Santana and the north coast day trip from Funchal
Give Santana and the north coast a full day rather than adding them after another excursion. The thatched houses are one stop in a wider journey through valleys and coastal scenery. Choose a car for control over breaks or a tour for simpler transport, and keep enough daylight for the return across the island.
At a glance
- Getting there
- Car, allow a full day including stops
- Book ahead
- Full-day tour or driver
- Tours
- Day trips on Viator
How to get to Santana and the north coast from Funchal
Car, allow a full day including stops
Plan a route from Funchal to Santana with a small number of north coast stops. Check driving conditions and parking before departure, and leave spare time for winding roads rather than measuring the day only by distance.
Tour, a full-day excursion
Choose a north coast excursion that includes Santana's thatched houses. Read the stop list carefully and check how much walking is involved, whether lunch time is provided and where the return drop-off takes place.
Booked driver, agree a full-day itinerary
Arrange Santana and selected coastal stops with a driver before departure. Agree the total duration, waiting time and return to Funchal, then prioritize a few places so that the day leaves time outside the vehicle.
What to see in Santana and the north coast
Santana's traditional thatched houses
Make time to inspect the shape and steep roofs of the traditional houses rather than stopping only for a photograph. Check local access information if you want to enter a house.
The center of Santana
Allow a short walk around the town between the houses and your next drive. This gives you a useful lunch or rest break before continuing to the coastal stops.
North coast cliff views
Choose designated viewpoints on the route agreed with your driver or guide. Stop only where parking is safe, and accept that low cloud can obscure the wider coastal view.
Valley scenery along the route
Leave time for the green valleys between coastal sections. Ask your guide which stops offer useful views in the day's conditions instead of committing to every viewpoint in advance.
Go on your own, or take a tour?
A car suits travelers who want to spend longer in Santana and choose their own breaks. A full-day tour is simpler if you prefer someone else to manage the roads and sequence of stops. With either option, keep the itinerary selective: too many viewpoints can leave little time to walk around the town.
Tips for the day
- Check whether lunch is included in a tour or whether you need to choose and pay for your own meal.
- Bring a light waterproof layer, since conditions on the north coast can differ from those in Funchal.
- Keep the return journey in mind when adding stops, particularly if cloud or rain slows your progress.
Santana and the north coast day trip from Funchal
Can I make this a half-day trip?
Allow a full day to combine Santana with the north coast. A shorter visit leaves less time for the houses, village streets and stops along the route.
Is a tour better than driving?
A tour simplifies a long day on unfamiliar roads. Driving gives you more control over stop lengths, provided you are comfortable with winding roads and changing weather.
What should I prioritize in poor visibility?
Give more time to Santana's houses and town, and reduce viewpoint stops when cloud blocks the scenery. Follow your driver's or guide's advice about road conditions.