Porto Santo is a treasure trove of unusual geology and dramatic scenery. On this tour, you'll hop into a 4x4 to get off the well-trodden path and discover the natural and cultural highlights of Porto Santo. Star turns include the rock formations of Pico Ana Ferreira and the sands of Fonte de Areia. João, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Exploring the Serra de Dentro gets you closer to the old ways of life on Porto Santo. We'll step back in time with a visit to a traditional house - a great way to learn about the island's heritage, see how locals used to live, and try some typical food.'
First up is the Pico das Flores, a lookout point that gives you a 360-degree view over the island. Next, you'll bump back down the dirt tracks and head up the Pico Ana Ferreira, a striking ‘organ pipes' rock formation with a wall of basalt columns created by a volcanic cone, millions of years ago. After this, there's a stop at the Golf Club House, with a bar where you can relax, have a drink and enjoy the silence.
Then, it's back on to your 4x4 and over to the north of Porto Santo, where you'll hurtle past old farming villages en route to Fonte da Areia, an area of eroded fossilized sand dunes where peculiar shapes have been carved out of the rocks by the wind. Rounding off the tour is a stop at a traditional house, which has been preserved as it was 250 years ago so you'll see how locals lived before tourism. You'll get to try local products such as wine, liqueur or biscuits, too.
