Trip to Santana with visit to the Casas de Colmo / Funchal

From Funchal you have the option to visit Santana (in the northeast of the island) if you are focused on public transportation.

Santana is served by the bus company Companhia dos Carros de São Gonçalo SA.
Daily connection from Funchal to Santana at 07:30h (bus 103). Additional on Monday to Saturday at 10:00 h and Sunday at 10:30 h (bus 56). Back then (except Saturday), for example, at 15:30 h (line 56). Saturdays already at 13:15 h or at 17:30 h (with the line 103).

The journey takes about 1.5 hours. Although the distance is not very big, but the mountainous terrain and the stop in every small village calls for its time. The trip itself is interesting.

In Santana the "Casas de Colmo", so the thatched cottages, are recommended to visit. Yes, they are very nice to look at, but I think it is overrated as a tourist attraction.

However, our trip to Santana was overall pleasant. We have discovered there is a nice little restaurant where we spent the lunch time and felt very comfortable (followed by a separate post).