The most popular tour options in Funchal:
- Overseeing bus tours of Funchal's neighborhoods with a guide. Most itineraries include visits to picturesque villages near the city, such as the Valley of the Nuns, Cape Cabo Girao, the town of Ribeira Brava, the Pol da Sera plateau, the summit of Bica da Cana, Cape Pargo (Madeira's westernmost point), the fishing villages of Jardim do Mar and Pol do Mar and numerous ancient tunnels.
- Sailboat excursions to the protected islands, during which you may encounter a couple of dolphins, seals, turtles and, if you're lucky, even whales. Some excursions include fishing.
- Overseeing tours in the mountain ranges of Madeira with a visit to the main pass of the island of Encumeada, climbing the mountain plateau Pol da Sera (about 1500 meters above sea level), walking through relic forests and juniper groves.
- Walking tours of the city. Most of them start from the observation deck above the city. The first tour takes place at 9:30, the last at 17:00.
- Walking through the levadas, man-made water channels designed to carry excess rainwater into the interior farming fields that stretch across the island. Construction of the canals dates back to the Middle Ages. Today they are public property, and tourists regularly walk along them. If you are traveling with children, the best places to visit are the Calderão Verde (13 km), Ribeiro Frio - Portela (11 km), Balcois (3 km), Risco and the 25 Fountains.
Average cost of city tours - 50-65 EUR, sightseeing tours around the island - from 200-300 EUR for a group of 8-10 people.
Mountaineering and mountaineering are among the most popular themed excursions in Funchal. Cycling is not popular as the city is located on steep mountain slopes.
