Ponta do Sol: a beach village that became Madeira’s nomad hub
Ponta do Sol is a small village on Madeira’s south-west coast with one of the prettiest beaches on the island: pebbles, clear water and a cliff of banana terraces behind. Since 2021 it has also been home to Madeira’s Digital Nomad Village.
My quick take
I was on this beach recently and liked it a lot. It is beautiful to look at and good for a swim. Stop for a few hours on the way west, or stay if you want somewhere calm.
- Best for
- A beach afternoon and a quiet base on the south coast
- Beach
- Pebbles, about 160 m long
- Working remotely
- Free nomad working space, with registration
- Combine with
- Ribeira Brava, Calheta Beach and Paúl do Mar
A good beach that also looks the part
The beach sits in a cove where the valley meets the sea, with the village on one side and a cliff of banana terraces climbing above it. The official tourism board lists changing rooms and toilets adapted for people with reduced mobility, a bar, a games area, a summer library and parking nearby.
It is a pebble beach, so bring water shoes if you find the stones hard going. The water is clear, and on a calm day it is an easy swim straight off the shore.
Facilities: Visit Madeira: Ponta do Sol Beach, checked 22 October 2026.
The quay: a stone bridge and a different way into the sea
Close to the main beach, but tucked out of sight, a narrow lane leads to the Ponta do Sol quay. Most visitors never find it. At the end there is an old stone bridge over the sea and some of the best views in the village, along the coast and straight down into very clear water.
It is also a different way into the sea, but only for strong swimmers. There is nowhere to stand: you get in by jumping from the quay, and the water is deep straight away. Look at the sea first, and if there is any swell, or you are not confident in deep water, enjoy the view and swim at the beach instead.
Ponta do Sol for digital nomads
In February 2021, Startup Madeira, a project of the regional government, chose Ponta do Sol for its Digital Nomad Village. Remote workers who register get a free working space and access to a community of other nomads on the island.
The project’s website still welcomes new members. Check the current address and opening hours of the working space there before you plan your days around it. As for how much the nomads have changed the village, I am honestly not sure yet.
Register with Digital Nomads MadeiraOn the old coast road
The Anjos Waterfall over the old road
The Anjos Waterfall, Cascata dos Anjos in Portuguese, falls straight onto the old coast road, the ER101, near Ponta do Sol. For years, people drove their cars through it for a photo, and that picture is still all over social media.
It is officially closed. Visit Madeira says access is prohibited by the authorities for safety reasons: the old road is often shut because of the high risk of landslides, the surface gets very slippery in the rain, and there have been accidents. Please do not drive or walk under it.
Check the official statusEvening
Sunset: good here, better further west
The beach at Ponta do Sol is lovely in the evening light, and if you are staying in the village it is the obvious place to watch the day end.
If you are choosing one sunset for the whole west coast, keep driving. For me the best on the island is at Paúl do Mar, from the seafront terrace at Maktub Pub.
Read about the Paúl do Mar sunset
Nearby
- Paúl do Mar A fishing village with, for me, the best sunset on the island.
- Ribeira Brava A beach town, and the road up to Taberna da Poncha in Serra de Água.
- Calheta Golden sand, imported, and boat trips from the marina.
Ponta do Sol sits halfway between Funchal and the far west, which makes it an easy stop in either direction.
Questions about Ponta do Sol
Is Ponta do Sol worth visiting?
Yes. It is one of the prettiest villages on the south coast, with a good pebble beach in a cove below cliffs of banana terraces. It works as a stop on a west-coast day or as a quiet place to stay.
Is Ponta do Sol beach sandy?
No. It is a pebble beach about 160 m long, with changing rooms and toilets adapted for reduced mobility, a bar and parking nearby. If you want sand, Calheta further west has an imported sand beach.
Can you swim from the quay at Ponta do Sol?
Yes, but only if you are a strong swimmer. The quay, reached by a narrow lane near the main beach, has no shallow entry: you jump in and the water is deep straight away. On a day with any swell, swim at the beach instead.
Is Ponta do Sol good for digital nomads?
It is where Madeira started its Digital Nomad Village in February 2021, run by Startup Madeira. The project offers a free working space to registered members; check the current address and hours on its website before you arrive.
Can you visit the Anjos Waterfall?
Not officially. Visit Madeira says the Anjos Waterfall (Cascata dos Anjos) is closed and that access is prohibited by the authorities for safety reasons. The old ER101 road under it is often shut because of the risk of landslides.
Is Ponta do Sol good for sunset?
Yes, the beach is lovely in the evening light. If you only have one sunset to give the west coast, though, I would drive on to Paúl do Mar.
Plan your days on the south-west coast
Tell us your dates, whether you will hire a car and what you want from Madeira. We plan your days by hand, with time on this coast if it suits you. A personal plan from our family is €149 for up to 5 days (€199 for 6 to 8), ready in 48 hours.