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Madeira Jeep Tours

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East vs West Madeira Jeep Tour

The single most-asked question on every Madeira jeep tour Q&A: East route or West route. Both are great. They show you completely different islands. Below is the honest comparison so you pick the one that matches what you actually want to see.

By Rui Pestana, licensed tour guide · Last updated

30-second answer

  • East route: volcanic peaks (Pico do Arieiro 1818m), Santana A-frame houses, Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula, rum distillery. Best for sunrise + culture.
  • West route: Cabo Girão skywalk, Fanal Forest (UNESCO laurels), Porto Moniz lava pools, Seixal black-sand beach. Best for cliffs + forest + photography.
  • If you can only do one: West route wins for first-timers — more variety, more "iconic Madeira" stops in one day.

East route — what you see

  • Pico do Arieiro (1818m): Madeira's third-highest peak. On clear days, panoramic views of the central mountain spine. On cloudy days, you stand above a sea of clouds. Sunrise here is the hero shot.
  • Ribeiro Frio: high-altitude trout farm + laurel-forest mini-walk.
  • Santana: the famous triangular A-frame thatched houses (palheiros). UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Touristy but iconic.
  • Porto da Cruz: rum distillery still using the original 19th-century steam engine. Tasting included on most tours.
  • Ponta de São Lourenço: the eastern peninsula — barren, volcanic, completely different terrain from the rest of Madeira.
  • Machico: Madeira's first capital. Quick stop for coastline views.

Best for: photographers wanting peak shots, history-curious travellers, anyone willing to wake at 4am for sunrise.

West route — what you see

  • Cabo Girão skywalk: Europe's highest sea cliff (580m) with a glass platform — straight down. €2-3 entry. Iconic Madeira shot.
  • Câmara de Lobos: picturesque fishing village painted by Churchill. Lunch stop on many tours.
  • Paul da Serra plateau: wind-swept moorland at 1400m. Feels like Iceland.
  • Fanal Forest: 1,000-year-old laurissilva trees. UNESCO World Heritage. In mist (winter mornings) it's otherworldly.
  • Porto Moniz volcanic pools: swim in lava-formed pools on the north coast. €3 entry.
  • Seixal black-sand beach: "Hawaii of Madeira" — volcanic black sand under green cliffs.

Best for: first-time visitors wanting variety, photographers wanting Fanal mist, families with swimming kids.

Decision tree

  • Want sunrise above clouds? → East (Pico do Arieiro)
  • Want misty laurel forest photography? → West (Fanal)
  • Want to swim in lava pools? → West (Porto Moniz)
  • Want UNESCO traditional houses? → East (Santana)
  • Want Europe's highest cliff + skywalk? → West (Cabo Girão)
  • Want rum + local food? → East (Porto da Cruz distillery)
  • Travelling in winter? → West (Fanal mist is at its best). East Pico do Arieiro can be closed for ice.
  • Cruise port-day with limited time? → Half-day West (Cabo Girão + Câmara de Lobos closer to Funchal).

Doing both?

If you have 3+ days and you're keen on the island, consider doing both routes on consecutive days. Most operators offer a discount for consecutive-day bookings (~10-15% off the second tour). The Central / Southwest route (Curral das Freiras) makes a half-day add-on between them.

Pick + book