Hiking the Stunning Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço (PR8) in Madeira
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço (PR 8) is one of the most unique hikes in Madeira and one of our personal favourites – so much that we’ve hiked it four times!
On this amazing coastal hike in Madeira, you’ll get to experience some of the beautiful coastlines this island has to offer. We honestly just can’t get enough of it.
This hike is also known as the Dragon’s Tail – and no, we didn’t make that up! Once you’re on the trail, you’ll know exactly what we mean.
This hike will take you to the most eastern part of Madeira – all the way to the viewpoint, Ponta de São Lourenço. It will also take you to Praia de São Lourenço Beach, where you’ll be able to go for a nice refreshing swim in the ocean after your hike – if you’re brave enough to enter the cold water!
On a clear day, you may be able to see Deserta Grande and Porto Santo, the other islands off the coast of Madeira (which are also a part of Madeira).
Even though Madeira is known for its volcanic rock, the island is very lush and green, and you’ll see that as you hike the Dragon’s Tail to the viewpoints along this trail.
You’re in for an absolute treat with this one!
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What to expect when hiking the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
This isn’t going to be the most gruelling and challenging hike you do in Madeira, but it still is quite a long hike – and the Madeira heat can make it pretty challenging, depending on what time of year you go.
The hike itself is out in the open, so you’ll be exposed to the sun on the entire hike. Luckily, there are two beaches along the hike called Praia das Sardinhas and Praia de São Lourenço, where you’ll be able to swim in the ocean.
Along the hike, right before the final ascent to the Miradouro de São Lourenço, there’s a little cafe where you can order food, book boat tours, and use the restroom (for 1 Euro).
We stopped there before the final ascent to get some food and fuel our bodies, so we were ready for the last stretch. Note that this café is a bit more costly than other places on the island due to its location.
Throughout the hike, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of coastal cliffs and different shades of blue within the ocean. It is out-of-this-world beautiful!
There’s a reason the Ponta de São Lourenço hike (PR 8) is one of the most famous hikes on the island.
Practical information about hiking Ponta de São Lourenço
Official name: PR8 – Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
Distance: 7.4 km return / 4.6 miles return
Elevation: Roughly 412 m / 1351 ft. elevation gain
Type: In-and-out trail
Length: 3-4 hours return (including lunch and a dip in the ocean)
Difficulty: Moderate
Fee: €4.5 per person (learn more here)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço.
⚠️ Important: There’s a €4.5 fee to do this hike, which you need to pre-book your time slot and pay before you start the hike. Alternatively, you can do this hike on a guided tour.
Here’s a picture of the beginning of the PR 8 Ponte da São Lourenço Trail:
Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information, such as recent wildlife sightings and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.
Hiking to Miradouro de São Lourenço
The trail starts directly next to the car park and the bus stop (more on this in the “how to get there section” below).
There’s signage and a map that shows the area around São Lorenço. The trail is really easy to follow, and, as long as you stay on the trail, you won’t get lost.
A few minutes into the hike, there will be a fork in the road. Make sure to stay on the trail that goes right and not the left. Then you’re all set up for success!
You’ll run into a small wooden bridge right away, where you’ll start to get a feel for the hike and the views that are going to come from hiking the Dragon’s Tail!
Early into the hike, there will be a bunch of stops for viewpoints and little side paths that take you to cool little viewpoints overlooking the hike.
We definitely recommend stopping at these as they offer some great views of the coast and don’t add that much time to your hike!
Then you’ll come to the famous viewpoint of São Lorenço (Miradouro de São Lourenço)! It overlooks the north side cliffs and the wild Atlantic Ocean.
It’s a great spot to enjoy the view for a few minutes, and if you look to the south, you’ll see Praia de São Lourenço, which is a beach you can go for a dip in on the way back!
Also read: 3 Beautiful Natural Pools in Madeira (Worth Visiting) 🌊
From Miradouro de São Lourenço to Casa do Sardinha
This next section of the hike takes you to more beautiful viewpoints, and you’ll really start to notice the volcanic rock that covers the majority of this hike.
It’s why we recommend wearing some proper hiking shoes because, even though the trail is somewhat well-maintained, it’s not that pleasant walking on the volcanic surface in shoes that aren’t meant for this kind of terrain.
As you get further and further into the hike, the Casa do Sardinha Café will start to come into view. We stopped here before the summit to the top because we really needed a bathroom break and some shade for a few minutes.
You can use the toilets here for €1, buy some coffee and food, and if you feel like it, there are also scenic boat tours that leave from here that’ll take you out to the tip of São Lourenço, where you can see the oldest lighthouse in Madeira!
We actually brought our own food, but we bought a little sandwich and a coffee, so we didn’t just sit at their picnic tables without buying anything.
We spent a good half hour at Cais do Sardinha, enjoying the shade and having some lunch. It’s a nice spot to take a little break before the final push to the final viewpoint!
From Cais do Sardinha to Miradouro Ponta do Furado
This is the final stretch! It’s a short but steep little hike up to Miradouro Ponta do Furado.
It’s basically just a straight-up natural staircase to the viewpoint, and it should take you around 20 minutes or so to get to the top from Cais do Sardinha.
Every few minutes, make sure you take a look back and admire the view. The Dragon’s tail really comes to life when you look back at the part of the trail you’ve already completed – and soon enough, you’ll be at the final viewpoint.
The “platform” (which is just a big patch of dirt), is actually quite large, and there’s plenty of room to take some amazing photos.
If you can get a photo with the little island right behind the viewpoint, it looks absolutely amazing!
Just please be careful and don’t go past the railings – even if they’re broken. They were put in place there for a reason, and that is to keep you safe.
Once you’ve taken it all in and enjoyed the epic view from the top, you can make your way back to Cais do Sardinha, where the trail to the “hidden” beach awaits.
From Cais do Sardinha to the “hidden” beach
While we call this the hidden beach, it’s not a secret. There are trail markings to it, and sometimes boats will go here, too! The name of the beach is Praia das Sardinhas.
To get to this little beach, you will walk through the Cais do Sardinha Cafe (going towards the ocean), and you will end up on this little walking trail that will take you down to the beach. It’s super easy to find and takes roughly 5 minutes to get there.
At the beach, you’ll find a little concrete slab where you can lay down your towel and go for a nice little dip.
Shockingly, even in February, when we did this, the temperature of the ocean was roughly 19 degrees Celsius!
It may feel a little cold in the beginning, but once you’re in the water, it’s amazing! You can check the water temperature for Machico here, which is pretty close by.
If you took the bus to the hike, one thing we suggest you do before swimming is to look at the bus schedule, so you can time it right so you don’t have to wait long at the parking lot.
If you are taking the bus, we’d recommend giving yourself at least 45 minutes from the beach back to the parking lot where the hike starts.
From Praia das Sardinha back to the beginning of the hike
As we mentioned before, give yourself at least 45 minutes to get back, but if you want to enjoy it and not have to rush, then we’d say at least an hour. The trail back is just the same one you came in on.
Once you get back to the trailhead, you might see a few stands that sell drinks and ice creams, and there you’ll also be able to pay to access the toilet facilities if you need.
What to bring on the PR8 trail
Since Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço is along the coast and completely exposed, the weather can change quite a bit.
Wind and rain can literally come at any time, and if it’s not raining and windy, then it’s likely going to be hot with plenty of sunshine and no shade.
For that reason, it’s definitely good to bring some extra layers so you can dress up for bad weather or protect yourself from the sun and the heat.
And if you want to go swimming, then definitely bring a bathing suit and a towel so you can enjoy a dip in the Atlantic. A fibre towel is a good option since it’s lightweight and dries quickly.
Packing list for the PR8 hike in Madeira:
- Water! While you can buy some at Cais do Sardinha, it’s quite far into the hike, so you definitely want to have some water before then. We always bring our Nalgene bottles on hikes (and put a sticker on them from every destination).
- Sunscreen is highly recommended when hiking in Madeira. Especially on this hike since you’re literally exposed the entire time!
- It’s good to bring a power bank on this hike because it’s a pretty long day, and you want to make sure you’ve got enough battery to make it back to your accommodation after the hike.
- Bring some lunch for a nice picnic or buy a sandwich at Cais do Sardinha. They accept credit cards and cash!
- A microfiber towel is perfect to fit in your day hiking bag. It’s small and can fit almost anywhere. Don’t forget your bathing suit as well if you plan to jump into the ocean!
- Hiking poles are also a good idea for the ascents and descents throughout the hike, but they aren’t a necessity.
You can check out this great list of hiking gear to get some more inspiration!
Before you hike Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
Check the weather on this side of Madeira
No matter where you hike, you should always check the weather before you go on the island. Madeira has a micro-climate, so the weather is always changing.
This is the best way to prepare for the hike ahead of you. You can check the weather near Canical, the city next to the hike here. If you’re flexible with the day you go then try to go on a clear day (just remember to pre-book your trail access).
There are so many amazing viewpoints and they’re more visible and more beautiful on a clear day. You’ll be able to see the other islands and far into the Atlantic as well!
Wear hiking shoes
We did this hike in our running shoes and we kind of wish we would’ve worn our hiking shoes!
The trail is really well maintained but there are sections where you hike on volcanic rock and it’s really nice to have a proper hiking shoe for it.
Also, hiking shoes just offer that extra bit of protection for your ankle and the sole of your foot that regular shoes don’t!
Check the bus schedule
If you’re planning to take public transport, it’s not a bad idea to at least try and have a rough idea of what bus you’ll take there and back (time-wise).
Bus 113 (Caniçal – Baía D’Abra) stops right downtown Funchal on the main road next to the ocean and takes you all the way to the trailhead.
You can find the bus timetables here for SIGA 113.
How to get to PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço
Ponta de São Lourenço is the most Eastern part of Madeira, and luckily, it’s pretty easy to get to, no matter where on the island you’re staying.
You can go there either by car or by bus (depending on where you’re staying). Below you can find a few different options…
Bus from Funchal to PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço
One of the nice parts of this specific hike is that (as mentioned right above) you can actually take bus 113 from Funchal directly to this parking lot.
This is really nice since not many of the hikes are accessible by public transport, at least not this easily.
You can see the bus schedule for bus 113 here. Make sure to look at the right day of the week since the schedule changes depending on what day you go.
Even though buses are usually never on time in Funchal, the 113 is one of the ones that is pretty much always on time!
Getting to Ponta de São Lourenço by car
Here are the distances and timeframes to the Ponta de São Lourenço parking lot, where the hike starts from:
From Funchal to Ponta de São Lourenço parking lot:
- 35-minute drive (35 kilometres), mostly on highway
- You can follow the directions from Funchal to Ponta de São Lourenço here.
From Ponta do Sol to Ponta de São Lourenço parking lot:
- 55-minute drive (55 kilometres), mostly on highway
- You can follow the directions from Ponta do Sol to Ponta de São Lourenço here.
📍 Want to know about all the best spots in Madeira?
Then check out our Madeira Maps with +135 locations around the island that we have personally visited and love! 🗺️
Renting a car in Madeira
If you want the ultimate flexibility for your trip to Madeira, we suggest getting your own rental car. While it is possible to get around via guided tours & buses, it’s a lot more convenient to have a car. This is what we do every time we come here.
We usually book through Discover Cars and select pick up the car at the Madeira Airport to get the best rate.
Prices do change all the time based on supply and demand, so if you know you’ll be driving a lot and want that freedom to explore the island on your own time, it’s best to book your car in advance.
🚗 Also read: What’s It Like Driving in Madeira? 🚗
Going on a guided tour
As we mentioned before, Ponta de São Lourenço can also be done as a guided tour from Funchal. We’ve done multiple guided walks on the island (such as Levada 25 Fontes and Pico do Arieiro), and we’ve loved them!
We find that going on a guided tour is a great way to start off your trip in Madeira, so you can connect with a local and get to know the island better – and get some good insider tips & personal recommendations (we’ve included some of these in our digital guide here as well).
The tour company will pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation, and they’ll also make sure you’ve got the hiking permit, so all you have to do is lean back and enjoy the ride.
We didn’t do this specific hike as a guided tour, but the other ones we did were with the same company that offers this one so we’re sure it’s just as amazing.
If you’re interested, you can book your guided tour on Viator with Lido Tours for €39 per person (or on GetYourGuide for €43).
We’ve done almost 10 guided tours with Lido Tours and they’ve always been great! It’s a family-run business in Madeira that’s been around since 1996.
*We usually book our guided tours on GetYourGuide, but for this specific hike, Viator actually has the cheapest option available.
Best time to hike Ponta de São Lourenço
One thing to know about the Dragon’s Tail is that it’s one of Madeira’s most popular hikes. It’s easy to get to and absolutely stunning, so lots of tourists and guided tours make their way to Ponta de São Lourenço on the daily.
Especially during the summer months, when it gets crazy busy, so if you can go earlier in the day and on a weekday, you’ll find more room to yourself on the trail.
If you’re staying in Funchal and plan to take the 113 bus to the hike, then try to catch the first bus (or at least one of the earlier buses). And have your pre-booked time slot sorted beforehand.
If you’re renting a car, then try to be there around 8:30 am – 9 am and beat the majority of the crowds! Or even better, try hitting the trail for sunrise!
If you’re travelling during the winter or during shoulder season, timing is less important, but as Madeira is seeing an increase in popularity, it’s starting to get busy year-round.
One way to avoid the crowds is to go swimming at Praia das Sardinha. It’s still somewhat of a hidden gem, and a lot of people can’t be asked to go for a swim in the middle of the hike – but as you can probably tell by now, this is one of the highlights for us!
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- The Ultimate Packing List for Madeira
Recap of hiking Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
That’s everything you need to know before hiking the famous Dragon’s Tail trail, also known as Vereda de Ponta de São Lourenço.
As we mentioned, it is one of the more popular hikes in Madeira and also one of our favourites that is easily accessible by public transport, close to Funchal.
It’s definitely one you can’t miss once you’re on the island. We hope you enjoy hiking the Dragon’s Tail on Madeira’s most Eastern point.
It feels like this is the only hike on the island without Levadas and waterfalls, which makes it even more unique. You get to see some epic coastline, cliffs, and viewpoints of the dragon’s tail itself – and its unlike any other hike we’ve ever done.
Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit so you can enjoy the cool Atlantic Ocean. You seriously won’t regret it! We’d love to hear your favourite part of the hike and if you end up making it to the beach or not. It’s the best!
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