Garajau: Cristo Rei, the cable car and the beach
A headland between Caniço and Funchal with the statue of Christ looking over the bay. Stop for the view on your way past, or ride the cable car down for a beach day.
How I recommend visiting Garajau
Everything starts at the top, by the cable car. The statue, the views and the ride down are all a few minutes apart.
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Park at the top, by the cable car
The car park next to the cable car station is the easiest place to leave the car.
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Walk two or three minutes towards Cristo Rei
On the way you get the beach from above, straight down the cliff.
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Take in the view over the bay
The whole bay of Funchal in front of you. At sunset, the sun drops behind Ponta da Cruz.
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Walk back and decide
Carry on with your day, or take the cable car down for a swim and lunch by the sea.
The Cristo Rei statue is closed. Since August 2026 the statue itself has been closed to visitors because of its condition; the path and the headland around it are open, while the council and the regional government decide who should repair it. Garajau is still worth the stop: the headland gives you an excellent view over the bay of Funchal, and the beach below is one of the clearest on the island. Source: DNoticias: PPM criticises the stand-off over Cristo Rei do Garajau (28/08/2026), checked 26 October 2026.
A pit stop or a beach day
Back at the cable car, you choose how long Garajau gets.
Under an hour
A pit stop on the way
Garajau sits between Santa Cruz or Caniço and Funchal, so it is an easy stop on a drive along the south coast. Park, walk to the statue, enjoy the view and carry on.
- Best at sunset
- About ten minutes from central Funchal
- No ticket needed for the view
Half a day or more
Down to the beach
Take the cable car down to the beach. It is one of my favourite places for a beach day: swim, have lunch and a drink at the bar by the water, and ride back up when you are done.
- Cable car
- €3 to €5 return
- Runs
- 10am–8pm in summer, 10am–6pm in winter
- The beach
- Pebbles; into the sea over stones
- On the beach
- Bar, toilets, changing rooms, first aid
Not by car. The zigzag road down the cliff does not reach the beach. You end up parking halfway, often awkwardly, and walking the rest, and the climb back is hard at the end of a beach day. The cable car is worth it for the ride alone.
Cable car hours and beach facilities: Visit Madeira: Garajau cable car and Visit Madeira: Garajau Beach, checked 22 October 2026. The fare is not published officially; the range is from my own trips, so confirm it at the station.
Three things to know about Garajau
The stories locals tell, and the reason the water is so clear.
Spot the cow
A cow drinking from the sea
Madeirans say the mountain above the beach looks like a cow bending down to drink from the sea. Look at the cliff where it runs into the water, then let your eyes find the head and the back.
Best seen from the water, or from the beach looking along the cliff.
Since 1986
Portugal’s first marine reserve
The Garajau Partial Nature Reserve was the first exclusively marine protected area in Portugal. Fishing is banned, so divers come for the dusky grouper and, with luck, a manta ray.
30 October 1927
The statue came first
Cristo Rei was inaugurated four years before Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer. It is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, by the French sculptor Georges Serraz.
Reserve: Visit Madeira: Garajau Beach. Statue: Visit Madeira: Statue of Christ the King of Garajau. Both checked 22 October 2026.
Nearby
- Caniço and Reis Magos The beach I grew up on, a seafront promenade and a butcher’s where you grill your own espetada.
- Funchal The capital, for the Old Town, the market and the cable car up to Monte.
- Airport Beach A swim from a ladder under the airport runway in Santa Cruz, one of my hidden gems.
Questions about Garajau
Is Garajau worth visiting?
Yes, even with the statue closed. As a pit stop between Santa Cruz or Caniço and Funchal, it gives you one of the best views over the bay in under an hour. If you take the cable car down to the beach, it becomes a half day with a swim and lunch by the sea.
Is Cristo Rei in Madeira open?
The statue is not; the path and the viewpoint around it are. Since August 2026 the statue has been closed to visitors because of its condition, while the Santa Cruz council and the regional government argue over who should repair it. There was no reopening date when we last checked. The headland, the view over Funchal bay and the beach below are still worth the stop.
Where do you park for Cristo Rei in Madeira?
At the top, next to the Garajau cable car station. It is the easiest parking in the area, and the statue is a two or three minute walk away.
How do you get down to Garajau Beach?
By the Garajau cable car from the top station. A return ticket costs about €3 to €5. It runs 10am–8pm in summer and 10am–6pm in winter. The zigzag road does not let cars reach the beach: you would park halfway down, often awkwardly, and walk the rest, which is hard work on the way back up.
Can you swim at Garajau Beach?
Yes. It is a pebble beach with toilets, changing rooms, a first-aid station and a bar for lunch. You get into the sea over stones, with no sand. The water lies inside the Garajau Partial Nature Reserve, created in 1986 as the first exclusively marine protected area in Portugal, which is why it is so clear.
When was the Cristo Rei statue in Madeira built?
The statue of Christ the King at Ponta do Garajau was inaugurated on 30 October 1927. It is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and was paid for by Aires de Ornelas; Visit Madeira credits the French sculptor Georges Serraz.
Plan the south-east coast in one go
Tell us your dates and where you are staying, and we plan your days by hand, with Garajau where it makes sense. A personal plan from our family is €149 for up to 5 days (€199 for 6 to 8), ready in 48 hours.