Madeira East Express: The Dragon Ridge

Discover Madeira’s wild East on a private half‑day tour with Ross. Explore dramatic cliffs, charming villages, and the iconic Ponta de São Lourenço in our exclusive Suzuki Vitara.

View from Pico do Facho at around 517 m showing Machico Bay, the airport runway, the ocean, and the surrounding mountains under a clear sky

Panoramic view from Ponta do Rosto showing the dry volcanic peninsula in the foreground and the lush green island stretching west under a clear sky

Silver hybrid Vitara centered with São Vicente mountains in the background under soft afternoon light

Two customers posing for a photo on the Santa Cruz promenade at Porto de Recreio, with the ocean and a clear blue sky in the background

View from Portela showing the green mountains and deep valley of Porto da Cruz under a clear sky

Ponta do Rosto viewpoint on the East Side Express in late summer with calm afternoon light, blue sky, and dry rocky colours with no green vegetation

Barrels and old sugar‑cane machinery inside Engenhos do Norte during the East Side Express tour

Afternoon view of Machico Bay from the viewpoint near the airport runway, with warm light coming from the airport side, calm ocean, pebbles, sand beach, and the village around the bay

Afternoon view over Faial from the O Guindaste area, showing the beach below, the church on the hill, and the mountains rising in the background under clear light

Statue of Tristão Vaz Teixeira in Machico with sunshine, church in the background, and large trees of the main square

Sunny day at Machico’s sand beach with light African dust in the air, calm blue ocean, scattered clouds, and the mountain near the airport in the background

Red Vitara Cabriolet on the small pier ramp in Caniçal with a fisherman boat behind it, blue sky, and the kiosk O Balieiro visible in the background

Two men pointing toward the mountains of Porto da Cruz from Ponta de São Lourenço with calm ocean, blue summer sky, and clouds over the north

Columns supporting Madeira Airport seen from the pebble area below, with ocean light and the runway structure above

Wide‑angle view of Engenhos do Norte with the full factory building, chimney, blue sky, and the red Vitara parked sideways in front of the main door

View of Machico Bay from the opposite side of Pico do Facho on a sunny day with clear sky and the full curve of the bay visible

Red Suzuki Vitara cabriolet photographed sideways on the unpaved ground of Ponta de São Lourenço with dry land colours, blue sky, sunlight, and soft clouds

View from the pebble beach in Santa Cruz on a sunny day with the farmers market, calm ocean, airport in the distance, and a thin line of clouds approaching the runway

DESCRIPTION

Madeira East Express: The Dragon Ridge

Begin in Santa Cruz, strolling along the promenade beside the pebble beach, visiting the municipal garden and the 1507 church, or enjoying a fresh pastry at a local bakery.

Continue to Machico, Madeira’s oldest town, with optional stops in the charming centre, the golden‑sand beach, or its historical monuments.

Ascend to Pico do Facho at ~570 m, one of the island’s most scenic viewpoints, ideal for contemplating Madeira’s “dragon tail” coastline or watching aircraft land at the airport.

Visit Ponta do Rosto on the extreme east side, where African winds shape the landscape into a desert‑like environment and reveal striking views over Ponta de São Lourenço.

Traverse the island to the north and climb through the Laurissilva Forest to reach Miradouro da Portela, with lush‑green scenery over Madeira’s north coast.

Finish at Quinta da Junta Garden in Santo da Serra, a local favourite where exotic plants, resident birds, and a hidden viewpoint create a peaceful end to the journey.