Set off on a 4x4 tour that takes you into the local community and helps Madeira keep its famed greenery for the next generation. Your action-packed day takes in gems like the village of Santana, the majestic peak of Pico do Areeiro and Funchal Ecological Park – an emblem of the country's commitment to sustainability. What's more, you'll do it all with the help of a local expert. Rúben, one of our guides, says “One of my favourite things about this route is how quickly Madeira changes. You can leave the green, misty mountains and, not long afterwards, find yourself somewhere dry and windswept. It feels like two different islands in one day.”
You'll be welcomed by cooler air and wide-open spaces at your first stop, Funchal Ecological Park. If you visit between October and April, you'll get hands-on with a native tree-planting activity to directly support a reforestation project. While if you visit from April to September, you'll learn about the indigenous fauna and flora of Madeira at the park's visitor centre. Next up is one of Madeira's best-loved features, Pico do Areeiro. You'll ascend the island's third-highest peak for views over the Atlantic – and if the weather's playing along, you'll sometimes be above the clouds, giving it an otherworldly feel.
Turn up the off-road adrenaline as you head north on trails through the Santana Mountains. It's a route packed with lush forest, deep valleys and mist-covered slopes. You'll pop out of the trails at the mountain town of Santana to see its iconic steep-roofed, straw-thatched homes – they're an important part of the town's cultural history, and some of them have stood for over 250 years. After a well-deserved lunch break in a typical local restaurant, you'll round off the trip with stops at two spots that serve up pinch-me views. First is Miradouro do Cortado, with views from the mountains over the north coast. The final stop on your adventure is Ponta de São Lourenço, a rugged peninsula known for being the lowest, driest and windiest part of the island. But in return for being buffeted, you'll get wow-worthy views over both north and south coasts. It's the kind of day that lets you see Madeira at its wildest while playing a small part in keeping it that way.
