Ponta de São Lourenço is one of Madeira’s most breathtaking and iconic spots, famous for its rugged cliffs and unforgettable views. This is the first piece of the island you’ll admire when flying into Madeira—often right before the plane starts to sway in the island’s infamous winds. Enjoy the moment, as it’s probably the only “flyover” you’ll get over this peninsula.
Ponta de São Lourenço
On the eastern side of the trail, you’ll marvel at towering cliffs and the vast Atlantic Ocean. To the west, the view opens to Madeira’s lush valleys and jagged mountain peaks. The hiking trail (vereda) takes you to the island’s northernmost point, where a lighthouse awaits—but reaching it on foot is impossible without a boat.
Ponta de São Lourenço is a paradise for photographers chasing their shot of a lifetime. Every turn of the path reveals a new, awe-inspiring composition that’s bound to make your Instagram followers (and your neighbors) green with envy.
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
This hiking trail is incredibly popular, and for good reason. If you arrive after 10 a.m., forget about parking at the official lot—you’ll likely end up several kilometers back along the roadside, near Quinta do Lorde marina. This instantly turns the 3 km hike into a far more ambitious trek.
The Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço is considered a moderately challenging hike, with an estimated duration of 2–3 hours from the parking lot. But let’s be real: this is an all-day adventure. Between taking photos and chasing the perfect angle, you’ll easily add hours to your trip. We tacked on another hour just to enjoy a fantastic beer at Casa do Sardinha.
The entire region is volcanic, composed mostly of basalt and limestone. These natural elements create intricate patterns on the cliffs, offering a geologic spectacle that’s both fascinating and photogenic.
Southward Splendor
On the southern side of Ponta de São Lourenço, you’ll find some of the island’s most striking and untouched beaches. Getting down to them, however, is no easy feat. Rather than taking on the challenge, we continued along the main trail.
Pico do Furado
The hike culminates in a steep climb. At the summit, there’s little more than a rocky plateau, a railing, and two tiny islands in the distance: Desembarcadouro Islet and Farol Islet, the latter home to the lighthouse. Unfortunately, neither is accessible on foot.
Casa do Sardinha
On the way back, you’ll pass Casa do Sardinha, a charming café offering coffee, beer, seafood, and a few tables in the shade. It’s the perfect place to catch your breath—though you might have to fight for a seat, as we did. A particularly brazen pigeon ignored our pleas of exhaustion until I resorted to leaning my trekking poles against the table as a deterrent.
The area is steeped in an ethos of sustainability. Recycling is taken seriously here, and anything that can’t be repurposed is shipped out by boat. This commitment to the environment also led to an unexpected bonus: we stumbled upon a boat tour to the lighthouses.
Sea Emotions
We found the boat by chance, but it regularly ferries visitors between the marina, Casa do Sardinha, and the lighthouse. The crew, an all-women team, gave an engaging presentation about local marine life, the geology of the cliffs, and the history of the lighthouse. Did we retain much of it? Not really. But it was delivered with such charm that we didn’t mind.
The only hiccup was a self-proclaimed “photo artist” who positioned himself on the bow and snapped photos non-stop like a hyperactive tourist. His antics left little opportunity for others to get a clear shot until the captain threatened to drop him off if he didn’t move. The star of most photos, however, wasn’t him—it was the captain’s toned and sun-kissed figure, which seemed to steal the show.
Don’t Miss Ponta do Bode
If you’re visiting Madeira, the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço is a must-do hike. On your way back from the peninsula, be sure to detour to Ponta do Bode lookout at the nearby roundabout.
The dramatic cliffs and rocky landscapes here are among the most beautiful on the island. And don’t worry about occasional clouds—they only enhance the play of light and shadow on the cliffs, creating a cinematic atmosphere you won’t forget.
The Numbers: Steps, Photos, and Kilometers
Our “3.6 km” hike turned into an 11 km adventure with 460 meters of elevation gain. PR8: Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço is without a doubt one of Madeira’s top hiking trails.
With the day’s exploration complete, it was time to relax. The next day promised new heights on Madeira’s highest peak, Pico Ruivo, followed by a wine-tasting treat at Quinta do Barbusano.
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