Top Madeira Archaeology Tours

Funchal can sometimes feel inaccessible to foreign visitors, but exploring the city with a local guide makes all the difference. On this private walking tour, discover Funchal’s most iconic neighborhoods, landmarks, and monuments while gaining valuable insight into local life and culture. The tour focuses on exploring the exterior of key monuments and museums, allowing you to appreciate their history and architecture as you stroll through the city. Before the tour, your guide will contact you to learn about your interests and preferences, ensuring an itinerary that matches what you want to see. If you would like to include a museum visit during the tour, a customized experience can be arranged—just let us know in advance. Ideal for families, solo travelers, and couples, this walking tour offers an authentic way to understand Funchal through the eyes of a knowledgeable local guide.

The Valley of the Nuns (Curral da Freiras) might be one of the coolest places you can visit in all of Portugal—and this tour makes it easy to explore the area. Not only is it a village built on the crater of an extinct volcano, but it was once a place where nuns would hide when pirates attacked the city of Funchal. Plus, during this tour, you’ll stop by the fishing village, Câmara de Lobos, and try a traditional Madeira drink.

The West Coast of Madeira is full of spectacular lookouts, traditional fishing villages, and natural wonders, but it can be hard to get around without your own transport. Maximize your time on this full-day tour from Funchal and take in highlights including Cabo Girão, Ribeira da Janela, Laurissilva forest, and the Porto Moniz natural pools. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Explore the wonders along Madeira’s famed Levada do Caldeirão Verde on this leisurely guided walking tour. Your day begins with a convenient pickup from your central Funchal hotel, then set off on a short 45-minute ride to the starting point. As you stroll the path, your local guide will illuminate the surroundings with informative anecdotes. Admire a tranquil laurel forest, historical local paths, traditional irrigation channels, and sweeping vistas of the island’s north coast.

Slow down and explore the lush heart of Madeira island on this half-day walking tour from Rabaçal to 25 Fountains. Led by a local guide, you’ll learn about Madeira’s levadas (canals), catch stunning views of Rabaçal Valley, wander through a laurel forest, watch for the elusive trocaz pigeon—a bird found only on Madeira—and marvel at the clear, green water of 25 Fountains.

This trail begins in the Machico valley in the southeast part of the island and consists of a flat course of about 6.5 km, with an easy degree of difficulty. Also known as the Vale das Mimosas, you can admire magnificent views of the Machico Valley (where Portuguese navigators landed for the first time) and the Desertas Islands. Along this trail you can observe agricultural fields, where vegetables and fruit are grown by the local population and enjoy some of the exotic flowers along the way.

Madeira Island’s western shores are home to natural sea pools, traditional fishing villages, and more, but reaching the top sites requires local knowledge. On this group tour, travel from your hotel (select areas) via air-conditioned minibus and reach the sites with ease. Hit sites of interest, including Camara de Lobos, Porto Moniz natural pools, and the Ribeira Brava. The tour is available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Rabaçal Valley on an 8-hour hike from Funchal. In a small group limited to 15, you’ll descend from the plateau of Paul da Serra and follow the ‘levada’ trail, an irrigation system developed in the 16th century. Marvel at a lagoon, towering cliff, and 25 natural springs. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Discover the best of Madeira in your very own tuk-tuk during this full-day excursion. Alongside your private guide, create an itinerary that suits your group's interests. Sightsee around Funchal, stop at the fishing village of Camara de Lobos, take in the sights from Cape Girao, stroll through the botanical garden, and more. While you explore, your guide regales you with information about the island and its landmarks.

Ascend to Madeira’s highest peak on an 8-hour walk to Pico Ruivo, from the top of which travelers are rewarded with spectacular panoramas of Madeira. Ideal for visitors with a moderate fitness level, this tour takes you through an ancient heather forest and reveals a plethora of flora and fauna native to the island. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Spend a day exploring the dramatic sea cliffs, islands and traditional villages of Madeira’s east coast on this full-day small-group tour, with a maximum of 8 people. Enjoy magnificent views of Ribeiro Frio, Pico do Arieiro and Laurissilva forest; discover the crafts-making heritage of Camacha village; and snap photos of the thatched triangular houses in Santana village. After a scenic walk along the levadas (canal ways) and a visit to a trout farm, tuck into a delicious 3-course lunch (included) on the island of Grutas do Faial.

History Awaits! An Invitation to Learning: Join a professional historian for an insightful journey where history is shared with clarity, passion, and integrity. Whether you are a dedicated history buff or simply a curious soul, you’ll leave with a profound new appreciation for our island’s capital. Funchal is a living archive, and we invite you to read between its lines. Our tours are designed for those who seek more than just a stroll, they are for curious minds who want to truly connect with the heritage of Madeira. From what was formerly Europe's largest sugar cane mill, to one of the most unique bookstores you will ever find, we journey through the heart of a city that was once the largest Catholic diocese in the world, or the world's smallest chapel. Come discover the West side of the city with us.