Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Madeira is an island full of incredible hiking trails and variety. One of our favorite hikes on the whole island is on the far eastern point: the PR8 hike to How to Hike Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço.
We did this hike in July of 2025 on our first day in Madeira and it was probably our favorite trail on the island.
If you like this hike, you might also like to the Trail to Pico Arieiro or Levada do Caldeirão Verde.
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Overview of the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço Hike
Distance: 4.3 mile
Elevation Gain: 1,058
Difficult: moderate
It's important to note that the final part of the trail to the summit at the end was not open to hikers when we did this hike in July of 2025.
It takes about 2 hours.
This is a popular hike that offers incredible views of the coast. The trail is an out and back with a loop at the end. The trail is very well marked and you can do the loop in either direction. The trail gains about a thousand feet of elevation gain but it is broken up over the trail with lots of ups and downs.
Because the trail is on the east side of the island, it is very dry with cactuses and fewer clouds. It offers a nice alternative to some of the other trails on the island that are often covered in clouds (although the hike was somewhat cloudy when we hiked it).
Hiking Fee for the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço Hike
There is now a hiking fee for many trails on the island of 3 Euros for non-residents. This includes the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço hike. You will need to pay this online. If you don’t pay this, you can be fined 50 euros. There is not a lot of signage about this, but it is something you will need to do yourself.
How to Hike this without a Car
If you don’t have a car but still want to do this hike, you can do it as part of a guided tour. Below are a few options or you can search for more at Viator.
You can also take a taxi or a bus (#113).
Trailhead and Parking for the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço Hike
The trailhead is at the end of ER109. The lot is actually more like parking spots along the road. There are about 60 spots and they can easily fill up. The spots often fill up so it is best to hike early or later in the day. We started this hike around 3 pm and there were plenting of spots to park. Plan to arrive before 8 am to make sure you get a spot.
The trailhead itself is right at the end of the road and there was a small shop selling some food and water that was just closing when we arrived.
Map of Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço Hike
This map shows the hike. You can see several side trails to viewpoint as well at the closed section at the end that is not included on the trail.
Details of the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço Hike
Start the trail at the trailhead and descend gently. The trail passes through low, windswept vegetation and you will get view on your left of Madeira’s north coast and to your right for the calmer southern waters.
After a short walk you will have a short and stead climb over the first ‘ridge’ This gives you a good view of the bays and cliffs. The wind can be strong here as it funnels over the land.
From here the trail descends into small valleys and winds along the shoreline. Nothing is particularly steep, but the views continue to change with every few steps. Several of the cliffs offer incredible color striation including reds, golds, and browns.
The trail divides into a small loop (go either direction) and passes the Casa do Sardinha Nature Spot Café a small building with snacks, drinks, and bathrooms (this was not open during our visit). This is a good rest point before tackling the optional climb and there are several picnic tables.
Optional Climb to Morro do Furado
For a spectacular 360° view of the peninsula and Desertas Islands, take the final short but steep climb to the Morro do Furado viewpoint. On a clear day, you can see all the way back to Madeira’s main peaks. This part of the trail was closed during our visit in 2025.
Once you’ve enjoyed the views, head back the way you came.
Here are some photo highlights from the trail.
Things to Know about the Hike
Weather
In general the weather on this side of the islands is less rainy. It happened to be cloudy during our walk, which made the hike feel dramatic. Since this hike is very exposed be prepared for sun and wind.
Bathrooms
There were bathrooms at the start of the hike.
What to Wear
I would recomend actual hiking shoes for this one. The trail is general easy walking with some rocks, but it’s uneven in sections and there are drop offs in several places.
Is this good for Kids?
This is a good hike for kids and we saw several younger kids. There are several parts of the hike with drop offs, so it’s probably best for kids over 5 years old.
