If exploring the extreme eastern escarpment of a Portuguese island is what you want to do for your next vacation, the São Lourenço Cliff Walk is definitely the perfect place for you to do it.
Located in the eastern part of Madeira, the São Lourenço Cliff Walk belongs to the Madeira Natural Park. A walk where you can see both the north and south of the island, and discover the unique species of fauna and flora, observe the curious rock formations resulting from the volcanic origins of the island, and get to know the aridest area of the island, which turn the walk into a magnificent one that cannot be missed!
From the most eastern point of Madeira, full of volcanic sites and high cliffs, São Lourenço greets you with a salty breeze that runs through the rocky desert while you stop to contemplate the view.
On the island, there is no noticeable growth of trees, but if you pay attention you will see how the lichens adhere to the rocks and how small flowers and thistles bloom in the holes. During the tour you will walk through narrow ridges, passing through spectacular rock formations and precipitous cliffs colored in shades of green, yellow, ocher and red.
The path will sometimes cause you vertigo, but there are security cables in the most precarious places that will make you feel very safe. Far below this dizzying stretch, you will see that there are isolated coves of white or black sand, lapped by a sparkling ocean.
The well-marked trail will take you to the end of the land and to a volcanic peak overlooking the southern Desertas Islands, where on a clear day you will see north of Porto Santo, Madeira’s smallest sister island.
Once in the fishing village of Caniçal, you will see a single lighthouse on a deserted island in the bay. Sometimes rare monk seals will be seen on the shore, and lizards will quickly come in and out of dark crevices.
The ranger house also represents a great attraction that you should visit. The house is located in a small oasis of palm trees, where the swallows and the goldfinches come to drink from the fresh water tank. You will also spot sea birds in abundance, along with vultures, kestrels, canyons and colorful flocks of canaries chirping.
São Lourenço is a cliff hike of 8 km total, that will allow you to photograph unique landscapes and perhaps give you an opportunity to picnic on the promontory. This tour can be done at any time of the year, but you must take into account that the peninsula is green in winter and sterile in summer. Another aspect to have in mind is that spring brings a rain of flowers across the island, and that sea breezes are maintained with temperatures that can be tolerated even in height or in summer.
Without a doubt, São Lourenço is a spectacular walk of a wild beauty that is hard to forget. A route of 8.5 km completely different from the rest of Madeira, with cliffs bordered by the sea that will show you the strength of nature accompanied by spectacular views.
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