The coastal route

The coastal road, ER101, circumnavigates Madeira and offers spectacular views and steep climbs with narrow sections that hug the cliffs of the coastline. During the rainy season, waterfalls cascade down rock faces along the roadside and rain down on the cars travelling below, and there are also sections where high waves may spray passing cars, so take extra care!

To make the road safer, the authority has made part of the road between São Vicente and Porto Moniz one-way (east to west). Besides the steep climbs and sharp turns, you also need to be aware of falling rocks while driving on ER101 – the best advice here is to get full insurance cover when hiring a car.

Other key sights

Porto Moniz is a gem of a village in the north-west corner of the island. It takes about an hour to drive there from Funchal, but once you’ve experienced the natural saltwater pools filled with clear sea water formed from volcanic rock, it’ll be obvious that the trip was more than worth it.

Another hidden gem is Calheta, on Madeira’s south-west coast, about half an hour’s drive from Funchal. The man-made beach is one of the best places to enjoy the clear waters and seafood restaurants that Madeira is famous for.

Island hopping

Porto Santo is a sandy paradise 43km (27 miles) north-east of Madeira. While it’s possible to take a scenic 10-minute flight from Funchal, it’s more of an adventure to hire a car and take the ferry instead. Once you’re on the idyllic island, there’s plenty to do, from wreck diving, golf and horse riding to simply lounging around on the beach.