North Tour & Wine Tasting – 4×4 (Small Groups)

This is the kind of Madeira day that feels made for the island’s rugged north coast. A 4×4 gets you into tight roads and viewpoints, and the small-group size keeps it personal instead of rushed.

Two big wins for me: the steam-engine mill stop, plus the chance to taste local drinks there, and the Madeira wine tasting portion where guides often explain what you are actually tasting, not just pour and walk away. If you get guides like Hugo, Felipe, Lewis, Antônio King, or Gil Sousa, the day tends to flow with humor and practical context.

One heads-up: the pace is “see a lot, move often.” Lunch and drinks are not included, and poncha at the first mill is specifically not included in the price.

Key things to know before you go

• Max 6 travelers in a 4×4 so you get more conversation time, not just headcounts.
• Old mill visits with included fees so you are not worrying about ticket lines during the day.
• Engenhos do Norte includes the steam-engine highlight plus possible poncha and rum tastings.
• Cabanas Mirador for the north-coast sweep and a quick chance to chat with a local fruit seller.
• Arco de Sao Jorge is your real break with lunch at a local restaurant plus a short post-meal walk.
• Wine tasting usually covers multiple Madeira styles (whites, rose, and reds) with guidance on what makes them different.

How to Ride the Day: meeting point, timing, and what to pack

You start at R. Dom Carlos I 10 in Funchal, with pickup offered, and the tour returns you back to that same meeting point. The start time is 9:00 am, and the day runs about 8 hours 30 minutes.

Dress for comfort and for changing conditions. You are told to wear sporty, comfortable clothing, and to bring warm layers plus sunscreen. Even in good weather, Madeira’s north can feel cooler and breezier once you get off the southern coast.

Porto da Cruz Sugar Mill: century-old milling and poncha on the side

Your first real stop is Porto da Cruz, where you visit a mill dating from the beginning of the century. You get about 30 minutes here, and the admission ticket is free, so you mainly pay your attention and time, not entry fees.

This is also where the day introduces you to one of Madeira’s easiest flavors: poncha. The key detail is simple, poncha here is not included in the tour price, so treat it as an extra if you want it.

Practical tip: use this stop to orient your senses. Madeira’s production history is everywhere on this route, and once you see the milling setup, the later “how it all used to work” explanations land better.

Santa Cruz in 25 minutes: church, market, and everyday Madeira

Next is Santa Cruz, with a shorter rhythm: about 25 minutes total. You will visit a church, then have time for the local market and a bit of city wandering.

This stop is less about a single headline attraction and more about atmosphere. It is a useful contrast to the production-focused mill visits, because it shows you how the island’s daily life looks when you are not just driving to viewpoints.

Engenhos do Norte: the included steam-engine experience (plus rum and poncha)

Engenhos do Norte is the big technical highlight. You get roughly 25 minutes, and this time the admission ticket is included.

This is where you can see the oldest steam engine in Europe, tied to the story of how sugar and other production moved from small-scale work to industrial systems. The mill visit matters because it turns Madeira from postcard scenery into a place with serious engineering heritage.

You may also be offered local tastings here. The info says poncha tasting is possible, and rum tasting is possible too. If you like food and drink as part of the history, this is the stop where the day feels most “Madeira,” not just scenic.

Porto da Cruz, back again: a second quick look at the coast town

After Engenhos do Norte, you return to Porto da Cruz for another visit, about 20 minutes, with free admission. This second pass usually works well because it lets you see the same area with different timing, light, and context.

Use it for practical things like getting your photos without feeling like you are racing the clock. It also helps you connect the dots between what you saw at the mill and how the town sits along the water.

Santana thatched houses, Ilha, and short roadside pauses

As you continue north, you get a classic Madeira village taste at Santana. You can visit typical local houses with thatched roofs, and the key detail is that they are still inhabited. You get around 15 minutes here, with free admission.

Then there are quick transition stops, including a short stop at Ilha (about 10 minutes) and additional crossing-point pauses along the route. These are not long enough for deep exploration, but they help you keep moving across the island’s north without losing the thread of the day.

If you like photos and “glimpse moments,” this part of the route is where you get a lot of variety without committing to a long hike.

Cabanas Mirador: the north-coast view stop with local fruit

Cabanas is a brief but memorable break, about 10 minutes. You are heading to a Mirador with fantastic views of the entire north coast, which is exactly the kind of pause that makes a 4×4 day worth it.

You will often see a local fruit producer and seller here, so you can grab something seasonal and talk with someone who actually lives off this land. That quick human moment is the difference between a tourist viewpoint and a working place.

Arco de Sao Jorge lunch: where the day slows down

Now for the meal. Arco de Sao Jorge is where you have about 1 hour 30 minutes, and this is your main lunch break. The plan is lunch at the only local restaurant in the area, and the food is described as homemade and typical.

Drinks are not included in the tour price. In one example, lunch was about 17 EUR, and it was considered worth the money. Your final bill will depend on what you order, but budgeting a bit extra for drinks is smart.

After lunch, you get a short walk, about 15 minutes, which is a nice way to stretch after sitting in the jeep. It also helps you work off the first wave of sugar and wine tastings, if you have been indulging.

Ponta Delgada and Sao Vicente: sea church, then a northern town center

After the north-coast lunch stop, you continue with two more smaller hits.

Ponta Delgada is about 15 minutes, with a seaside stop and a visit to the parish church. It is a good place to cool down visually, especially if the earlier miles felt intense.

Then comes Sao Vicente, about 20 minutes in the center of town. You will visit one of the northern capitals. Even if you do not go deep into museums or long walks, this stop gives you a sense of the north’s town rhythm, not just its viewpoints.

Madeira wine tasting: what you are likely to pour and why it matters

Even though the day includes mills and village stops, the wine tasting is the “grown-up” punctuation mark at the end of the story.

The tasting is described as good, and one wine stop example included explanations of how vines are positioned and why those choices affect the wine. You may taste multiple Madeira styles, and one described set included six different types: three whites, a rose, and two reds.

This is where a good guide makes a difference. If you get someone like Rebecca for the tasting portion, the experience tends to feel structured, with clear descriptions of each wine before you take sips.

Practical tip: pace yourself. Madeira wines can have a lot of flavor, and the day still has driving and viewpoints after. If you want to remember everything, plan to sip slowly rather than treat it like a quick bar stop.

Small-group 4×4 logistics: how the route changes your day

This tour is built around a small group, up to 6 travelers, and that choice is not just marketing. It matters on Madeira’s north coast, where roads can get narrow and steep, and where a rental car can feel like work.

With a 4×4 and a driver who knows the route, you are more likely to hit off-the-beaten-track roads and arrive at viewpoints without white-knuckling the steering wheel. That also means you spend more time looking outward, less time wondering how to get there.

And yes, the vibe often includes humor. Guides like Felipe have been described as great at mixing viewpoints with entertaining commentary, and Lewis has a reputation for joking around while keeping information flowing.

Price and value: what you get for $88.72

At $88.72 per person for about 8.5 hours, the value comes from three things:

First, you get a true 4×4 experience, not just a scenic bus ride. Second, you are paying for included sites and included fees and taxes across key stops. Third, you get both local food and drink context, plus a wine tasting component.

What is extra is also clear. Lunch is not included, drinks are not included, and poncha at the first mill stop is not included in the price. So if you want to keep costs predictable, set aside a realistic amount for lunch and drinks, then decide on poncha separately.

Who should book this tour

You should book if you want a full north-coast day with variety: production history, village culture, viewpoints, and wine. It is also a good fit if you want a more interactive guide experience, since the small-group setup helps conversation.

It is also a decent choice for most travelers, since the tour notes that most people can participate. Just be honest with yourself about one thing: this is a long day with multiple short stops, so you want to be okay with sitting, getting out, and moving again.

Should you book this North Tour and Wine Tasting 4×4?

Yes, if you want Madeira’s north coast in one day and you care about more than scenery. This is one of the better formats for connecting the island’s mills, villages, and wine, without turning your schedule into a series of separate tickets and taxi rides.

Hold off if you are the type who hates short stops and prefers to linger for hours in one place. Also, if wine tasting and tastings are not your thing, you might find the day’s value drops since lunch and drinks add to the total spend.

If your timing allows, aim for good weather. The experience requires good weather, and on the north coast, conditions change the payoff quickly.

FAQ

What is the duration of the North Tour & Wine Tasting 4×4?

The tour lasts about 8 hours 30 minutes.

Is pickup available, and where do we meet?

Pickup is offered. The meeting point is R. Dom Carlos I 10, 9060 Funchal, Portugal, and the tour ends back at the meeting point.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 6 travelers.

What is included in the price?

Included are visits to the sugar cane mill in Porto da Cruz and the water mill, a visit to the typical Santana house that is still inhabited, and all fees and taxes.

What is not included?

Lunch can be booked on the day by the guide, but it is not included in the price. Drinks are also not included. Poncha at the first stop is not included in the price.

Is wine tasting part of the tour?

Yes. The tour is described as North Tour & Wine Tasting, and the day also includes tastings where poncha and rum are possible at Engenhos do Norte.