Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço Hike (PR8) On Madeira: The Complete Guide
The Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço hike (PR8) is one of Madeira’s most spectacular trails and for good reason. Winding along the island’s rugged far eastern tip, where dramatic cliffs drop into some of the deepest blue water you’ll ever see, this is a must-do Madeira activity.
What makes this hike extra special is the pit stop toward the end of the trail: a restaurant you can only reach on foot or by boat. Pull up a chair on the patio, order something cold, and just take it all in because the views are amazing!
At 5–6 miles, it’s a well-traveled route, so expect some company on the trail. That being said, don’t let that put you off. Keep reading for everything you need to know before you lace up your boots and hit the trails.
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Webcams and Weather In Madeira
Be sure to check the weather forecast because conditions can change quickly. Take a look at the live webcams before making your plans. A quick glance can save you from setting off on a hike or heading to a viewpoint, only to be met with clouds, rain, or poor visibility.
Things to Know
🥾 All classified hiking trails, including Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço Hike (PR8), on Madeira now require reservations and payment through the SIMplficia Portal. Reserve your time and pay your fees right on the portal. Check the status of the trail you want to hike here to make sure it’s open.
- The trailhead and trail get very busy. Plan to go as early as possible to get a parking spot and beat the afternoon heat.
- With the addition of time reservations and payment requirements in 2026, there should be less congestion than during our hike on PR8 in 2025.
- There is no shade on this trail.
- Bring plenty of sunscreen and water!
- There are no restroom facilities at the trailhead (as of June 2025).
- On our return trip, someone had actually brought a potty on a trailer and was charging folks to use the restroom at the start of the trail!
- That being said, there are restrooms toward the end of the trail at Casa do Sardinha, a small cafe, but do not forget to bring some euro coins as they do charge a fee to use the restroom (€1/person).
- Bring some cash to get a drink or bite to eat at Casa do Sardinha.
- You can take a boat to get to Casa do Sardinha and the end of the trail, or you could even hike PR8 one way and take the boat back. Check it out here on GetYourGuide! Just know that the drop-off point at Marina Quinta do Lorde is not at the parking lot where you may have parked.
- It has been reported that the last section of the trail past the cafe is now closed off. This is sort of a “do at your own risk” section. It is doable, and we went all the way to the end.
Don’t Forget Your Rental Car
If you want to make the most of your time on the island of Madeira, be sure to book a rental car and book it early. For the best rates, check the prices and options at DiscoverCars! You really can’t go wrong with DiscoverCars.
If there is one takeaway about rental cars in Madeira, make sure you get the smallest one that fits your party. Roads are narrow, and parking can be tough!
To check out our full 9-day itinerary on Madeira, along with a map of what we did each day, visit our post here!
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço Hike (PR8)
Alright! You’ve got your hiking shoes laced up, your water is full, and you’ve lathered on that sunscreen. Time to hit the trail! You can expect a 5-6 mile hike with a 1,400-foot elevation gain (if you go all the way to the end). Most of the gain comes at the end of the trail, up a steep bluff.
Hiking along Madeira’s dramatic easternmost peninsula is like being in another world. This coastal trail winds over rugged cliffs, offering sweeping ocean views and striking rock formations. Expect rolling ups and downs, strong sea breezes, and some of the island’s most unforgettable panoramas.
Did we mention sea breezes? More like gale-force winds at times! 😄
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Parking Lot To Coastline View
Start by making your way down the stone path trail. As you hike along this section of the trail, you’ll be rewarded with some pretty great views of the trail ahead as it snakes along the coastline through the rocky and brushy habitat.
Hike down into a small ravine and back up using the wooden boardwalk and stone path. The stairs here are very well done as you climb up the ravine on the other side.
After hiking for about 0.3 miles, there are some short spur trails off to your right. This spot is called Miradouro La Salete De Almeida and provides amazing views of D’Abra Bay!
Keep hiking another 0.2 miles, and you’ll reach Miradouro de São Lourenço on your left. This spot has some awesome views of the volcanic cliffs of the peninsula.
Located right across the trail from this spot is another steep trail that leads down to Praia de São Lourenço, a small beach. We chose to skip the beach and kept on hiking toward the next trail junction.
🚶🏽♀️➡️Check out another hike to do after this one! The Vereda Do Larano trail is calling your name!
Miradouro de São Lourenço to The Trail Junction
The next section of the trail between Miradouro de São Lourenço and the next trail junction is about 1.2 miles and offers some epic views along the way. As you continue on the trail, expect some ups and downs as you hike near the cliffs.
Sections of the trail have ropes to keep you on the trail, so make sure you don’t cross these, as a fall could be deadly.
On clear days, you can see some amazing views of the island of Madeira, and even all the way out to the airport and beyond. You might even see some low planes overhead coming in for a landing.
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The Trail Junction to Casa do Sardinha
At the trail junction, stay to the left to visit Casa do Sardinha, the small cafe. Really, either route will take you there, and you can loop back around to this spot later using the trail on your right.
Going right will also lead you to Casa do Sardinha and provide access to Cais do Sardinha, which is where you can take a boat ride back toward the parking area.
Heading left, hike another 0.4 miles or so to reach Casa do Sardinha.
➡️ Looking for a few more fun things to do on the southern coast of Madeira? Check out Cristo Rei, the cable car, and Câmara de Lobos!
Casa do Sardinha
Casa do Sardinha is a great place to recharge with coffee, drinks, homemade pastries, or a quick light meal. While you enjoy your treats, you can enjoy expansive ocean views on the outdoor patio.
This is a perfect place to stop for a rest or use the restroom, too, just don’t forget your euro coins. A bolo de caco, coffee, or even a poncha?! Sign us right up for that!
When we arrived at this location, it was definitely busy. The line for the restroom was fairly long, and the kitchen appeared to be slammed.
That being said, this is a unique spot that you can only get to on foot or by boat, so you can’t miss it! Hopefully, with the implementation of the timed reservation system in 2026, it won’t be as crowded.
⛰️ While visiting Madeira, DO NOT miss the epic PR1 hike at Pico do Arieiro!
Casa do Sardinha to the End
Now, most of the photos that you see of PR8 are of the stunning view at the end of the trail. This section of the trail is technically closed, or rather, at your own risk. Let’s just say, it’s steep, eroded, and fairly treacherous with lots of rebar sticking out of the ground.
If it’s raining, we would probably skip this part, but when it’s dry, it is doable. Just take your time and be very careful. The views at the end of the trail are amazing! From Casa do Sardinha, it’s about 0.3 miles, one way.
🌳 Looking for more fun things to do in Madeira? We have you covered. Check out our awesome itinerary!
Hike Back to the Parking Lot or Take The Boat
Your hike is complete! Now it’s time to hike back the way you came, stop for a bite to eat at Casa do Sardinha, or even take a quick boat ride back toward the parking area.
From the end of the trail, retrace your steps down to the cafe. As noted before, there were two ways to get back, and we recommend hiking the other way back to the trail junction using the trail to the west of the cafe.
This will also lead you to Cais do Sardinha, which is where you can take a boat ride back to the marina near the parking area.
If you know us, we love to hike, so we trekked all the way back using the trail. From the end of the PR8 trail, it’s about 2.3 miles. Not too bad at all!
Madeira Guided Hike
Looking for someone else to do the planning, driving, and parking? You can take a guided sunrise tour with Viator. Check it out here!
Where to Stay
Madeira has plenty of great hotels and rentals to choose from. We recommend picking one location on the island and using that as your home base. You can get anywhere on the island in about an hour or a bit more.
We chose the warm, scenic, and small town of Ponta do Sol as our home base, and we really loved our rental house! Some choose to stay in Funchal, which has tons of amenities.
Here are a few great places to stay in Ponta do Sol:
- A VRBO! If you are looking for your own place to stay on Madeira, check out the great rental options in Ponta do Sol or across the entire island of Madeira!
- 1905 Zino’s Palace – a beautifully restored pink palace in Ponta do Sol, offering an intimate boutique stay in a historic 19th-century building. With elegant rooms, ocean views, and a peaceful pool area, it blends Madeiran heritage with relaxed, modern comfort. Complete with a pool, an on-site restaurant, and a bar. Check it out now on Expedia or Booking.com.
- Enotel Sunset Bay – a relaxed 4-star hotel in Ponta do Sol, right by the Atlantic with stunning sunset views and easy access to a pebble beach. The property offers a heated pool, sauna, and restaurant serving local cuisine. Book right now on Expedia or Booking.com.
Final Thoughts
We completed the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço Hike (PR8) on our first full day on Madeira. As we arrived at the trailhead early in the morning, it was already bustling, but we were able to secure a parking spot along the road.
During our hike, the weather was cloudy and cool. And the winds! Whoo – they were strong! We really enjoyed the views of Baía D’Abra. The cafe toward the end of the trail was also a welcome sight.
We did end up climbing the steep section of the trail to the end, and it was well worth it for the sweeping view. That being said, it was pretty treacherous and steep. Hopefully, the IFCN (Madeira’s Forest & Parks Service) will make some improvements to this section in the future.
After we completed this hike in the morning, we headed to Vereda do Larano, another hike with epic views located in the northeast corner of Madeira, fairly close by.
🛌🏽 Looking for a place to stay with an epic view and pool, too? Don’t forget to check out VRBO or Expedia to book your stay!
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