Madeira Island Private Wine Full-day Tour in all terrain vehicle
Description
I am one of the lucky ones doing what I love for a living, and you will feel that passion in every moment of our tour. Over the years, I have been discovering this island — its hidden corners, people, stories, and history — which we’ll enjoy between stops. Wine is just the cherry on top as we visit regions across north and south Madeira. This is not a typical crowded wine tour. We avoid the busiest times and areas, and between tastings, there are many surprises. Some stops may be shortened, extended, or replaced if you’ve already visited them. Pickup times are flexible, arranged with the guide. Important: The tour runs Tuesday to Friday; on Mondays, weekends, and public holidays, some vineyards and cellars are closed.
Tour Options
Itinerary
When the weather allows, in this place we can admire both north and south views from a 1000 meter high sightseeing point
This tour will take you to Madeira's most beautiful vineyards in São Vicente, Northwest of Madeira. Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes where cliffs, mountains, forest, and cultivated terraces melt harmoniously. This is a perfect symbiosis between culture and nature. Regardless of the amazing scenery, we will visit producers on the south and north side of the island and try the most relevant types of wine. From the worldwide famous fortified Madeira Wine to table wines and homemade using traditional grape varietals and processes. For lunch break, we can have a snack or a typical meal in a non-touristy restaurant. Because these are unique tours, customized to each guest, other stops and options with more surprises will be suggested to add to your tour. Please bring a fully charged camera, the diversity in terms of the landscape it's simply mindblowing, and with a panoramic roof, anytime can be a photo time.
São Vicente, on Madeira’s north coast, is a place of dramatic beauty. Towering cliffs plunge into the Atlantic, while green terraces and vineyards climb the hillsides, creating a striking contrast between land and sea. This unique landscape not only offers breathtaking views but also reflects centuries of tradition, where locals shaped the steep slopes to grow vines and sustain their way of life.
Upon request, we visit a stunning glass-bottom platform, set 600 meters above sea level, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the dramatic coastline.
Estreito de Câmara de Lobos is surrounded by terraced vineyards that produce some of Madeira’s finest wines. The old scenic road winds through the hillsides, offering breathtaking views over the valley and down to the ocean. Driving here feels like stepping back in time, where tradition and landscape blend into an unforgettable experience.
We will visit a cellar where we can learn about the aging process of the Madeira Fortified Wines and taste at least 6 Madeira wines
Câmara de Lobos is a colorful fishing town that inspired Winston Churchill to paint its charming bay. Whitewashed houses, boats painted in bright colors, and steep terraced vineyards surround the village, while dramatic cliffs rise above the Atlantic.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
These are private tours with a single pick-up stop, and the adventure begins as soon as we meet. Important: pick-ups outside Funchal, Santa Cruz, and Câmara de Lobos incur a small additional fee. I drive a car branded with the Go Local Madeira logo and usually pick up guests at their door. For on-shore tours, I’ll meet you at the cruise ship dock and provide clear, easy-to-follow instructions to ensure a smooth and stress-free meeting. I have two fully restored all-terrain vehicles for your comfort and safety: Nissan Patrol (1993) – 5 seats: 1 facing forward, 4 in the back facing sideways (60 cm / 23 inches each), with a panoramic/convertible roof for amazing views. Land Rover Discovery TDI (1996) – 4 seats facing forward, perfect for a comfortable ride. Vehicles are assigned depending on availability, maintenance, or weather conditions, with prior notice given to guests.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(50)
The tour was very flexible and tailored to exactly what I enjoyed seeing.
Our wine tour with Val in Madeira during our honeymoon was a highlight of our trip. He took us to two wineries, one for table wines and one for fortified wines, and made the whole day feel relaxed and easy. He’s from Madeira and knows the island really well, from its history and agriculture to the smaller villages around it. He answered all our questions and shared a lot of interesting context along the way. We also drove through a few villages on the north side of the island, which we really enjoyed seeing. He even offered to take us hiking the next day on his day off, which was incredibly kind. Pickup and drop off at our hotel made everything seamless, and we’d definitely recommend him. Will absolutely be reaching out again when we’re back. Thanks, Val!
What a great experience. Madeira is an attractive and rugged place. Definitely a place to visit. And if you do visit, Val is definitely the guide you want to book to explore the place and book this tour if you are into wine, especially Madeira. We got to try table wines and, what the island is famous for, Madeira. Val knows his wines and as well as the history of Madeira, he is a native after all. What was also great was lunch, Val took us to a place that does not get any of the bus loads of tourists from a cruise.. Can't recommend this tour enough! Good value as well.
Vald was great. Just my wife and me. Opened our eyes to all that Madeira has to offer explorers, and has made us consider coming back for another visit. Learned so much about Madeira, tasted some wonderful wines, had a very nice lunch, and saw much beauty. No question went unanswered. Helped us plan the rest of our Madeira week. Highly recommended, worth every Euro.
Our private winery and island tour in Madeira with Val was hands down the BEST private tour we have ever done! it’s going to be very hard for anything to top it. From the moment he picked us up in his vintage Rover, we knew the day was going to be special. Val took us all across the island, weaving through stunning landscapes and bringing us to so many off-the-beaten-path places we never would have discovered on our own. What made it even more meaningful was that he is a *true local—born and raised in Madeira*—and his passion for the island shines through in every story he shares. The depth of history and personal insight he provided made us feel like we were experiencing Madeira through the eyes of a friend, not just a guide. His knowledge of Madeira wine was absolutely incredible. Visiting multiple wineries with him elevated the entire experience—he explained the wines, terroir, and production in such an approachable and fascinating way that we walked away with a completely new appreciation for Madeira wines. It felt intimate and personalized, not like a typical tasting. One of our favorite parts of the day was sharing a meal with him at a local restaurant—it added such an authentic and relaxed feel to the experience. He truly customized the entire day around what we wanted most, including taking us to see a beautiful levada and giving us thoughtful recommendations on the best ones to hike (which was one of our main reasons for visiting Madeira). By the end of the day, it genuinely felt like we had made a new friend. Val went above and beyond in every way, and his passion, knowledge, and kindness made this an unforgettable experience. If you’re visiting Madeira, this is an absolute must. We will 100% be booking with him again the next time we return!
It was an absolutely fantastic day. Valdemar is a great guide, his love of his homeland and above all his profound knowledge of wine growing makes this tour really a special experience, thank you
We had an incredible two days exploring Madeira with Val. He’s not only extremely knowledgeable about the island but also passionate about sharing its history. He tailors each trip to your interests and needs. Since it was our first time in Madeira, Val made sure we experienced as much as possible taking us off the beaten path to places most tourists never get to see. One of the highlights was standing 6,000ft up, looking down at the clouds. We had a great experience trying local wines and food while taking in breathtaking views. I wanted to bring some local produce home, and Val went out of his way to make sure I found what I was looking for. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide thank you!
Val has more knowledge of the history, culture, and character of Madeira than he could fit into 8 hours. We fully enjoyed every minute and feel like we’ve made a new friend.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m happy you enjoyed the day and felt at home on Madeira. It was a pleasure to share stories and make new friends like you! Warm regards, Valdemar
We had such a great time with Val on our wine tour that we decided to book him for another full day. The local knowledge he has about the island made our tours very special. Val is now a friend and we can’t wait to visit again!
Thank you so much! I’m really happy you enjoyed the wine tour and the next day as well. It means a lot to me to have made new friends like you. Looking forward to your next visit to Madeira! Warm regards, Valdemar
No words needed! In Madeira's worst weather Val picked us up! We were more than skeptical if this would be a tour as we had imagined it! You should not expect a hop on hop off and immediately star hail! But what you can be sure of! You see extraordinary streets/corners you learn an incredible amount you taste great wines and you eat sooo delicious! You'll find yourself in corners where you would never have ended up in life without native knowledge! It's clear to us! We will book Val again next time! Unforgettable time! 9:00-17:30! Hammmmaaaaaa! Thanks 🙏🏻
Liebe Jessica, vielen Dank für eure tolle Bewertung! Ich freue mich sehr, dass ihr trotz schlechtem Wetter eine unvergessliche Zeit hattet. Es war schön, euch besondere Plätze und leckeren Wein zu zeigen. Ich hoffe, wir sehen uns bald wieder auf Madeira! Viele Grüße, Valdemar
