%20(1).png)
Ponta de Sao Lourenco Hike
- petermorley200
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 hours ago
The Sao Lourenco Peninsular hike is probably the most popular hike in Madeira. There are spectacular coastal views the entire way whereas most of Madeira's other hikes are through forest. Also the weather is more reliable than for the hikes in the interior of Madeira although wind can be a problem.
Unfortunately this means that there are masses of people hiking the Sao Lourenco peninsular and it doesn't help that the trail isn't circular. In addition parking becomes difficult and it's only possible to park a long way from the trail head. Most people advise starting the Sao Lourenco hike early as otherwise the sheer number of tourists spoils the experience.
The trouble is that too many people follow this advice! Also unless you start the Sao Lourenco hike very early you will meet lots of trekkers when hiking back. If you do start early then I would recommend starting at 08.00 at the very latest but 07.30 would be better.
We didn't fancy a very early start and had read that the number of hikers, and availability of parking, wasn't bad from around 16.30. We therefore arrived at the Sao Lourenco peninsular trail head at 17.00. We found plenty of free parking places near the trail head.
I had read that you had to pay an Eur 3 entrance fee for the Sao Lourenco peninsular hike and that fines of Eur 50 were issued to hikers who hadn't paid. I therefore tried to pay at the trail head but there wasn't a ticket office nor any notices about an entrance fee. It could be that the officials collecting the entrance fee had finished work for the day.
For the first half hour of the Sao Lourenco Peninsular hike we passed quite a few other people finishing the hike. After that there were always a few other hikers in sight but it wasn't at all bad.
The Sao Lourenco Peninsular hike took us 2.25 hours but we didn't do the final climb up the hill as there was a sign stating access was prohibited. Quite a few other hikers ignored this sign but my wife didn't want to. Just before the prohibited access sign there is a small cafe. It was closed when we reached it at 18.00.
A few reviewers on the Walkmeguide.com website had complained about the upkeep of this closed part of the Sao Lourenco trail! The metal rope is in poor condition and can cut your hand. Another hiker had to go to hospital as he injured his foot on the steep descent. The slope didn't look difficult to me if hiking poles were used for the descent.
We really enjoyed the Sao Lourenco hike and the scenery was excellent. However, I think that you have to start very early or late or the sheer numbers of hikers will spoil the experience.
See my 2025 Madeira Travel Guide for detailed information about what to see and do in Madeira.
Comments