Bestselling Wine Tour, Tasting Experience & Skywalk 4×4 Adventure

The rough-road ride is the heart of this Madeira outing. In a small open-top 4×4, you leave the main roads for narrow country tracks, vineyard lanes, and mountain views around São Vicente and Serra de Água before settling in for six wine samples at Quinta Barbusano. Eddie, Louis, and Miguel have each earned praise for making the drive lively and personal.

I like the small group limit of eight per jeep, which keeps the trip friendlier than a large coach tour. I also like the mix of scenery: Cabo Girão’s high sea cliffs, the green valley of Serra de Água, and a working wine estate all fit into one half-day. The main caution is cost and organization: wine tasting, Cabo Girão admission, and cruise-dock pickup are extra, and one poorly handled departure resulted in no winery visit at all.

Key points to know before you book

• The 4×4 ride is the strongest part: Expect rough tracks, tiny rural roads, undergrowth, vineyards, and wide views from an open-top jeep.
• Quinta Barbusano is the main event: The optional winery package includes a guided visit, six wines, and toast cheese for €24 per person.
• Cabo Girão costs extra: The famous skywalk admission is not included and is listed at €5 per person.
• Groups stay fairly small: Each jeep carries no more than eight people, with a total tour limit of 24.
• Pickup is limited: Free pickup is available in Funchal and Caniço. Cruise-dock pickup costs €5 per person.
• The guide can make or break the day: Eddie, Louis, and Miguel receive warm praise, but the quality of the winery presentation and trip planning can vary.

Why this 4×4 wine trip works

Madeira is a steep island. A short distance on the map can mean a long climb up a winding road, then another sharp drop toward the sea. That makes a 4×4 tour useful, not just flashy. You reach rural corners and vineyard roads that a standard sightseeing bus cannot easily handle.

The tour lasts about three and a half hours. That is enough time to see several parts of the island without giving up a whole day. You get a taste of the south and west, with stops or drive-through views around Câmara de Lobos, Quinta Grande, Campanário, Ribeira Brava, Serra de Água, São Vicente, and Cabo Girão.

The experience is best understood as two linked outings. The first is a scenic off-road drive with a guide. The second is a paid wine visit at Quinta Barbusano. The wine portion is not simply included in the advertised price, so you need to add the extras before deciding if the value works for you.

The published base price is $66.01 per person. Add €24 for the winery guided visit and six table wines, plus €5 for Cabo Girão if you want to enter the skywalk. Pickup at the cruise dock adds another €5 per person. That can push the real cost well above the headline figure, but it remains reasonable if you want a compact combination of mountain scenery, a 4×4 ride, and wine without booking three separate activities.

Leaving Funchal for Madeira’s western hills

Pickup is offered in the Funchal center and Caniço areas. If you are arriving by cruise ship, the operator can collect you at the dock for €5 per person. People staying elsewhere are directed to a pickup point in Funchal near the Cristiano Ronaldo statue.

Confirm the pickup details carefully. One party arrived late because the instructions never reached them, creating a poor start to the outing. I would save the meeting point, pickup time, and operator contact details before the day of the trip rather than relying only on a message arriving at the last minute.

The vehicles are open-top 4×4 jeeps, with a maximum of eight people in each one. This gives you a much better chance of seeing the countryside than you would from behind a bus window. It also means a more exposed ride, with less shelter from wind and weather.

The vehicles are not presented as luxury machines. One account described the jeeps as old, and the ride can feel basic. That is part of the character for some people, but it is worth knowing if you prefer smooth suspension and polished transport.

Cabo Girão and the €5 skywalk

Cabo Girão is one of Madeira’s signature viewpoints. The cliffs rise dramatically above the Atlantic, and the lookout gives you a broad view over the coast and water below. The visit is listed at about 30 minutes, which is enough for photographs and a quick look around, but not a long stop.

The glass skywalk admission is not included in the tour price. The stated entrance fee is €5 per person. Treat it as an optional add-on when you calculate the final cost.

This stop is the most straightforward sightseeing moment of the trip. You do not need to work out bus connections or fit the viewpoint into a separate day. The drawback is timing. A 30-minute stop does not leave much room if you want a slow look, extra photographs, or time to wait for a clear view.

The itinerary can change in small ways. One group had already visited Cabo Girão, so guide Louis arranged time in Câmara de Lobos instead. That suggests the guides may adapt when the whole jeep agrees, but you should not count on a replacement stop being guaranteed.

Câmara de Lobos, Quinta Grande, and the coastal villages

Câmara de Lobos is a traditional fishing village west of Funchal. Its harbor is lined with colorful buildings and fishing boats, and the town gives the tour a more settled, local feel after the steep cliffs and mountain roads.

The village name means Seal’s Lair, linked to monk seals that once lived in the area. You may have time here only if the route is adjusted, but it is a useful alternative to Cabo Girão because it offers a closer look at coastal life rather than another high viewpoint.

Quinta Grande sits among vineyards and terraced fields, with views toward the Atlantic. Its old estates and long wine-making tradition help explain why Madeira wine is tied so closely to the island’s rural identity. You pass through the kind of countryside that is easy to miss when you stay on the main roads.

Campanário brings another change of pace. This village lies between the mountains and sea, with traditional buildings, flowers, and coastal views. It is known for folk music and dance during local festivals, though this short tour does not promise a festival or a performance.

Ribeira Brava is named for the river running through its center. Its pebble beach, promenade, and historic church give it a relaxed southern-coast character. These villages are not necessarily long formal stops, so think of them as part of the route and scenery rather than separate guided visits.

Serra de Água and the mountain route

Serra de Água is the inland portion of the trip. The village sits in a broad mountain valley, surrounded by steep slopes and terraced vineyards. The drive here is one of the reasons to choose a jeep rather than a standard wine transfer.

The route includes winding roads, waterfalls, and rural tracks. In places, the vehicle leaves the smooth pavement and bumps through undergrowth or vineyard country. That rough section is the fun part for many people, though it can be uncomfortable if you dislike jolting rides.

Serra de Água is also linked with the Encumeada viewpoint and traditional watermills. The tour does not promise a dedicated stop at every sight, so your experience depends on the day’s route and timing. Still, the valley gives you a strong sense of Madeira’s steep geography and farming terraces.

The ride is not just transport between attractions. You get to watch the island change from urban Funchal to coastal villages, then to mountain countryside and vineyards. I like that progression because it gives the wine tasting a setting. You are not simply sampling Madeira wine in a city room. You are seeing the slopes and rural roads where the island’s wine culture makes sense.

Quinta Barbusano’s six-wine tasting

Quinta Barbusano is the anchor of the experience. The tasting is held at a prepared table, with six selected local wines paired with toast cheese. The advertised winery package costs €24 per person and includes the guided winery visit and the six samples.

The visit may include a walk around the vines and an explanation of the estate’s wine-making work. Miguel is specifically praised for leading an enjoyable vineyard visit, while another account describes a warm welcome and an interesting tour before the tasting.

You should set your expectations correctly. This is a table-wine tasting, not necessarily a grand classification of Madeira’s finest bottles. One person found the wines ordinary and the tasting amateurish. Another found the wines pleasant and the savory snacks a good match. Wine taste is personal, but the mixed reaction tells you not to book this solely in search of rare or prestigious bottles.

The language is another consideration. The vineyard explanation is given in English, even when people from France and Germany are present. The operator explains that English is used as the shared language and that repeating the presentation in several languages would make the visit much longer. If you need a presentation in another language, confirm before paying.

There is also an important planning risk. The wine tasting must be reserved with the winery. On one occasion, the estate was closed and the tasting had not been booked, so the group was taken to a bar and given three small Madeira wine samples instead. That was a major disappointment for people who had chosen the trip mainly for the vineyard.

I would contact Green Devil Safari before the tour and confirm three things: that Quinta Barbusano is open, that the six-wine package is reserved, and that the €24 payment arrangement is clear. This is the single most useful step you can take to protect the main purpose of your outing.

What the guides add to the ride

The guide is central to the quality of this tour. Eddie receives especially strong praise for taking the jeep off-road and keeping the trip enjoyable. Louis is noted for adapting the route when everyone had already seen Cabo Girão. Miguel is associated with a pleasant vineyard visit and a good drive around the island.

The included guide service is more than a transfer. The best version of the tour gives you a running sense of where you are, points out the views, and makes the rough roads feel like part of the adventure. A good driver also knows how to keep the group moving while allowing time for the key stops.

The experience is not perfectly consistent. One account describes a driver as miserable, and another found the replacement-wine decision chaotic. That does not mean every departure will be poorly handled, but it does mean you should be willing to speak up if the winery visit is the reason you booked.

The tour has a 4.3 rating from 24 reviews, a respectable result with some sharp differences in opinion. The highest praise focuses on the guides, off-road route, vineyard setting, and sunset views. The lowest scores focus on missed wine arrangements, aging vehicles, mediocre wine, and unclear organization.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this trip if you want a short, active introduction to Madeira. It suits people who enjoy scenery from a bumpy open vehicle and want a little local wine without committing to a full-day vineyard program.

It is also a good fit for cruise passengers who have only a few hours and want to get away from Funchal. The extra dock fee is modest, but the schedule matters. Confirm the pickup and return details before booking, especially if you have a strict ship departure time.

Couples, friends, and small groups should find the eight-person jeep size appealing. The ride can feel social without the scale of a large coach. You may also appreciate the flexibility if your group has already visited Cabo Girão.

I would hesitate if the wine is your main reason for booking and you have no tolerance for a change of plan. The tasting is an extra charge, English is the presentation language, and the tour has had at least one serious booking failure. A dedicated winery tour with confirmed reservations would be safer for a serious wine enthusiast.

People who dislike rough roads should think twice. The off-road section is repeatedly praised, but that same roughness is the point. This is not a quiet, polished ride through the countryside.

Price, extras, and practical value

At $66.01, the base fare covers the jeep, guide, insurance, and pickup in Funchal or Caniço. The small group format helps the price feel fair, especially because a private vehicle or private guide would normally cost more.

The advertised price does not cover the central extras:

• Quinta Barbusano wine visit and six wines: €24 per person
• Cabo Girão entrance: €5 per person
• Cruise-dock pickup: €5 per person

If you take all three, calculate the complete price before booking. The total still buys a lot in three and a half hours, but it is not a €66 wine tour once the add-ons are included.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and the operator can cancel if the minimum number is not met. In that case, you should be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Green Devil Safari outing?

Book it if you want an energetic half-day with excellent rural views, a proper 4×4 section, and a chance to visit a Madeiran winery. The guides can make the experience memorable, and the combination of Cabo Girão, Serra de Água, villages, vineyards, and off-road tracks gives you a lot of variety in a short time.

Before paying, confirm the winery reservation and all extra charges. If the wine tasting is unavailable, ask immediately for the alternatives and make sure the group agrees before leaving Quinta Barbusano. With those checks in place, this is a good-value choice for scenery and adventure, with wine as an enjoyable bonus rather than a guaranteed high-end tasting.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Where is pickup available?

Free pickup is available in the Funchal center and Caniço areas. Cruise-dock pickup costs €5 per person, and people staying elsewhere can meet near the Cristiano Ronaldo statue in Funchal.

How many people ride in each jeep?

Each open-top 4×4 jeep holds a maximum of eight people. The total tour capacity is 24 people.

Is the wine tasting included in the advertised price?

No. The Quinta Barbusano guided visit and six-wine tasting cost €24 per person in addition to the base price.

What is included with the wine tasting?

The winery package includes six table-wine samples and toast cheese, along with the guided visit at Quinta Barbusano.

Is Cabo Girão admission included?

No. The entrance fee is listed as €5 per person.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.