Ponta de São Lourenço and the PR8 walk
The bare volcanic peninsula at the eastern tip of Madeira, walked on the PR8: 4 km each way from Baía d'Abra, about 2 h 30, with a €4.50 booking on SIMplifica. Go early, because there is no shade.
The short version
A walk unlike the rest of Madeira: no forest, no levada, just red and brown hills with the sea on both sides. Book a morning slot, park at the end of the road past Caniçal, take more water than you think and something to swim in.
- Distance
- 4 km + 4 km back
- Time
- 2 h 30, about 3 h with stops
- Fee
- €4.50 on SIMplifica, free up to age 12
- Start
- Baía d'Abra, end of the road past Caniçal
- Way back
- Same path, or a boat from €16.50
- Hottest
- July to October: take the first slot
Is the PR8 worth it?
I walked it with my sister on a summer day, and what I remember first is the heat: full sun from the car park to the end, with nowhere to hide. What I remember best is the sea. You have it on both sides the whole way, which is nothing like a walk in the mountains, and at the end you are standing on the very tip of the island with only the Atlantic in front of you. We stopped for a swim on the way, and that cooled us down for the rest of the walk.
So yes, it is worth it. It is one of the best-known walks in Madeira, and one I would put on any first trip, especially if you love the sea as much as I do. Being well known has a price: it is no secret any more, and in the middle of the day you share the path with a lot of people. Start early and it feels like a different walk.
Nothing grows taller than a shrub out here. The wind and the dry climate keep the peninsula bare, and the whole area is a partial nature reserve, with one of the biggest gull colonies in the region and protected seabirds. Monk seals live along this coast too; you need luck to see one. If you want forest, waterfalls or shade, pick another walk.
The PR8 on a map
Where to stop on the way, where to park, where to swim and what is closed: eight stops on two maps, in the order of the day.
Stops 01–04
From Caniçal to the start of the trail
Where to look at the peninsula, where to park and where the PR8 starts.
- Parking
- Food, toilets
- On the trail
- Viewpoint
- PR8
- 1
Food and toilets
Caniçal
The last town before the peninsula, about ten minutes from the trail. After the walk I would eat at Muralha’s Bar, by the sea: picadinho, then a swim at Prainha or Ribeira do Natal. Caniçal guide.
- 2
Viewpoint
Ponta do Rosto viewpoint
A free viewpoint on the way, with the best view of the peninsula from above. No ticket and no booking, and a good first look at where you are going.
- 3
Parking
Car park before the last roundabout
The car park at Baía d’Abra fills up by mid-morning. Later, park along the road before the roundabout. Line 702 from Funchal (the old 113) comes this far on the trips that run to the end of the road.
- 4
On the trail
The last roundabout and the start of the PR8
Snack vans sell cold drinks and snacks before you start. The paid toilet (about €2) opens around 9:00 to 9:30, so an early start can come before it. Toilets here usually cost €1 and sometimes €2: bring coins.
Stops 05–08
Along the ridge to Casa do Sardinha, and back
There and back on the same path, unless you take the boat back from the pier. Number 4 is the start from the first map.
- PR8
- Closed
- On the trail
- A swim
- Food, toilets
Paths follow OpenStreetMap; the watercolour is decorative.
- 5
A swim
A swim below the first viewpoint
A path leads down from the first viewpoint to the water, at the little pebble beach of Baía d’Abra. There is no lifeguard and the sea can be rough, so only go in on a calm day.
- 6
On the trail
The ridge
The path follows a ridge only 2 to 3 metres wide, fenced where it is exposed, with the north coast on one side and the south coast on the other. It goes up and down all the way and there is no shade, so carry 1.5 to 2 litres of water each.
- 7
Closed for now
Pico do Furado
The climb to Pico do Furado is closed because of erosion and loose gravel (IFCN sign). The view from below is excellent, and there is nobody to help if you slip.
- 8
Food and toilets
Casa do Sardinha and the pier
The end of the PR8. A small café by the pier sells cold drinks and snacks, and the toilet costs about €1. The little stone beach at Cais do Sardinha is the place for a swim, and the IFCN camping zone (3 tents, booked on SIMplifica) is here too. Walk back the same way, or take the boat from the pier to Quinta do Lorde (11:00 to 17:30, €16.50).
© OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL. Relief: Copernicus DEM GLO-30, © DLR e.V. 2010-2014 and © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014-2018, provided under COPERNICUS by the European Union and ESA. Painted for Madeira Trip Planner.
On the ridge
The path goes up and down all the time but never climbs high: Visit Madeira puts the highest point at 126 metres. The ridge is 2 to 3 metres wide, with stone steps and rope or metal railings on the exposed parts. Visit Madeira lists the trail as restricted while the IFCN repairs it, with short diversions marked by signs and arrows. Follow them, even when the old path looks shorter.
Works: the IFCN announced repairs along the whole trail from 30 September 2026, reported at around €487,000 and between 270 and 360 days. Toilet prices, opening times and the works were reported by guides who walk the PR8 weekly: check the signs on arrival.
How to book the PR8
Every classified trail in Madeira needs a slot booked in advance, residents included.
Book a slot on SIMplifica
Choose the PR8 and an entry time. It costs €4.50 per person; children aged 12 or under are free but still booked. You only need an email address, not an account. Step-by-step booking guide with the form translated.
Arrive for your slot
There is a tolerance of about 15 minutes. Between July and October, the first slot of the day saves you the worst of the heat.
Check the trail status that morning
A booking does not mean the trail is open. Look at the IFCN trail status before you leave. The fee is not refunded for rain.
The PR8 month by month
The walk is the same all year; the heat is not. The bars show how many days a month reach 25 °C or more.
- 0 Jan
- 0 Feb
- 1 Mar
- 1 Apr
- 1 May
- 6 Jun
- 19 Jul
- 28 Aug
- 27 Sep
- 18 Oct
- 3 Nov
- 0 Dec
July to October. Most days pass 25 °C and the peninsula has no shade. Take the first slot, carry 2 litres each and plan a swim on the way: the sea is at its warmest, around 23 °C.
November to May. Mild, with highs around 20 to 23 °C, so the time of day matters less. There are more wet days, and the wind at the tip can be strong: bring a windproof layer.
Air: IPMA climate normals 1991–2020, Funchal station (58 m), the nearest official station, half an hour away; on the bare ridge it feels hotter. Sea: weather2travel, long-term averages.
Getting there and back
The trail starts where the road ends, a few minutes past Caniçal and about 30 minutes’ drive from Funchal.
-
By car
Park at the end of the road
The car park at Baía d’Abra is free, but it fills fast: arrive before 8:00 to be sure of a space. After 9:00 or 10:00 in high season the car park and the verges are full. Stop at the Ponta do Rosto viewpoint on the way (stop 2 on the map).
-
Walk one way
The boat back from Cais do Sardinha
Madeira Sea Emotions runs a boat from the pier at the end of the trail to Marina Quinta do Lorde, every day from 11:00 to 17:30: €16.50 per adult, €11.50 for ages 5 to 12, 15 to 30 minutes on the water. The marina is about 1 km by road from the car park. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
See the boat times -
No car, no fuss
A return transfer from Funchal
Funchal: Caniçal Transfer for PR8 Hike São Lourenço, run by Do it Madeira. It takes you to the start and back; the trail fee is not included, so book your slot to match the pickup.
See the PR8 transfer
Boat: Eversoul: PR8 boat back, Cais do Sardinha to Quinta do Lorde, checked 30 October 2026. We earn nothing from the boat link. The transfer is an affiliate link: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
How I would plan the day
The PR8 is half a day. The rest of the east fills the other half without long drives.
Start early at Baía d’Abra
There is no shade on the peninsula. In the first hours of the morning the light is soft, the wind is cooler and the car park still has space.
Walk out to Casa do Sardinha
4 km each way along the ridge, with the north coast on one side and the south coast on the other. Allow 2 h 30 for the return walk, more with photo stops.
Lunch by the sea in Caniçal
Ten minutes back along the road. I would go to Muralha’s Bar for picadinho by the water, then a swim at Prainha or Ribeira do Natal.
A short stop in Machico
Half an hour is enough: poncha at Bar da Chupa and a look at the bay. If you started here instead, do it the other way round.
More on the east: Caniçal, Machico and, for a sunset on the way back to Funchal, Garajau.
Want the rest of your week planned like this?
Our family plans your days by hand around the weather: which morning suits the PR8, where to swim and eat after, and what fills the other days. A personal plan from our family is €149 for up to 5 days (€199 for 6 to 8), ready in 48 hours.
What to take
- At least 1.5 litres of water each, 2 in summer. There is none on the trail.
- A hat and sun cream, in every season. The sun reflects off the sea and the rock.
- Swimwear and a small towel. A swim on the way is the best part of a hot day.
- Shoes with grip. The path is gravel and loose stone in places.
- A windproof layer. The wind at the tip of the island can be strong even on a warm day.
- Coins for the toilets, usually €1 and sometimes €2.
Sleeping at Casa do Sardinha
The only way to see sunset and sunrise out on the peninsula.
The IFCN runs a small camping zone at Casa do Sardinha, at the end of the PR8. It takes 3 tents, for up to 3 nights, booked on SIMplifica at €5 per tent per night. There is no water, no toilet and no car access: everything comes in on your back. How camping permits work in Madeira.
The PR8 in figures
From the IFCN list of classified trails and Visit Madeira, checked 22 October 2026.
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
ModerateBaía d'Abra → Cais do Sardinha
Along the volcanic eastern peninsula, with the north and south coasts in view at the same time.
- Distance
- 4 km + 4 km back
- Time
- 2 h 30
- Fee
- €4.50
Visit Madeira lists temporary diversions: follow the signs on the ground.
By bus: Line 702 (old 113) runs from Funchal to Baía d’Abra, where the trail starts, in about 1 hour 20 minutes. Bus times
Our full PR8 guide No car? Transfer from Funchal Route on Visit Madeira
Nearby
- Caniçal Seafood by the sea, the Whale Museum and the natural sand of Prainha, ten minutes from the trail.
- Machico The sand beach, the old-style poncha at Bar da Chupa and the car hire offices by the airport.
- Airport Beach A swim from a ladder under the runway in Santa Cruz, one of my hidden gems.
No car? Line 702 from Funchal
The old line 113, run by CAM, about 80 minutes from Funchal. Only some trips go all the way to Baía d’Abra. On weekdays those leave Funchal at 07:30, 08:30, 09:00, 11:00, 11:30, 12:15, 14:30, 16:30, 18:15, and the buses back leave Baía d’Abra at 09:20, 10:30, 11:30, 12:00, 12:55, 13:55, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:15, 19:35. Weekend times are different. All the useful bus routes.
Bus times: SIGA timetable: line 113 Caniçal – Baía d’Abra, checked 24 October 2026; confirm the times before you travel.
Questions about Ponta de São Lourenço
Do you need to book the Ponta de São Lourenço walk?
Yes. The PR8 is a classified trail, so every walker books an entry slot on SIMplifica and pays €4.50. Children aged 12 or under walk free but still need a booking. The fee is not refunded if it rains.
How long is the PR8 walk?
4 km + 4 km back, from Baía d'Abra to Cais do Sardinha and back the same way. Visit Madeira gives 2 h 30 for the walk; most people take three hours with stops. If you take the boat back, you only walk one way. The path goes up and down but stays below 130 metres.
Is the PR8 hard?
It is graded moderate. The path is in good condition, with stone steps and railings on the exposed parts, but there are steady climbs and no shade at all. On a hot afternoon it feels much harder than it looks on the map.
Is the PR8 worth it?
Yes. It is one of the best-known walks in Madeira and the one that feels most different: no forest and no levada, the sea on both sides the whole way and, at the end, the very tip of the island. Because it is well known, it is busy in the middle of the day. Start early and it is a different walk.
Is there a boat back from Ponta de São Lourenço?
Yes. Madeira Sea Emotions runs a boat from the pier at Cais do Sardinha to Marina Quinta do Lorde, daily from 11:00 to 17:30, for €16.50 per adult (€11.50 for ages 5 to 12). It takes 15 to 30 minutes. The marina is about 1 km by road from the car park at the start of the trail.
When is the best time of year to walk the PR8?
Any month, as long as you plan for the heat. From July to October Funchal has between 18 and 28 days a month at 25 °C or more, and the peninsula has no shade, so take the first slot of the day. From November to May it is mild and you can walk later, but there are more rainy days, up to 9 a month.
Can you get to Ponta de São Lourenço by bus?
Yes. Line 702 (the old 113) runs from Funchal to Baía d’Abra in about 80 minutes. Only some trips go all the way to the end of the road, so check the timetable. A return transfer from Funchal is the other option without a car.
Can you swim at Ponta de São Lourenço?
Yes, in two places: a path leads down to the water from the first viewpoint, and at the far end there is a little stone beach and pier at Cais do Sardinha, which Visit Madeira also suggests for a swim. There is no lifeguard and the sea at the tip of the island can be rough, so only go in on a calm day.
Is the PR8 open during the works?
Yes. The trail stays open while the IFCN carries out repairs that were announced for 30 September 2026, with short detours marked by signs and arrows. Reports give a minimum of 270 days and up to 360, so expect them to continue for most of the year. Follow the detours, even when the old path looks shorter, and check the IFCN trail status on the day.
Is there water or a toilet on the trail?
There is no water on the trail itself, so take it with you: 1.5 to 2 litres each. At the last roundabout, where the trail starts, snack vans sell cold drinks and there is a paid toilet (about €2) that opens late in the morning. At Casa do Sardinha, at the far end, a small café sells drinks and snacks and there is another paid toilet (about €1). Toilets in Madeira usually cost €1 and sometimes €2, so carry coins. The IFCN camping zone itself has no water and no toilet.
Trail facts: IFCN: classified walking routes, updated 2 October 2026 and Visit Madeira: PR 8, checked 22 October 2026 and 27 October 2026. Camping: IFCN: camping in the Ponta de São Lourenço protected area.