A 4×4 ride above Funchal feels like a shortcut to real Madeira. You’ll get off-the-tourist-trail driving to village viewpoints, plus a proper look at how locals shop for food at the Santo da Serra farmers market. What I like most is the mix of moving scenery and calm stops, and the way the guide turns each bend into an easy lesson about island life.

The one thing to consider: you’ll pay extra if you want pickup from outside Funchal (like Caniço) or from various cruise ports/areas, and the itinerary includes a golf stop where admission is not included.

Key highlights that make this tour worth it

• Open-top 4×4 for big views and easy photo angles without changing buses
• Small groups (up to 8 per 4×4) so you’re not lost in the crowd
• Santo da Serra farmers market where locals go for bread, fruit, veg, and homemade drinks
• Christ the King viewpoints at Garajau with multiple short stops for photos
• Village-and-views route that reaches higher ground around Machico/Santo da Serra
• Guide-led storytelling with names like Michel, Lino, and Eddie praised for local detail and good humor

Off-road Madeira from Funchal: what you’re really signing up for

This is not a fast sightseeing loop. The heart of the experience is the drive: you’re in an open-top 4×4 and you head away from the main tourist lanes into villages and scenic lookouts. That matters because Madeira’s best moments often happen where the road gets less crowded and the terrain gets more interesting.

You’re also not just getting views for views’ sake. The guide keeps the ride lively, and the route lands you at stops that connect to everyday island life—especially the market in Santo da Serra. If you care about food, you’ll appreciate that this isn’t just a photo stop. It’s a real market setting where the produce, bread, and home-made drinks are part of the routine.

The group size also helps. With small groups up to 8 per 4×4 vehicle, you can hear the guide and ask questions without feeling like you’re shouting over everyone’s sunglasses.

The 3.5-hour rhythm: how the stops work together

You’re looking at about 3 hours 30 minutes total. The pacing is built around short “arrive, look, learn, move” blocks—perfect for Madeira where weather can shift and roads can be winding.

Here’s the logic of the itinerary:

• A first village stop to give you perspective on inland Madeira and altitude
• A market stop that becomes your main food-and-people moment
• A viewpoint sequence around Cristo Rei that’s time-efficient for photography
• A final stretch near Santa Cruz to round out the island’s agriculture and fishing focus

If you like tours where you’re always doing something, but not rushing constantly, this timing fits.

Santo da Serra and the plateau viewpoint feel

The first stop is Santo da Serra, a parish in the interior of southern Madeira’s coast, in the Machico municipality. You’ll be at roughly 700 meters altitude, overlooking the area around Machico.

Why this is a good start: the ride gives you a sense of how quickly Madeira changes. From Funchal’s vibe, you’re climbing into a cooler, more rural feeling. That first stop works like a warm-up—enough time to stretch your legs, look outward, and get your bearings for the rest of the route.

Also, Santo da Serra is close enough to Funchal that you don’t feel like you’ve lost the day in transit. It feels like you’re already on the island’s “real roads” rather than waiting for the good part later.

The Santo da Serra farmers market: bread, produce, and homemade drinks

Next is the star stop: the market in Santo António da Serra—commonly shortened to Santo da Serra. This is where the Madeirenses go for shopping, so you’re seeing the island through daily routines, not tourist choreography.

You’ll have around 40 minutes in this stop, which is a smart amount of time. Long enough to look around, compare stalls, and learn what’s typical here, without feeling trapped in one spot.

What you can expect to see and notice:

• Farmers selling fruit and vegetables
• Local bread
• Liqueurs home made
• Infusions drinks

This is also a great place to practice a simple travel rule: don’t just scan for souvenirs. If you focus on what’s being sold for the week ahead, you’ll understand the local food culture fast. The guide’s explanations help you connect the dots between what you’re seeing and how Madeira’s inland parishes actually live.

One practical note: markets can be a bit compact and lively. Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll do some walking on uneven surfaces, especially if you’re photographing.

The golf club stop: what’s included and what’s not

After the market, the itinerary briefly includes Clube de Golf Santo da Serra. You get about 10 minutes here, mostly to pass through and take in the setting.

This course has an interesting pedigree:

• Its original course was built in 1937
• It was redesigned in 1991 by architect Robert Trent Jones Sr.
• The redesign created a 27-hole course

Admission is not included, so think of it as a look-at-the-place stop rather than a ticketed visit. Even so, it’s a useful contrast point: the island can be both agricultural and full of major sports infrastructure, sometimes sitting close to everyday farming communities.

If you don’t care about golf at all, don’t worry. You’re there briefly, and the main value remains the market and viewpoint sequence.

Garajau’s Christ the King viewpoints: photo time that’s actually planned

Then you head to Miradouro do Cristo Rei do Garajau, the viewpoint. You’ll have about 20 minutes here, and this is where the views start doing the heavy lifting.

After that comes Cristo Rei (Jesus Statue) itself, a separate stop with about 10 minutes. This timing is useful: you can take photos from the viewpoint first, then get a closer look at the statue area.

A few concrete details make this stop more than a generic viewpoint:

• The statue was built in 1927 and consecrated on October 30, 1927
• It was financed by local lawyer Aires de Ornelas and his wife
• The creators were French artists Georges Serraz and Pierre Charles Lenoir
• It was completed four years before Christ the Redeemer in Brazil

That’s the kind of context you’ll appreciate while you’re standing there looking out. It turns a quick photo moment into a small slice of Madeira’s identity—religion, local patronage, and cultural pride all wrapped together.

Santa Cruz at the end: agriculture and fishing without the lecture

Your final stop is Santa Cruz, with around 30 minutes. The region’s main industries still include agriculture and fishing, though tourism has grown in the south.

What’s useful here is that you get a gentle closing lesson rather than a heavy talk. You’ll see how the island economy shifts depending on where you are: inland and coastal areas can feel totally different, even within the same day’s travel.

It’s also a good decompression stop after the viewpoints. By the time you reach Santa Cruz, your brain has processed the market smells and the hillside views, and now you can take in the calmer town-feel.

Open-top 4×4 practical tips for comfort and photos

This is an open-top vehicle, which is part of the fun. You’ll feel the wind, you’ll get a clearer sightline for photos, and you won’t have the glass glare you sometimes get with enclosed vans.

That said, open-top driving means:

• Bring a light layer if you get chilly on higher ground.
• Secure your phone/camera area so it doesn’t try to escape when you’re photographing.
• Expect some dust or road spray, especially after rain.

Because the group is small, the driver/guide can usually manage where the vehicle stops so everyone gets a fair chance at the best angles.

Also, the tour is designed as an active drive, not a sit-and-zone-out transfer. If you like asking quick questions on the spot, this kind of 4×4 format rewards it.

Price and pickup: is it good value for your time?

The price is $60.15 per person, for about 3 hours 30 minutes. When I judge value, I’m mostly asking: are you getting more than you’d get from a bus ride plus a couple of stops?

In this case, you are paying for:

• A small-group off-road 4×4
• Multiple village and viewpoint stops
• A real market experience rather than a quick drive-by

So the value is strongest if you want the combination: inland roads + local food culture + viewpoints tied to meaningful details.

Now the part to budget for: pickup is not universally included. Pickup outside Funchal / Caniço and cruise dock areas has extra fees, listed like this:

• €5 per person for the cruise dock
• €5 per person for Machico, Santa Cruz, Camacha, Estreito Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol
• €10 per person for Santo da Serra, Jardim da Serra, Calheta, Caniçal, São Vicente
• €15 per person for Ponta Delgada, Prazeres, Porto da Cruz, Santana

If you’re staying close to the main pickup area in Funchal, you’ll likely feel this pricing more cleanly. If you’re farther out, those pickup fees can add up, so price it in before you click book.

Who this tour fits best

This is a great match for you if:

• You want local food and drink without a formal tasting event
• You like getting out of Funchal and seeing inland villages and viewpoints
• You enjoy guided storytelling while you travel, especially when you’re on winding roads

It’s also a solid choice for photographers who want a planned sequence of viewpoints plus market variety.

If you hate any kind of off-road driving or you strongly prefer everything to be fully enclosed and quiet, this might feel a bit too “active.” But for most people, the open-top format is the point, not the problem.

The booking decision: should you book Green Devil Safari?

I’d book this tour if your Madeira trip needs one day that’s part market experience, part scenic hillside driving, and part Christ the King viewpoint time with real context.

You’ll get the most out of it if you:

• Like food markets and want to see what locals actually buy
• Want small-group comfort (up to 8 per vehicle)
• Can plan around possible extra pickup fees based on where you start

If you only want a couple of quick photos and a low-effort schedule, you might prefer something simpler. But if you’re craving the feeling of getting off the main road and seeing how people live and shop, this route delivers.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the 4WD farmers market experience?

It runs for about 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.).

Where does the tour start in Funchal?

Pickup is offered, but you’ll need to confirm the exact time. Pickup outside Funchal/Caniço has an extra fee.

Is there a mobile ticket?

Yes, a mobile ticket is offered.

What language is the guide?

The tour offers a multilanguage guide and is offered in English.

How big is the group and how many people are in each vehicle?

It’s a small group experience with up to 8 persons per 4×4 vehicle, and the overall maximum group size is 24 travelers.

Which stops are included in the itinerary?

The route includes Santo da Serra, the Santo da Serra farmers market, Clube de Golf Santo da Serra, Miradouro do Cristo Rei do Garajau, Cristo Rei (Jesus Statue), and Santa Cruz.

Are there admission fees at the stops?

Most stops listed have free admission. Clube de Golf Santo da Serra is noted as admission not included.

Is pickup at the cruise port included?

Pickup at the port or outside Funchal has an extra fee, listed by area. For example, the cruise dock fee is €5.00 per person.

What’s the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Is this tour suitable for most travelers?

The tour notes that most travelers can participate, and it’s near public transportation.