The longest tunnel in Madeira is the Faial–Santana tunnel, which runs for 3,168 metres beneath the mountains of the island’s north-east. It is the centrepiece of the Faial–Santana expressway — a chain of five tunnels totalling about 7.2 km — and for years it held the record as the longest road tunnel in all of Portugal. If you are driving the north coast, this is the tunnel you will remember: more than three kilometres of continuous rock between one green valley and the next.
What is the longest tunnel in Madeira?
The longest tunnel on the island is the Faial–Santana tunnel, at 3,168 metres. It is the largest of the five tunnels on the Faial–Santana expressway (Via Expresso), which was built to connect the villages of the rugged north coast to the rest of the island. The tunnel is equipped with emergency lay-bys and cross-passages every few hundred metres, as required for tunnels of this length.
| Tunnel | Length | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Faial – Santana | 3,168 m | North-east coast (longest in Madeira) |
| Encumeada (Serra de Água – Rosário) | ~3,100 m | Central mountains |
| Machico – Caniçal | ~2,100 m | East (twin-tube) |
Was it once the longest tunnel in Portugal?
Yes — and this is where many guides get it wrong. For years the Faial–Santana tunnel really was the longest road tunnel in Portugal. That changed in May 2016, when the Marão Tunnel opened on the mainland’s A4 motorway, between Amarante and Vila Real. At roughly 5,665 metres, the Marão Tunnel is now Portugal’s longest by a wide margin.
So the accurate way to say it in 2026 is this: the Faial–Santana tunnel is the longest tunnel in Madeira, and it was Portugal’s longest until the mainland Marão Tunnel took the crown in 2016. On an island of just 741 km², a 3.1 km tunnel remains a remarkable feat.
The other giant: the Encumeada tunnel
Close behind is the Encumeada tunnel, roughly 3,100 metres long, which cuts through the central mountain spine between Serra de Água and Rosário. It reportedly cost in the region of €80 million to build — a reminder of just how expensive it is to tunnel through Madeira’s dense volcanic rock. Together with Faial–Santana, it turned journeys that once took hours over hairpin mountain passes into quick, straight drives.
Driving through Madeira’s longest tunnels
Driving the long tunnels is easy and safe, but a few tips help:
- Headlights on. Dipped headlights are required inside every tunnel, day or night.
- Sunglasses off. You go from bright ocean light to a 3 km tunnel in seconds — give your eyes a moment to adjust at each entrance.
- Keep your distance. Speeds inside are typically 60–80 km/h; follow the signed limit and don’t tailgate.
- No stopping. Use the marked emergency lay-bys only in a genuine breakdown, and switch on your hazard lights.
- Radio may cut out in the longest tunnels — normal, and nothing to worry about.
Why does Madeira have so many tunnels?
Madeira is essentially a volcanic mountain rising straight out of the Atlantic, with peaks above 1,800 metres and valleys that plunge to the sea. Before the tunnels, the coastal roads were spectacular but slow and dangerous, carved into cliffs and closed often by rockfalls. The expressways and their tunnels — more than 150 of them island-wide — cut travel times dramatically: the trip from Funchal to Porto Moniz on the north-west coast dropped from up to 8 hours to about 45 minutes.
Want the full picture — how many tunnels there are, the hand-dug historic furados, and all the records? Read our complete guide: Tunnels of Madeira Island.
Quick answers
What is the longest tunnel in Madeira? The Faial–Santana tunnel, 3,168 metres.
Is it the longest tunnel in Portugal? No — it was until 2016, when the 5,665 m Marão Tunnel opened on the mainland. It remains the longest tunnel on Madeira Island.
How many tunnels are on the Faial–Santana expressway? Five, totalling about 7.2 km.
Can I drive through it? Yes — it’s part of the normal road network, free to use, with headlights on.
