SAM · Yellow
Line 103 — Funchal ↔ Santana (north coast)
SAM line 103 is the long scenic ride to Santana over the central mountains. €6–€7 on board, 2–3 services a day, ~1h45 each way.
At a glance
From
Funchal bus station
To
Santana
Via
Ribeiro Frio, Faial, São Roque do Faial
Frequency
2–3 services per day each direction Mon–Sat; 1 round trip on Sun.
First / last bus
First bus Funchal → Santana usually ~07:30. Last Santana → Funchal usually ~17:30.
Journey time
1h 45 min.
Fare
€6 – €7 single, on board cash.
Last bus back
Last bus Santana → Funchal typically 17:30. Miss it and a taxi is €70+.
When to use it
A day-trip to Santana's thatched A-frame palheiros without a car — possible but you commit to the timetable.
Things to know
- The classic combo: morning bus to Ribeiro Frio, walk Levada do Furado / Balcões, then continue on a later bus to Santana.
- Sundays drop to a single round trip — almost never worth the gamble.
Live timetable
Frequencies and times above are hand-curated and refreshed quarterly. Always cross-check the official PDF before travelling, especially on Sundays and public holidays: SAM timetables →