Ponta São Lourenço is a narrow peninsula near the town of Machico and the easternmost point of Madeira.
Unlike the evergreen rest of Madeira, the colour of the peninsula changes with the seasons. The peninsula receives significantly less rain than the rest of Madeira and is also battered by strong winds from the ocean all year round, which makes the soil even drier.
Thus, while in winter and early spring Ponta São Lourenço is covered in lush green grass (no taller vegetation grows here), in summer and autumn the local landscape resembles another world, a semi-desert, a desert or rather a lunar surface.
Trail PR 8
Entrance to the trail is paid and costs 3 eur and must be booked online at simplifica.madeira.gov.pt.
The PR 8 trail runs through the peninsula, starting about 5km outside the town of Caniçal at the end of a road with a large free car park.
From there, the marked and maintained trail follows the edges of jagged cliffs up to 200 metres high, with ocean water crashing against them, to the end, which is the top of the Pico de Furado. From here you can see even further to the true easternmost point of Madeira - the islet of Faro with its lighthouse, but which is impossible to reach.
Between the end of the peninsula and Faro is the islet of Cevada, which at low tide can theoretically be reached by dry foot. In practice, however, it is worse, as there is no viable path from Pico de Furado down to the gap between the mainland and the island.
About halfway between Caniçal and the car park, you can still turn off and follow the tarmac to the Ponta de Rosto viewpoint (at the roundabout, follow the signpost "Miradouro").
Prainha Beach
Near the small marina Marina da Quinta Grande, about 2 km after Caniçal, you will find the small beach Prainha, about 60 metres long, on the right.
It is the only natural sandy beach in Madeira (the others in Machico and Calheta have sand artificially imported from Africa or mainland Portugal).
It is black fine lava sand, the sea is protected by a bay and you can have a snack in a small restaurant right next to the beach.
Accommodation
Choose accommodation near Ponta de São Lourenço if you love the unusual views from the jagged cliffs and can't get enough of them. The ideal length of stay on site will be 1-2 days. The town of Caniçal offers the most accommodation, mostly cheap apartments.
How to get there
By car, the journey is easy. From Funchal, take the motorway towards the airport, which you will pass and continue to the end of the motorway to the town of Caniçal (after about 31 km). Here, follow the signs "Ponta de São Lourenço", which will lead you to the car park.
Bus transport is also easy. From Funchal, line 113 runs directly to the parking lot at the trailhead of PR 8, about once an hour. The final stop is called Baía d'Abra.
Tickets from Funchal cost 3,35 eur, from Machico or Caniçal 1,30 eur.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Madeira.
