The search and rescue, rescue and mountain rescue brigade of the Public Security Police, the GNR and the Maritime Authority will continue searching for the missing tourists until sunset.
According to the PSP commissioner, João Góis, at this moment there are still no conclusive clues as to where the couple might be, and the search perimeter was shortened during the afternoon.
Drones from the Regional Civil Protection Service and the Madeira Operational Command are flying over the paths and trails in the vicinity of the Clube Naval de São Vicente, namely Vereda da Abelheira.
The couple was staying in Fajã da Areia, in São Vicente, and was last seen at around 3:45 pm on Saturday heading to Porto Moniz, at Calhau, more precisely on Avenida Marcos Marques Rosa.
They are a 58-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman of French nationality.
The tourist, who is 1.80m tall, was wearing a gray jacket and loose blue tracksuit trousers and the woman, who is 1.69m tall, was wearing a blue sports coat and carrying a pink backpack.