Santana is Madeira's cultural heartland, famous for its iconic triangular thatched houses (Casas Típicas) with colorful painted doors. This historic town on the north coast also serves as the gateway to Queimadas forest park and some of Madeira's best levada walks. Bus routing from Funchal depends on the trip.
Getting there and back
Which route
Where to board
All three leave from Funchal. They share one SIGA sheet, so a Funchal departure is listed with the route number it runs as; open the route page for its Funchal stop list before heading out.
From the stop
The Santana stop is in the town centre: the preserved thatched houses and the main square are a few minutes on foot. The Theme Park is also reached on foot from the town; Queimadas and Achada do Teixeira are onward journeys from Santana, not walks.
The way back
Choose your return before setting out, especially if adding Queimadas. For 801: Some trips run via the tunnels, others via Poiso and Ribeiro Frio; check the trip notes on the route page.
Good to know
- Route 850’s Ribeiro Frio call and route 875’s Porto da Cruz call are trip-specific: check the departure, not just the route number.
Bus access does not establish whether a trail is accessible. Consult the official trail and reservation sources before setting out.
Choose the return transport before the walk; the route page carries the bus timetable and its source.
Visit Madeira — trail informationSuggested day trip itinerary
Choose a Route 801 departure from Funchal in the dated timetable on the route page. Some trips run via the tunnels, others via Poiso and Ribeiro Frio; check the trip notes. Spend the morning visiting the traditional thatched houses at the Theme Park and the town hall designed as a giant Casas Típica. After lunch at a local restaurant (try the regional espetada — beef skewers on a laurel stick), take a taxi or walk to Queimadas forest park for an afternoon levada walk. Return to Funchal on an afternoon bus, chosen from the route page before you set out. For the return, check whether your chosen Route 850 trip calls at Ribeiro Frio.
What to see and do
The Santana Theme Park (Parque Temático da Madeira) showcases traditional island life, crafts, and history. Several authentic Casas Típicas are preserved around the town center and are free to photograph from outside. The town hall (Câmara Municipal) is itself designed as an oversized thatched house.
Nearby Queimadas is the starting point for the famous PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde walk — one of Madeira's top hiking trails leading through ancient laurel forest to a spectacular waterfall. The PR13 Vereda do Fanal and shorter walks are also accessible from the area.
Practical tips
Best time to visit
Santana is a year-round destination. Summer brings local festivals celebrating rural traditions with music, food, and dancing. Spring (April–May) offers stunning flower displays. The thatched houses look photogenic in all seasons, though morning light is best for photography.
