West Side Tour

The west of Madeira is where the island shows its most dramatic side. In a single day you move from sheltered banana terraces on the sunny south coast to raw Atlantic cliffs in the north, then climb into a laurel forest that spends much of the year inside a cloud. Because the drive is done privately, you decide how long to linger at each viewpoint instead of following a coach timetable.

The day usually begins in Câmara de Lobos, the fishing village where the traditional wooden boats are still pulled up onto the pebbles, then continues to Cabo Girão and its glass-floored skywalk suspended high above the sea. From there the route follows the south-west coast through Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol before crossing the mountains to the northern side.

In the north the landscape changes completely. Ribeira da Janela, Porto Moniz and Seixal sit beneath steep green walls, with volcanic rock pools filled directly by the ocean. Along the old coastal stretch towards São Vicente you pass Véu da Noiva, one of the waterfalls that gave this road its reputation. Fanal, at around 1,000 metres, closes the loop with its centuries-old laurel trees standing in open pasture.

This tour suits travellers who want to see the widest possible contrast in one day, photographers chasing light and mist, and families who prefer scenic stops with short easy walks rather than long hikes. Everything is done in a private vehicle with a local driver-guide, so the order of the stops can be reorganised on the day to follow the weather — which on Madeira's west coast makes a real difference.