Madeira's wild eastern tip

A silent cry of stone rises from the east of Madeira into the azure blue Atlantic – Ponta de São Lourenço, a volcanic peninsula whose barren, almost treeless landscape forms a fascinating contrast to the otherwise lush green interior of the island. It is as if the earth reveals its innermost colours here: layers of red, brown and black, formed by ancient lava flows, create a bizarre yet graceful rocky coastline. The popular PR8 hiking trail, the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço, winds its way along the breathtaking cliffs. It is a path of medium difficulty that attracts countless hikers. In the distance, on the windswept paths, you can see the numerous hikers as small, colourful dots marvelling at the vastness of Europe and the untamed beauty of this Portuguese island. Every step on the stony and sometimes slippery terrain is a journey through time, an experience that captivates the senses and frees the mind. The lonely hut (Casa do Sardinha) in a hollow offers a moment of rest before the final steep climb to the highest point, Bico do Furado, beckons, offering an unforgettable panoramic view of the offshore islands of Ilhéu da Cevada and Ilhéu do Farol.