Climbing up towards the central mountain range, your tour takes the road that leads to Monte, a village notable for its many fine properties and gardens. At Monte you'll have the opportunity to take a trip back to the past when you join the toboggan ride back to Livramento. The ride down the hill on the wicker sledges is an exciting one, providing you with a taste of the Madeira of the past decades, when this was the established form of transport. Then, proceed to Pico do Arieiro, the third highest peak on the island with an altitude of almost 6,000 feet (1,818 meters). Views are spectacular up here and on a clear day, it is even possible to see Porto Santo, the neighboring island, which is situated 30 nautical miles to the north.
Continue towards the south eastern coast, where your driver will take you to Ponta do Garajau. Here, you’ll find a towering statue of Christ inaugurated in 1927, before the Christo Rei in Rio de Janeiro. Looking out to sea with outstretched arms, this viewpoint is definitely worth a visit to capture the views of Funchal in the far distance. The coastline is a conservation area and has one of the first underwater nature reserves in Europe. It provides sanctuary to whales, dolphins and seals.
