what you can see, not what’s blocked.

Stop 3: Ribeira Brava, old parish town and easy access inland

Next up is Ribeira Brava for about 30 minutes. This is one of Madeira’s oldest parishes, created after Funchal and Machico, with a date tied to the 1460 era. It’s also a practical hub location, because it connects by land toward the north through mountain gorges like Serra de Água and Encumeada.

What makes this stop worthwhile is the mix of background and function. It’s not only a scenic town. It’s part of how the island links itself together. The freight port idea also adds context: Ribeira Brava was set up early for connecting goods to Funchal, which helps explain why the area mattered historically even before modern tourism.

Here’s how to make the most of it: do a quick walk around the town center area, then spend the remainder of your time looking outward toward the valley directions you’ll see later in the day. It gives the next viewpoint stop more meaning.

Stop 4: Caminho Real da Encumeada PR12 and Boca da Encumeada at 1007 meters

At around 20 minutes, the Encumeada viewpoint stop is short, but it’s built for payoff. You’re going up to about 1007 meters, to a spot called Boca da Encumeada. The whole point is the sweeping view across north and south.

From this crest view, you can look down toward the deep valleys of Ribeira Brava on the south side and São Vicente on the north side. If you’ve ever wondered why Madeira drives feel so bendy and high, this is where it clicks. The island is stacked in layers, and you’re literally looking into those layers.

Because your time is brief, dress and prepare for the altitude. Weather can shift quickly, and exposed viewpoints can be breezy. Even if the day starts fine, a light layer is smart.

Stop 5: Porto Moniz, natural pools and a longer north-coast break

Now you finally get the longer stop: about 2 hours in Porto Moniz. This is the northern part of Madeira, and it’s known for natural pools. The town was isolated for centuries, accessible mainly on foot and by sea, and the road linking Porto Moniz to São Vicente came after World War II.

Two hours matters here because you need time for the real feature, the pools area, plus time to stroll and take in the coastline. This is also where weather can shape the day. If seas are rough, the natural pools can close. When that happens, you still have a good chance to see the Atlantic in action, including those big waves that turn the shoreline into a live show.

My practical advice: go prepared for both outcomes. If the pools are open, enjoy them with time to spare. If they’re closed, shift your focus to sea conditions, viewpoints, and the coastline edges. Don’t treat pool access as the only reason to go.

Stop 6: Seixal and Porto do Seixal black sand beach vibes

After Porto Moniz, the tour moves to Seixal for about 20 minutes. Seixal is quieter, and it’s described as calm, with green mountain tones and clear blue sea views.

The big detail here is the beach. Porto do Seixal is a natural black sand beach near the port area. The black sand plus the surrounding cliffs and mountains is the whole feel, and it makes this stop feel like a breather after the busier north-coast center areas.

With only 20 minutes, keep your expectations modest. You’re getting a taste. Snap photos, look down at the shoreline, and use the short time to recharge before the final village stop.

Stop 7: São Vicente, limestone valley, and cave formations from lava channels

Your last stop is São Vicente for about 20 minutes. This village is on Madeira’s north coast and sits in a valley bordered by high slopes of marine limestone. The vibe is calm, and the historical center area is part of why people like it.

Then there are the caves. São Vicente is known for a group of caves formed from lava channels. That gives the north coast a different texture than the west. Instead of only fishing and viewpoints, you also get a reminder that volcanic action shaped what you see.

If the weather has been changeable, the ending can still work well because São Vicente offers both village views and cave-related interest in a compact area. Do a quick loop, take in the valley setting, then head back to the transport while the day is still in motion.

The pacing reality: van time vs. stop time on an 8-hour day

Here’s the thing I’d underline: this is a high-sight, high-transport day trip. Your stops range from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, with the exception of Porto Moniz at about 2 hours.

That means you’ll get a strong sense of the west-to-north route, but you won’t have time for long meals, deep museum-style wandering, or long scenic hikes. If you’re the type who likes to sit and watch the ocean for an hour, you may feel rushed.

One more practical detail comes from real-world operating experience on these kinds of buses. The bus entry step can be an issue if something isn’t working smoothly. In at least one case, an automatic sliding step failed, which made entry and exit harder, especially for older passengers. If that matters for you, it’s worth thinking about handrails, pace, and whether you’d feel safe handling higher steps.

Guide and driving quality: why Sergio and Lionel mattered

A smooth day trip is mostly about people doing the basics well. This tour’s standout strength is the way guides and drivers handle timing and communication, especially on narrow roads.

Guides like Lionel and Sergio were specifically noted for giving clear information, helpful directions, and a friendly, fun tone that kept the day from feeling like a checklist. That’s exactly what you want on a day with multiple quick stops. When the guide is strong, each 20-minute viewpoint becomes more than scenery, because you understand what you’re seeing and why it matters on the island.

Also, when weather gets rough, a good guide adapts. On stormy, rainy conditions, the plan can shift so you still get a meaningful day, even if a specific stop like natural pools ends up closed.

Price and value: what $42.06 buys on Madeira

For $42.06 per person, you’re paying for transportation, a guided route, and a small-group experience, with pickup offered from multiple towns around Funchal. The tour runs about 8 hours, which is a full working day for you and for the crew.

Another value lever is that admission tickets at each listed stop are free. That keeps your day predictable. You’re not stacking up paid entrances for every viewpoint, and you can focus on what you want to spend on yourself, like snacks, drinks, and any optional time at viewpoints on your own.

One extra value angle: this tour often gets booked in advance, with an average booking window around 24 days. If you’re set on this exact route, booking early is smart.

Who this tour suits best, and who should skip it

This Go West tour fits you if:

• You want a west-to-north highlights route without renting a car
• You like viewpoints and coastal towns more than long stays in one place
• You enjoy a structured day with a guide handling the driving and timing

It might feel less perfect if:

• You want long, unhurried time at each stop
• You strongly prefer slow travel with frequent walking time
• You are sensitive to bus transport time and tight stop windows

If you’re traveling with kids, it can work, but the day is fast and the stops are short. For older adults, it can work too, but be mindful of bus entry and exit steps and bring a flexible mindset if weather makes stops less accessible.

Should you book Go West with Planet Madeira?

Yes, if you want a smart way to see Madeira’s west and north in one go. This tour’s strongest advantage is simple: you get a lot of iconic variety, including Cabo Girão’s dramatic height, Porto Moniz’s natural pools area (when open), and São Vicente’s cave setting, all with free admission at the stops.

I would book it if you are okay with a tight schedule and you’ll treat each stop as a taste, not a full-day event. Bring a rain layer just in case, and keep your expectations realistic for how weather can affect the pools.

If, instead, you want deep time in one area, or you hate van time, you might be happier with a slower, more focused plan. But for most visitors who land in Funchal and want the “greatest hits” route, this one is a solid pick.

FAQ

What time does the Go West tour start?

The tour starts at 9:00 am.

How long is the Go West tour?

The duration is about 8 hours.

Where can I get picked up for this tour?

Free pick-up is offered from Funchal city, Caniço city, Santa Cruz city, and Câmara de Lobos city.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes, the tour is offered in English.

How many people are in a group?

The maximum group size is 15 travelers.

Are the stop admissions included or free?

Admission tickets for the listed stops are free.

What if the weather is rough?

On rough-sea days, Porto Moniz natural pools may be closed, but the day can still be worthwhile. Your guide may adjust the plan to keep the tour going in difficult weather.

How flexible is cancellation?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.