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Meet Ana-Maria

Your guide

Meet Ana-Maria

I am Ana-Maria Efta. I came to Madeira from Bucharest as a visitor, fell for the island completely, and moved here for good. Now I show people around the place I chose to call home, at their pace, and away from the crowds.

Why travel with a private guide

Madeira may be a small island, but it feels like many different mini-worlds. A private, tailor-made day is the best way to see the ones that suit you.

Attention to Details

A Personal Experience

Always Here

Flexible Timing

Ease and Comfort

Safety First

No Driving Stress

Forget the hassle of managing logistics on your own. As your private guide I handle all the details, from timings to reservations, so you can relax and focus on enjoying the day.

I plan your trip with the same dedication as if it were my own. Because each of us is different, I build the day around your interests and your pace, adding a few small touches to create moments I hope you will remember.

I am here for you throughout your stay, ready to answer questions and give honest recommendations about the island. My aim is to be your go-to person from start to finish.

Everything goes at your pace. Want to linger at a viewpoint or change the plan? No problem. I also work out the best times to visit the busiest spots so we can avoid the crowds altogether.

Smaller, more intimate explorations of Madeira, without the rigidity of big group schedules or the waiting that comes with them.

With a private tour you have a fellow traveller at your side. I keep an eye on the weather and adjust the plan when needed, so you can explore the island safely and comfortably.

Madeira's terrain is demanding, with steep inclines and narrow roads that are hard work in a low-powered rental car. Relax without worrying about navigating or parking, and enjoy the views instead.

How I ended up here

A few years ago I started building a life I do not need a vacation from. Before that, my days were shaped by a nine-to-six job, and each one was a small struggle to find time for the things I actually wanted to do. I identified myself with my work, and it left me exhausted and short-tempered.

Madeira took my breath away on the very first visit. That was July 2021, one week on the island. On the way back to the airport I cried, because I was so sad to leave.

I told myself I was making a fuss. Feeling low after a holiday ends is normal, and I had been through it before. But this time the feeling did not pass. It followed me back to Bucharest and stayed until we booked the next trip, in September of the same year. That one lasted two months, and it still was not enough. So we booked again for March 2022.

Friends told us we had developed a fixation, that we should travel somewhere else for a change. But the island kept calling, and by then it had become far more than a beautiful place to visit.

It was during that third stay that my partner and I decided to move here for good. It happened simply. Sitting by the hotel pool, half joking, I said: let us stay here. Within seconds he had his laptop open, looking for long-term rentals. By the middle of April we were back in Bucharest. On the first of May we were here, starting a new life.

One thing is worth keeping in mind when you plan your first trip to Madeira: there is a real chance you will not want to go back.

Licensed and registered

I operate as a registered tourism activity in Portugal, under RNAAT n.º 970/2024. All bookings are requests and subject to final confirmation, so you will always hear back from me personally before anything is set.

Shall we plan your day?

Tell me your dates and a bit about who is coming. I will come back within 24 hours with a plan that is genuinely yours. All bookings are requests and subject to final confirmation.