The quick version
- The Levada do Norte route runs from Estreito de Câmara de Lobos to Cabo Girão.[1]
- Cabo Girão is 580 metres high and the skywalk was completed in October 2012.[2][3]
- Entry is €2, and the site is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00.[2]
- Cabo Girão is about 15 kilometers west of Funchal, and a return trip on the Teleférico do Rancho cable car costs 10€.[4][5]
- West Madeira: Laurel Forest, Waterfall, Rock Pools, Walk runs 8 hours, includes pickup and starts from US$38.[6]
| Cabo Girão Skywalk | Fajã do Cabo Girão | Levada do Norte walk | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Câmara de Lobos, Madeira | Below the cliff edge | Estreito de Câmara de Lobos to Cabo Girão[1] |
| Height | 580 metres[2] | At the foot of the cliff | Terraced hillside |
| Access | Road and footpath | By cable car[7] | On foot along the levada |
| Good to know | Completed in October 2012[3] | Fertile farming land[7] | Ends at Cabo Girão[1] |
The uniqueness of the Câmara de Lobos Bay was immortalised by Winston Churchill, on the day when, in January 1950, sitting at the Espírito Santo Viewpoint, facing the sea, he set up his easel and painted a picture that he would never forget.
Is the West Madeira walk tour worth booking?
Things to check
- Book ahead in summer, when small group places on the west coast tours go first.
- Pickup is included on the West Madeira walk tour, with options shown when you choose a date.
- Allow a full day: the west coast tours and the levada walks both fill the hours.
- Listed prices are from prices, so confirm the total for your date before paying.
On the day
- Sunscreen and a hat for the south coast, where the skywalk sits in the open.
- A light waterproof layer for the mist that gathers in the laurel forest.
- Grippy shoes for wet levada paths and uneven ground near the rock pools.
- Watch children at the cliff edge and stay behind the barriers on the skywalk.
Cabo Girão Levada Walk: What the Route Is
The walk at the centre of this quiet corner of Madeira is the Levada do Norte route from Estreito de Câmara de Lobos to Cabo Girão.[1] A levada is a narrow water channel cut into the hillside to carry rain from the wet interior to the terraces and vineyards of the south coast. The paths beside the channels were made for the people who kept the water flowing, and they hold a nearly level line, so the walking stays gentle even where the ground drops away below you. Expect damp stone, moss, small tunnels, eucalyptus and long views over the Atlantic.
Cabo Girão stands 580 metres high, and the skywalk at its edge was completed in October 2012.[2][3] Entry costs €2, and the exemption covers residents and children up to 12 years old; the site is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00.[2] It sits about 15 kilometers west of Funchal, which makes the cliffs an easy outing from the capital.[4] The levada route is linear, so most walkers arrange a lift, a bus or a taxi at one end rather than retracing the whole line.
The Walk from Cabo Girão to Câmara de Lobos
The Levada do Norte route runs from Estreito de Câmara de Lobos to Cabo Girão, with the cliffs at the finish.[1] Walk the same line in the other direction and the town at the end is Câmara de Lobos, whose bay was immortalised by Winston Churchill when he painted it in January 1950 from the Espírito Santo Viewpoint, facing the sea.[8] The approach into town is a slow descent through smallholdings and banana terraces, with the harbour and its boats coming into view as the path flattens out.
Transport is the one thing worth planning. Buses run along the south coast between Funchal and the villages under the cliffs, and taxis are easy to find in Câmara de Lobos, so a one-way walk with a ride at each end works well. A return trip on the Teleférico do Rancho cable car costs 10€ if you want to add a ride to the day.[5] Start early if you are walking in summer, carry more water than you think you need, and keep a light jacket in your bag for the damp stretches under the trees.
One practical note on direction. The levada carries you along at a steady height, so the climbing usually comes at the start or the end of the day rather than in the middle. If you would rather finish in Câmara de Lobos, arrange your lift for the morning at the Cabo Girão end and walk towards the coast and the town. The seafront, a small beach and places to eat sit within a few minutes of the bus stops.
Levada paths and laurel forest, the quieter side of Madeira's west coast
Cabo Girão Hike: Skywalk, Cable Car and the Fajã
Cabo Girão is the headline sight here, 580 metres high, with a skywalk built out over the cliff edge that was completed in October 2012.[2][3] It is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00, and entry costs €2.[2] The platform is short, but the drop below it is the reason people come: the terraced fields of the fajã look like a green patchwork far below, and on a clear day the coast stretches east towards Funchal. Cabo Girão sits about 15 kilometers west of the city, so it pairs easily with a levada walk or a half day in Câmara de Lobos.[4]
Below the cliffs, the Fajã do Cabo Girão is a narrow, lush strip of farmland known for the impressive fertility of its soil, and it can be reached by cable car.[7] Bring grippy shoes if you plan to walk on the terraces, since the ground can be muddy and steep in places, and check the time of the last descent before you head down. Many people ride down, wander between the fields, and come back up to finish at the skywalk with the light behind them.
Weather, Footwear and When to Walk
Madeira has a subtropical Mediterranean climate with even temperatures all year round, and its average annual temperature is 20°C (67°F).[9] In practice the island makes its own weather. The south coast around Cabo Girão is often sunny while cloud sits on the ridge, and the laurel forest on the higher ground can be dripping and misty within the same hour. Layers work better than one heavy jacket, and a light waterproof is worth carrying on any walk that climbs away from the coast.
Footwear matters more than anything else. Levada paths are narrow, often wet, and sometimes edged by a drop, so trainers with grip are the minimum and walking shoes or boots are better. A small torch helps in the unlit stretches that some channels pass through, and trekking poles add confidence on the loose cobbles of the villages. Damp air is part of the forest experience, so long trousers and repellent make the woodland stops more comfortable.
from US$38
West Madeira: Laurel Forest, Waterfall, Rock Pools, Walk is an eight-hour west coast day trip with pickup and a live guide.[6]
The West Madeira Tour That Includes the Forest Walk
For a guided day that includes real time on foot, West Madeira: Laurel Forest, Waterfall, Rock Pools, Walk is the tour to look at. It is listed from US$38 and runs for 8 hours, with pickup included and small group available.[6] A live guide comes along in Afrikaans, English, Portuguese or German, and the listing lets you reserve now and pay later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[6] The stops run from Câmara de Lobos and Cabo Girao Cliff to Ribeira Brava, Paul da Serra, Porto Moniz, Seixal, a vineyard and São Vicente.[6]
The day follows the old west coast road, climbing through the villages under the cliffs and crossing the high plateau before dropping to the sea at Porto Moniz. Pack a towel if you want to swim in the rock pools, and keep your camera within reach for the waterfall stops and the viewpoints over the north coast. The forest section is the part people remember, with the vehicle parked at the edge of the trees and an easy walk among trunks that have stood there for a very long time.
The tour suits travellers without a car, anyone who would rather not drive the mountain roads, and walkers who want the levada and forest sections explained as they go. It also works well on a first visit, when it helps to see the shape of the island before choosing where to spend the rest of your time. In the high season, small group places go early.
Other Guided Ways to See the West Coast
If you want a 4WD day with more viewpoints, Madeira: Skywalk, Porto Moniz, Seixal, and Fanal 4WD Tour is listed from US$79 and runs for 8 hours, with 11 pickup options and private or small groups available.[10] It is rated 4.87 from 9,297 reviews, and its stops include Cabo Girão Skywalk, Seixal, Porto Moniz and Fanal Forest.[10] That makes it a straightforward alternative for anyone who wants the skywalk and the pools in the same outing.
Smaller budgets and smaller groups are covered too. From Funchal: West Madeira and Laurel Forest Day Trip starts from US$37 for 8 hours and is limited to 8 participants.[11] From Funchal: West Madeira Waterfalls and Fanal Forest Tour is listed from US$40 for 8 hours, with pickup included and private or small groups available.[12] Funchal: Enchanted Terraces, Porto do Moniz & Fanal 4WD Tour is listed from US$80 for 8 hours, with 22 pickup options.[13]
Fanal Forest, Porto Moniz Pools and the Laurissilva
Madeira's Laurissilva forest has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.[14] Fanal is listed among the island's Laurissilva sites, presented as a mystical century-old forest that visitors are invited to discover.[14] In the mist the trees stand in open, grassy clearings, their trunks twisted and moss-covered, and the whole area can vanish and reappear within minutes as the cloud moves through. Walking here feels very different from the sunny terraces of the south coast, even though the two are a short drive apart.
The Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools have a lounging area of approximately 3,217 m2 and a swimming area of 3,800 m2 that is 2 metres deep, holding around 7,600 m3 of seawater.[15] The pools are cut into dark volcanic rock at the edge of the town, and on a calm day the water inside them is clear and still while the swell breaks on the outside wall. Swim shoes help on the rough rock, and the water feels bracing even in the middle of summer.
How long the west Madeira tours last
Durations as listed by GetYourGuide for each tour:[6][10][13][16][17]
West Madeira tour prices
From prices in US dollars for the listings shown:[6][10][11][13]
When to book the walk
Planning the walk day
Check the skywalk
Entry to Cabo Girão costs €2, and the exemption covers residents and children up to 12 years old.[2]
Decide your route
The levada route runs from Estreito de Câmara de Lobos to Cabo Girão, so arrange transport at whichever end you finish.[1]
Book the tour
West Madeira: Laurel Forest, Waterfall, Rock Pools, Walk takes 8 hours from US$38, with pickup and a live guide.[6]
Pack for both coasts
Madeira has an average annual temperature of 20°C (67°F), so a light layer covers most walking days.[9]
Walk to the town
Câmara de Lobos is known for the bay Winston Churchill painted in January 1950 from the Espírito Santo Viewpoint.[8]
Spend the day on Madeira's west coast with a guided walk
from US$38
