Porto da Cruz & Madeira Rum Virtual Tour: Engenhos do Norte

A virtual journey into Porto da Cruz, Madeira rum and local traditions

Watch our virtual journey through Porto da Cruz, on Madeira´s dramatic northeast coast, and discover the landscapes, flavours and traditions that have shaped this historic rural community.

Part of the municipality of Machico, Porto da Cruz has been closely connected with agriculture, fishing and the Atlantic Ocean for centuries. Its fertile slopes, abundant water and subtropical climate helped establish crops including vines and sugarcane, while its small port provided an important connection with the sea.

Sugarcane became one of the crops that transformed Madeira after the settlement of the island and played an important role in its early economy. In Porto da Cruz, this agricultural heritage remains particularly visible today through the fields surrounding the village and the historic production of aguardente de cana and Madeira agricultural rum.

Our free virtual experience begins above Porto da Cruz at the Cabeço do Cerrado viewpoint, with panoramic views across the village, Atlantic coastline, Faial and the impressive Penha d´Águia, or Eagle Rock.

From the viewpoint, Sean and Angie travel down towards the coast, walk through Porto da Cruz and visit Praia da Alagoa, where Atlantic waves meet one of the most dramatic mountain and coastal landscapes in eastern Madeira.

One of the highlights of the experience is our visit to Engenhos do Norte, also known as the North Mills Distillery. Built in 1927 and incorporating historic machinery, the working mill is one of Madeira´s most important examples of living sugarcane heritage.

Madeira agricultural rum is produced through the fermentation and distillation of fresh sugarcane juice, creating a direct connection between the spirit, the farmers who cultivate the cane and the Madeiran landscape where it grows.

During our visit, Carla Basílio from Engenhos do Norte joins us to share the history of the mill, its traditional machinery and the production of Madeira agricultural rum. We also explore the tasting room, learn about the distillery´s different rums and discover how barrel ageing influences their character.

Engenhos do Norte also produces traditional poncha using its aguardente de cana. During the experience, we see how poncha is prepared before enjoying a tasting of Madeira rum and poncha.

For travellers who would like to experience this side of Madeira in person, Engenhos do Norte is also included in our Madeira Culinary Journey, where we go deeper into the island´s rum, wine, local producers, regional gastronomy and culinary traditions.

Porto da Cruz also has its own distinctive food and wine traditions. During the livestream, we visited Snack Bar Fragateira, where we had planned to meet José Pequeno and enjoy a traditional dentinho of gaiado seco with vinho seco. Although the bar was closed that day, Sean explains this local tradition while visiting the location.

Gaiado seco is sun-dried skipjack tuna and forms part of an older Madeiran tradition of preserving fish. The local vinho seco reflects Porto da Cruz´s rural wine culture. Historically, wine from the parish was transported along Madeira´s mountain paths in animal-skin wineskins by men known as borracheiros.

Alongside these older traditions, Porto da Cruz has developed a relaxed surf culture, particularly around Praia da Alagoa. The virtual journey finishes beside the Atlantic Ocean, looking back across the village, coastline and mountains.

This experience reflects the kind of Madeira we love to share at Eat & Walkabout: sustainable, immersive travel rooted in local gastronomy, agricultural heritage, landscape and the people who keep Madeira´s traditions alive.

To learn more about the destination, including Madeira rum, sugarcane, gaiado seco, vinho seco, levadas, viewpoints, surf culture and local traditions, visit our Porto da Cruz food and travel guide.

You can also watch the replay of our Santo da Serra Market, Cheese Tasting & Cooking Demo, exploring another side of eastern Madeira through artisan cheese, local producers, the traditional Sunday market and countryside cooking.

For another Madeira virtual experience, watch our Madeira Wine Harvest Festival: Festa das Vindimas in Câmara de Lobos, where we explore Madeira´s grape harvest, ethnographic parade and traditional grape stomping.

Watch Porto da Cruz & Madeira Rum

This free virtual experience was originally streamed live on September 14, 2026. The replay is approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes and is presented in English.

This free virtual experience was originally streamed live from Porto da Cruz, Madeira:

Original livestream date:
Monday, September 14, 2026 at 4:15 PM Madeira Time

Replay duration:
Approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes

Watch the free replay:
Watch Porto da Cruz & Madeira Rum on YouTube

Join Sean and Angie in Porto da Cruz for a virtual journey through Madeira´s northeast coast, connecting panoramic landscapes, sugarcane, agricultural rum, local food traditions and the Atlantic Ocean.

The experience begins at the Cabeço do Cerrado viewpoint, high above Porto da Cruz, with panoramic views over the village, cultivated slopes, coastline, Faial and the dramatic Penha d´Águia, or Eagle Rock.

From the viewpoint, Sean and Angie travel down towards Porto da Cruz and continue on foot through the village to the surfing area around Praia da Alagoa.

The journey then continues to Engenhos do Norte, also known as the North Mills Distillery.

At Engenhos do Norte, we meet Carla Basílio, who shows us around the historic sugarcane mill and helps us discover more about Madeira agricultural rum, aguardente de cana, the traditional machinery and the importance of sugarcane to Porto da Cruz and the island.

We then continue to the tasting room to learn about some of the rums produced at Engenhos do Norte, discover how traditional poncha is prepared and enjoy a Madeira rum and poncha tasting.

After leaving the distillery, Sean and Angie continue through Porto da Cruz and visit Snack Bar Fragateira. We had planned to meet José Pequeno for a traditional dentinho of gaiado seco with vinho seco, but the bar was closed on the day of the livestream. While outside the bar, Sean explains this distinctive Porto da Cruz food and wine tradition.

The final walk takes us towards the Porto da Cruz promenade and bathing complex, where the experience finishes beside the Atlantic Ocean with views across the coast, village and surrounding mountains.