High clouds and quick stops, serious views. This 4WD tour strings together four standout lookouts with a local guide, so you get big-picture context without spending the whole day driving.

I love how the route is paced for short attention spans: you hit viewpoints that build on each other, from Funchal out to the high country. I also love the sharp contrast between the sheltered valley of Curral das Freiras and the altitude drama at Pico do Arieiro.

One consideration: the first viewpoint stop requires an admission ticket you’ll need to pay yourself, and pickups outside the free zones can add cost.

Key Highlights You’ll Actually Feel During the Tour

• A fast route with real variety: viewpoint over Funchal, then a deep valley parish, then a reforestation area, then the island’s cloud-level peak
• Curral das Freiras in a natural amphitheater: steep slopes ring the parish, with farming tied to cherries and chestnuts
• Montado do Paredão reforestation context: you’ll pause in an area that’s been actively replanted and restored
• Pico do Arieiro at 1,818 m: on clear days, you can look down on clouds and even see Porto Santo about 30 miles away
• Small-group feel: maximum of 24 travelers, plus a guide who helps you make sense of what you’re seeing
• English-speaking tour with a mobile ticket, and an easy return to the meeting point

What You’re Really Doing on This 4WD Tour

This is a short, scenic 3.5-hour Madeira circuit built around viewpoints rather than long walks. The 4WD part matters because the island’s roads climb and curve fast, and the vehicle gets you up to the high places without you doing the whole ascent on foot.

What you’re paying for isn’t just transportation. You’re buying a guided sequence that moves from sea-level perspectives to valley agriculture to cloud-skirting heights. That “layering” is exactly what makes the tour feel more rewarding than grabbing a single viewpoint on your own.

The tour is offered in English, includes a local guide, and stays small (up to 24 people). It also uses a mobile ticket, which usually means less messing around with printed paperwork.

Meeting at Funchal and Getting Rolling Smoothly

The meeting point is the Estátua de Cristiano Ronaldo at Av. Sá Carneiro 27, São Martinho, Funchal. The tour ends back at that same meeting point, so you’re not left figuring out transport for your next step.

If you want pickup, the operator confirms your exact pickup time after booking. Pickup is free for Funchal and Caniço, which is great if you’re staying near the main hotel zone. If you’re outside that area, there are set per-person pickup fees listed by location, so it’s worth checking where you’re staying early—those add-ons can matter.

Because confirmation and pickup time are handled directly, this kind of tour works well when you’re trying to fit Madeira highlights into a tight schedule.

Stop 1: Miradouro Pico Dos Barcelos Above Funchal

Your first major pause is at Miradouro Pico Dos Barcelos, about 355 meters above sea level. This is a viewpoint built for orientation: you look out over Funchal bay and the city area, with the Desertas Islands as a distant backdrop.

You’ll be here for about 10 minutes, which sounds brief until you realize that this stop is mainly about setting your bearings. From here, the rest of the tour makes more sense, because you can mentally map where the valley and high peaks sit relative to the coast.

One important detail: admission at this stop is not included. Plan to buy that ticket at the viewpoint, so your budget isn’t surprised. Also, with only a short time window, come ready to move quickly from the vehicle to the viewpoint and back.

Stop 2: Curral das Freiras Valley and Its Cherry-Chestnut Farming

Next comes Curral das Freiras, one of Madeira’s most compelling “land-in-a-bowl” landscapes. This parish sits in a deep valley, surrounded by steep mountain slopes, about 29 kilometers from Câmara de Lobos. The buildings look over the valley, so the whole place has a strong sense of enclosure.

You’ll spend about 15 minutes here, and admission is free. That extra time compared with the first viewpoint helps you slow down enough to notice the human side of the scenery: this is not just scenery for photos. It’s a working landscape, with steep hillsides used for cherries and chestnut trees.

Here’s what I like about this stop from a value perspective: it gives your eyes a break from open ocean views, and it brings in local land use. Even if you can’t read every detail, the guide can help connect the geography—valley shelter, slope farming, and why this area developed the way it did.

The drawback is also simple: because it’s a valley parish, it may feel more atmospheric than dramatic depending on weather. If clouds roll in, you may lose distant views, but you’ll still get the valley feeling and the farming context.

Stop 3: Miradouros Do Paredão in Montado do Paredão

After Curral das Freiras, you’ll stop at Miradouros Do Paredao in the parish of Curral das Freiras, within Montado do Paredão. This is an area that has seen intensive reforestation work, which adds a different kind of meaning to your pause.

You’ll be here for about 10 minutes, and admission is free. Instead of focusing on agriculture like the previous stop, this one adds the angle of land management—how parts of Madeira are being actively restored.

This is the kind of stop that can be easy to skip if you’re chasing only the biggest photo peaks. But in a short tour, it’s a smart inclusion because it shows Madeira isn’t frozen in time. The island is being shaped by what people plant, restore, and maintain.

If the weather is mixed, this stop can also be a good “in-between” break: you’re not stuck at the topmost altitude yet, but you’re still moving through the high terrain that makes the island special.

Stop 4: Pico do Arieiro, Clouds at 1,818 m

Then you reach the height of the day: Pico do Arieiro at 1,818 meters (5,965 ft), Madeira’s third-highest peak. Most days, conditions allow you to stand and look down on the clouds—the view isn’t just far away; it can feel like you’re viewing the world from inside the weather system.

You’ll spend about 10 minutes here, and admission is free. The description of the peak is clear: air is fresh and clear, and the sun can be very bright. On a clear day, you can sometimes see Porto Santo, roughly 30 miles northeast.

From a practical standpoint, this stop is all about making good use of limited time. Don’t treat it like a long hike break. Be ready to step into the viewing zone quickly and enjoy the changes in light as clouds drift.

If you’re traveling during a cloudy spell, manage expectations. You might still enjoy the crisp air and the dramatic clouds around you, but the Porto Santo view likely depends on clear visibility.

Why the Local Guide Changes the Value

This tour includes a local guide, and that matters on Madeira. Viewpoints are easy to photograph, but they’re harder to truly understand without help—especially when you bounce from sea horizon to valley farms to cloud-level heights.

A good guide helps you read what’s in front of you:

• why Curral das Freiras sits the way it does in its valley
• how steep slopes influence what gets planted
• why reforestation areas show up along certain routes
• what Pico do Arieiro offers when the island is clear enough to reveal the next island

One of the most praised elements in people’s experiences is the guide quality and the overall smooth, friendly feel of the day. Another strong point: when schedules need adjusting, the operator has shown an ability to handle an alternate date in an uncomplicated way.

That kind of reliability matters more than you’d think. When you’re traveling on a fixed timetable, being able to keep the day moving counts.

Price and Logistics: Where the Real Costs Can Hide

The base price is $52.42 per person, and the tour duration is about 3 hours 30 minutes. For that, you’re getting a local guide, a mobile ticket, a small-group setup (up to 24 people), and access to the main sequence of viewpoints where admission is free at three of the four stops.

Two cost caveats to plan for:

1) Fuel surcharge is not included.

The listing states it as an extra cost item, so your final total may depend on what’s added at checkout.

2) Pickup fees and first stop admission may cost extra.

• Free pickup is offered for Funchal and Caniço.
• There are additional fees for other areas (listed per person). For example, €5.00 applies to places like Machico, Santa Cruz, Estreito Camara de Lobos, Jardim da Serra, Ponta do Sol, Calheta, and also the cruise dock/harbour area.
• Higher pickup fees apply further out (with €10.00, €15.00, and €20.00 tiers depending on the destination).

Finally, admission at Miradouro Pico Dos Barcelos is not included. So even if pickup is free where you stay, you’ll still want that small buffer for the entrance ticket at the first viewpoint.

Quick value check

This tour usually makes sense when:

• you’re short on time
• you want guided context, not just a driver
• you’re okay with short stops (about 10–15 minutes each)
• you’re fine paying a little extra for the first viewpoint ticket and pickup if you’re outside the free zones

Weather Reality: How to Choose the Best Day for Views

This is Madeira, so weather can change fast. The tour includes a viewpoint where the key payoff is cloud visibility and clarity: Pico do Arieiro. The description is straightforward—on most days you can look down on clouds, and on clear days you may see Porto Santo.

So if you have flexibility, you’ll usually get the best results on a day when conditions look promising for visibility. Even if clouds move in, the cloud layers themselves can still make Pico do Arieiro memorable. But don’t count on the Porto Santo view on a day with limited sightlines.

For sun brightness, the peak warning is practical: the sun can be very bright up high. Plan to protect yourself accordingly (sunglasses and sunscreen help with that).

Who This 4WD Tour Suits Best (And Who Might Prefer Something Else)

This fits you if you want:

• a guided highlight route in a half-day timeframe
• a mix of coastal orientation, valley culture, reforestation context, and high-altitude views
• a small group size with English-speaking guidance
• a day plan that’s mostly stops and viewpoints, not extended walking

It may not be your best match if:

• you want long, slow exploration at each location
• you prefer a tour where all entry costs are bundled with no add-ons
• you hate the idea of short windows where you need to move quickly to catch the best light

Final Call: Should You Book the Curral das Freiras & Peaks 4WD Tour?

I’d book this tour when you want the Madeira “greatest hits” feel without planning a whole day of hopping between viewpoints on your own. The combination of Curral das Freiras valley geography and the big vertical payoff at Pico do Arieiro makes the schedule feel tight in a good way—no wasted hours.

Just do the budget math before you commit:

• check whether your pickup is in the free Funchal/Caniço zone
• remember the Pico dos Barcelos admission isn’t included
• factor in the note about a fuel surcharge

If you’re traveling with a limited schedule and you like getting your bearings fast, this Green Devil Safari 4WD tour is a strong, efficient way to see why Madeira gets its reputation.

FAQ

How long is the Curral das Freiras & Peaks 4WD Tour?

It runs for approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.

Is pickup included, and are there extra fees?

Pickup is offered, with free pickup for Funchal and Caniço. Other areas have extra per-person fees (such as €5.00, €10.00, €15.00, or €20.00 depending on the location). Exact pickup time is confirmed after booking.

What viewpoints are included in the tour?

You’ll visit Miradouro Pico Dos Barcelos, Curral das Freiras, Miradouros Do Paredao, and Pico do Arieiro.

Are entrance tickets included for all stops?

Not all stops are free. Pico dos Barcelos admission is not included. Curral das Freiras, Miradouros Do Paredao, and Pico do Arieiro are listed as free.

What’s included in the price?

A local guide is included, and you receive a mobile ticket. Fuel surcharge and certain pickup fees and admissions are not included.

What’s the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.