Skip to content
Explore Madeira

📡 Today's status

The IFCN's official status, read every day. Green only when the IFCN writes « aberto » with no reserve.

● Open · ABERTO

The eastern tip of the island, a landscape apart: 4 km from Baía d'Abra to Casa do Sardinha and 4 km back, about 2:30, moderate, between 23 and 126 m, up and down along a 9 km volcanic peninsula of basalt with a few limestone sediment formations, extended by the Desembarcadouro and Farol islets. A semi-arid climate and northern winds: low vegetation and not a single tree — so no shade at all, hat and water compulsory. A regional Natural Monument and Natura 2000 special conservation area (1,320 ha including the marine part), Ponta de São Lourenço is also an Important Bird Area: nesting Cory's shearwaters, Bulwer's petrels, Madeiran storm petrels and terns, one of the region's largest gull colonies, and now and then a monk seal offshore. Some 160 plant species are recorded, 141 on the peninsula; the Desembarcadouro islet holds the island's last well-preserved native coastal vegetation. Views over both coasts, north and south. Casa do Sardinha, built in the mid-20th century by private owners as a holiday refuge, marks the end of the path (the rest of the point, bought by the Region in 1994, is under total protection); you can swim at Cais do Sardinha. The €4.50 fee also applies to entry into the protected area.

Highlights

  • Natural Monument
  • Seabirds (IBA)
  • No trees: no shade
  • Cais do Sardinha
  • Monk seal possible
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
4 km
Elevation gain
103 m
Duration
2:30 (round trip)
Price
€4.50 (over 12) · SIMplifica booking · free for residents and under-13s
Municipality
Machico
🎟️ Book on SIMplifica🗺️ See the route on the map📍 Start🏁 End

Track for guidance only.

Places within 2 km of the route

  • 🏝️ Bathing spot

    Prainha (Caniçal)

    The east coast's only natural sand beach: near Ponta de São Lourenço, Prainha stands out from the pebble beaches with its natural volcanic sand in coppery tones, and with its arid yellow-and-brown setting, the opposite of the island's green. Just above, the Piedade dunes and their 300,000-year-old limestone fossils, unique in Europe, below the Nossa Senhora da Piedade chapel (16th century). Restaurant, changing rooms, toilets, parasols, loungers and parking. Blue Flag 2026. Bathing season 2026: 30 June – 27 September, a supervised beach with lifeguards assured; classified as a limited-use beach. In a swell follow the flags: red = no bathing.

    🗺️ See it on the map
  • 🌿 Nature

    Ponta de São Lourenço

    The island's eastern tip, a world apart: a nine-kilometre volcanic peninsula, basalt with some limestone sediments, extended by the Desembarcadouro and Farol islets, where the semi-arid climate and northern winds allow only creeping plants — not a single tree. A regional Natural Monument and Natura 2000 site (1,320 ha with the marine part), an important bird area (Cory's shearwater, Bulwer's petrel, Madeiran storm petrel, terns), one of the Region's largest gull colonies, some 160 plant species including exclusive endemics, and now and then a monk seal offshore. Baía d'Abra is a remarkable anchorage; to the west, Prainha and the Piedade dunes with their 300,000-year-old fossils below the 16th-century chapel. PR 8 (4 km + 4 km, 2:30) leads to Casa do Sardinha; the tip, bought by the Region in 1994, is under total protection. Views of both coasts from Ponta do Rosto.

    Protected area: €4.50 (over 12) via SIMplifica, free for residents and under-13s
    🗺️ See it on the map
  • 🌿 Nature

    Estreito (Ponta de São Lourenço)

    Geosite in the parish of Caniçal (Machico). A geosite of the regional inventory, on Ponta de São Lourenço: many dykes, upright or criss-crossing, and faults whose tectonics shaped today's coastline.

    🗺️ See it on the map
  • 🌿 Nature

    Cais do Sardinha

    At the end of the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço (PR 8), after three kilometres of walking one way, a small cove where you can swim. It is not a fitted-out beach: no support services, no lifeguard, and the official page asks for care. The water is translucent and the site lies inside the partial nature reserve. From here the view runs far over the Atlantic, with the Desertas and Porto Santo on the horizon.

    €4.50 per visitor over 12, SIMplifica booking (PR 8)
    🗺️ See it on the map