Fanal Pond: Our most recommended tours and activities

Madeira: Western Madeira Guided Trip & Fanal Mystic Forest

1. Madeira: Western Madeira Guided Trip & Fanal Mystic Forest

Discover the most amazing places of Madeira, starting with a visit to the beautiful fishing village of Câmara de Lobos. See the colorful fishing boats of scabbard fish and taste the famous Poncha drink.   Continues to the stunning Cabo Girão Skywalk – a suspended glass platform – and admire breathtaking views of Câmara de Lobos and Funchal (tickets not included). Next comes Ribeira Brava, a charming village, and Fanal, where you can admire the centenary trees of the Laurissilva Forest.   Enjoy the magnificent views of the north coast at Ribeira da Janela. The tour then continues to the biggest stop: Porto Moniz where you can enjoy a lunch break and explore the natural volcanic pools.  After this, the tour will take you to see the harbor of Seixal and its dramatic cliffs from above, and finally, you will end this wonderful tour at a beautiful viewpoint with a waterfall.

From Funchal: Enchanted Terraces and Porto do Moniz 4WD Tour

2. From Funchal: Enchanted Terraces and Porto do Moniz 4WD Tour

Depart from Funchal and travel by 4WD vehicle towards Madeira's northwest coast, passing a stunning green landscape to locations such as Serra de Água. Journey along forgotten and enchanted old roads and get a glimpse into the island's everyday life. Go to Encumeada, where one of the island's famous walking trails leads to Madeira's highest peak. Pass through the laurel forests of Chão dos Louros and marvel at the mountains and valleys from Ginjas and Paul da Serra. Continue to Fanal in the middle of the Laurissilva Forest and then proceed to Porto do Moniz, famous for its natural swimming pools. If weather permits, enjoy the warmth of the sea or continue to Seixal known for its black sand beach. Stop for lunch (optional and not included) in Seixal, before continuing to the coastal town of São Vicente. Make your way back to Funchal at the end of the tour.

Madeira: Private Tour of Fanal Forest

3. Madeira: Private Tour of Fanal Forest

Start with pickup from your hotel and travel along a scenic route through the Fanal Forest of Madeira. We will go to the North West of the Island and stop for a walk through the ancient trees such as the notable centenary Tis Trees (Ocotea foetens). Learn about the fascinating natural history of the area. Discover the Laurissilva Forest, which has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 1999. If we are in rainy season, you can see a crater lake just down the road of the Fanal park.

Madeira: Northwest Full-Day 4x4 Tour

4. Madeira: Northwest Full-Day 4x4 Tour

Discover the northwest of Madeira on a full-day tour. Swim in a natural volcanic pool in Porto Moniz, visit the quaint village of Ginjas, and marvel at the lush nature of the island. Begin your tour with a comfortable pickup at your hotel or guest house in a 4x4 vehicle. Enjoy your ride to Serra d'Água, where you will have the opportunity to learn about the island of Madeira. Continue north to visit the tiny town of Ginjas. Next, go off-road in your 4x4 and head to the top of a mountain to reach Paúl da Serra. Explore the natural beauty of this island, meet the people, and explore the cultures, traditions, and local food and drinks. Stop in Porto Moniz to swim in the natural swimming pools created by cooled volcanic lava. Continue on to Ribeira da Janela to admire its towering rock formation. Marvel at the beautiful beaches of Seixal and the lush forests of São Vicente. Stop at one of the villages to enjoy a short "levada" walk through water and forest before returning to your hotel.

West Madeira: Full-Day 4x4 Excursion

5. West Madeira: Full-Day 4x4 Excursion

Enjoy the unique landscapes of Madeira and explore traditional villages that still retain their historic charm in this full-day adventure. The day begins with hotel pick up before the group heads out to Serra de Agua valley, named for the old water mills that run in the town. Walk through laurel forests in Encumeada and Chão dos Louros and take an easy walk up to see the Levadas, canal systems developed in the 16th century.  From here the journey continues off-road, where your driver will take you to discover amazing landscapes and hidden viewpoints. Cool off with a refreshing swim at the volcanic pools of Porto Moniz or Seixal and try a poncha (a local drink made from brandy cane sugar, honey and lemon juice), before heading back to Funchal for drop-off.

Wild West 4x4 Jeep Tour - SkyWalk - Fanal - Natural Pools

6. Wild West 4x4 Jeep Tour - SkyWalk - Fanal - Natural Pools

In this tour, I'll demonstrate how exquisite the Northwest side of our sweet island is. Going through our local villages, old roads and narrating about old times, you will have a perspective of how our people used to and still live to this day with their culture and traditions. In this journey you will also notice our Centenary trees in Fanal, having stories and memories that no man can tell, where the colour green is always with you. Waterfalls will be something that you see very often along the roads from Porto Moniz to São Vicente, beautiful and natural sights of water falling down throughout the rocks and cliffs. Agua D'alto is one of many waterfalls in the area, where we will make a brief stop to contemplate its simplicity and natural beauty as well as to see the astounding view of São Vicente and Ponta Delgada. In general this will be a tour with a lot of interesting, diverse and unique environments and landscapes. -We will start by leaving Funchal heading to Câmara de Lobos, a beautiful fishing village. -Going through Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão will be the next stop. -Continuing this trip, we will also visit Ponta do Sol (Canhas), where we will start our ascent into the mountains, more specifically the vast Paúl da Serra (Plateau), plus Faial will also be on the way to the magical forest. -Going down the mountains, getting closer to the sea, Ribeira da Janela is going to be the next stop, with an incredible viewpoint. -Then we will proceed to visit Porto Moniz, one of the highlights of the trip, where you will have the opportunity to swim in its famous natural pools. -At this point of the trip we will start our return by passing through Seixal, and São Vicente will be the last stop. -Despite this being the last stop, Rosário, Serra de Água, Campanário and Quinta Grande will be some other places we will go through as we head to Funchal, hence concluding this enchanting experience that you will definitely never forget.

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What people are saying about Fanal Pond

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 1,253 reviews

I fully enjoyed every minute of this tour and got to see so much in a small group of 5. We had a nice lunch (not included in the price but organised by the guide - no obligation). My guide was so welcoming and I loved her energy. I only wished I’d read the description better&taken layers for Fanal but we only had a quick stop there anyway. Maybe not the best weather for sea swimming; the sea was very rough and not so warm but I enjoyed it all the same. We swam in the pools at Seixal (had the option at Porto Moniz but I needed lunch!) and it was very slippery and treacherous getting in and out of the water but once in, it was lovely. Very glad I booked this tour.

Our guide for the trip, Antonio, was absolutely amazing. He seemed to know everything there was to know about the island and its history, and he was always eager to share his knowledge with us. Not only was he knowledgeable, but he was also extremely entertaining, with a great sense of humor and a real passion for what he did. Throughout the trip, Antonio went above and beyond to make sure that we were having a great time.

Diego was a great guide, I really like that the group was small -6 people and everything was very well planned. Great way to see the west side of the island!

Phil's off-road driving was excellent and plenty of time for swimming at Porto Moniz. The tour had a good pace and the right amount of stops.

This tour was very good. I recommend it to Everybody if You want to see main points in West Madeira.