From rugged coastline to fairytale houses, this full day excursion of eastern Madeira is a showcase of everything that makes the island so special. You'll discover the historic towns of Machico and Santana as well as the natural gems of Ponta da Rosto and Pico do Areiro. There's also a levada walk and traditional lunch to look forward to. Gonçalo, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Machico is the spot where the first Portuguese explorers landed six centuries ago – it was Madeira's first capital from 1440 to 1496. It's the gateway to Ponta de São Lourenço, a rocky peninsula at the easternmost point of Madeira.'
From here, we'll make our way to the lookout points of Ponta do Rosto and Portela. It's then time for an authentic, freshly prepared lunch in a local family-run restaurant in Santana – a town famed for its triangular homes, which look like gingerbread houses. Gonçalo says, ‘These homes are unique to Santana. They're made of stone with thatched roofs – which are replaced every three years – that reach almost to the ground. Mostly built in the 16th century, attics were used to store seeds.'
The great outdoors take centre stage in the afternoon, with a trip to Ribeiro Frio Natural Park. You'll get to walk along a stretch of the Levada dos Balcões – expect great mountain views and lots of water rushing through the irrigation channels alongside the trails. We'll then go to Pico do Arieiro – Madeira's second-highest peak at more than 1,800 metres – for some epic views over the jagged landscape.
