Things to do at Ponta de São Lourenço

Ponta de São Lourenço is the volcanic peninsula at Madeira's eastern tip, and it looks like nowhere else on the island: red and ochre rock, low scrub, no trees and no shade for the entire route.

The waymarked trail, PR8, runs roughly 8 kilometres there and back, three to four hours at an easy pace, and like every official PR trail it has required a paid permit since August 2021, booked online in advance and checked at the gate.

5 litres per person, a hat and sun cream even on a cloudy day, and proper shoes rather than sandals, since the last stretch narrows and the wind picks up. Machico, about 15 minutes away by car, is the usual starting point for the drive out.