Santana Countryside Food & Levada Day Tour

This full-day tour, running about eight hours with round-trip transport, heads into Madeira's rural north around Santana to combine light hiking with a countryside meal. The morning covers a short, guided walk along a levada, one of the island's centuries-old irrigation channels, cutting through laurel forest (laurisilva) typical of the island's UNESCO-listed woodland. From there the group continues to Quinta do Furão, a working vineyard estate near Santana, for a seated lunch built around contemporary Madeiran dishes and paired with the estate's own wine. The afternoon includes a stop in Santana's village centre, known for its steep-roofed, brightly painted thatched cottages (casas de colmo), followed by a tasting of local honey cake (bolo de mel). The levada walk covers a short, mostly level stretch suitable for most fitness levels, though the path can be narrow with a drop on one side in places, so sturdy footwear is recommended rather than open sandals. Lunch is a sit-down, multi-course affair with wine included; vegetarian substitutions can generally be arranged at Quinta do Furão with advance notice. Groups run small to mid-sized, with English-language guiding throughout. Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable hiking temperatures, since summer heat and winter rain can make the forest trail less pleasant.