Ponta de São Lourenço - PR8

Ponta de São Lourenço is a spectacular volcanic peninsular on the eastern tip of Madeira. Here you can hike the PR8 trail takes you along the undulating peninsular where you will get the best coastal views in Madeira of rugged rocky cliffs and towering sea stacks. The trail finishes at the summit of Pico do Furado where you get unrivalled views of Ponta de São Lourenço and Madiera.

Where is Ponta de São Lourenço located

Ponta de São Lourenço is located on the eastern most part of Madeira near the coastal town Caniçal and about 32 km east from Funchal.

Ponta de São Lourenço PR8 Trail Summary

• Distance: 6.6km
• Time needed: 4 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Route type: Out and back
• Elevation gain: 302m

Ways to Explore

Obviously hiking is the main attraction and what most people come here to do, but there are other activities on offer here as well.

Ponta de São Lourenço Full day activities: A tour of the area that involves a boat trip to explore the other islands that make up the peninsular as well as kayaking and snorkelling.

Swimming: There are 2 beaches along the trail where you can go for a swim. Praia da Baía D’Abra that is located about 500m into the trail and Cais do Sadinha another spot near the Casa do Sardinha cafe at the end of the trail. So bring along your swimmers if you fancy and cool off for a refreshing dip during the hike.

When is the best time to visit Ponta de São Lourenço?

Madeira has nice warm weather all year round thanks to a combination of the mountainous interior, warm ocean currents and cool wind.
Summer (June–September): The peak tourist season with dry and warm weather with temperatures averaging between 18 °C (64 °F) – 25 °C (77 °F).
Spring and Autumn: Shoulder season with milder weather and temperatures averaging between 14 °C (57 °F) – 23 °C (73 °F).
Winter (December–February): Low season with the most rain and milder weather with temperatures averaging between 14 °C (57 °F) – 20 °C (68 °F).

Our Verdict: Shoulder or peak season is the best weather wise. The trail can suffer during winter where there is higher rainfall as the dry dusty terrain can become muddy and take the fun out of the trail.

How to get to Ponta de São Lourenço

Drive: Driving is the easiest and most convenient way to get to Ponta de São Lourenço. It is easily accessible by car if you are staying in one of the nearby towns or from Funchal 32km (33m) and Santana 26km (29m). 

Bus: There is also a bus available from Funchal that you can take to Baía d’Abra or Caniçal (from Caniçal you will need to walk, catch a taxi or hitchhike to the trailhead). You can check the following link for Public transport in Funchal.

Tips for your visit

• The car park at the trailhead has limited parking so arrive early to snag a spot and avoid the crowds on the trail. 
• If you plan to swim bring along a towel and your swimmers.
• It can be incredibly muddy after it has rained so keep this it mind if has rained recently.
• The peninsular is very exposed, dry and barren with no trees for protections so make sure you bring along protection from the sun and plenty of water and snacks.
• There is a 3 euro entrance fee that you need to pay online. We would recommend paying ahead of time.

Our Experience

We arrived at the trailhead around midday and the carpark was full so we had to park on the side of the road about 700m away from the trailhead. The trail is very undulating where you will be walking along the spine of the mountainous peninsular going up and down the hills. The trail is in good condition with stairs for the steep sections.

The first section of the hike is uninteresting until you reach the top of the first hill and from here you can see along the entire peninsular and there is also a natural arch in the furthest point. From here the trail goes around to the other side of the peninsular where there is an amazing viewpoint where you can see towering cliffs and sea stacks rising out of the ocean.

From here there is a split in the trail where you can go down to the Praia da Baía D’Abra beach for a swim of climb up the toughest part of the trail to the top of another hill and then around to a point where the trail goes across a very thin part of the land. From here there are amazing views looking both forward and back.

The trail snakes its way to Casa do Sardinha which is a palm tree lined cafe that is a little oasis out here in this barren place. You can stop here for a rest or power on to the main viewpoint that is up another steep climb to the top of Pico do Furado. The viewpoint here is absolutely stunning you can see back across the peninsular to Madeira and back the other way across the rest of the peninsular that is separated from the mainland by the Atlantic ocean and stretches for another kilometre or so. 

Once you are done you can stop at the oasis for cold drink and go for a swim at the nearby beach before making your way back to the trailhead.

This trail is fantastic and blew us a away. Completely different to everything else you see in Madeira and easily has the best coastline and coastal views on the island. This trail is really a must do when visiting Madeira so make sure you add it to your itinerary!

Next Stop:

• Levada das 25 Fontes: Madeira’s most beautiful Levada hike!
• Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo (PR1)
• How to spend 48 hours in Funchal

Also check out our YouTube video below 👇