Things to do in Caniço

Caniço is a city of some 24,000 people on Madeira's south-east coast, in Santa Cruz municipality. It became a city in 2005 and is one of the region's largest tourism hubs after Funchal. Things to do in Caniço sit on the coast.

Cliff, reserve and beach

• Cristo Rei. A Sacred Heart statue on the Ponta do Garajau cliff, inaugurated on 30 October 1927. The viewpoint looks over Funchal Bay and the hotels of Caniço de Baixo.
• Garajau reserve. A marine reserve since 1986, below the cliff. Divers go for the dusky groupers. A cable car opened in 2007 to reach Garajau beach.
• Reis Magos. A small pebble beach in Caniço de Baixo, beside an 18th-century fort built against pirate raids.

What gets booked

Most tours from Caniço are open-roof 4x4 days around the island. Pick-up in Funchal and Caniço is normally free. Guides speak English and, on most days, French, Spanish, German or Portuguese.

• East. Machico, Portela, Porto da Cruz, Santana and Pico do Arieiro.
• North-west. The Fanal forest and the volcanic pools of Porto Moniz.
• South-west. Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, Calheta and Paul do Mar.
• Half days. The Nuns' Valley, or a vineyard tasting with the Cabo Girão skywalk.

Full days run about eight hours. A group seat is priced per person, with up to eight in a jeep. A private jeep is priced per vehicle, at several times the cost of a seat.

Practical

• Weather. Funchal's weather station, 6 km west, logs afternoons of 20C in January and 27C in August. October to December are the wet months, at 80 to 95 mm each; July and August are almost dry.
• Open roofs. Most jeeps are open-topped, and the peaks run far colder than the coast. Wear a windproof layer and sun cream.
• Getting here. Funchal is a short drive west. The airport is 10 km away by road.
• Cruise ships. Some days are timed for a port call and collect at the Funchal cruise terminal.
• Cancelling. Cancellation is free more than 24 hours before the start.
• Name. Caniço is not Caniçal, the cargo port at the island's eastern end.