Hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado in Madeira, Portugal

Note to my fellow wanderers: This guide was written from my first-hand experiences. I try my best not to over-glamorize any location I travel to because I want HappyWander’s content to be as authentic as possible. My goal is to provide you real information so that you can have the best possible adventures wandering the world. Enjoy!

São Lourenço Viewpoint is a must see spot if you’re planning a trip to Madeira. Judging by the amount of people hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado, I would say this is one of the more popular hikes in Madeira. In this blog, I cover everything you need to know about hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado, including my overall review score and top recommendations. Ready for a beautiful hike in Madeira? Take a walk with me in this comprehensive hiking guide from São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado.

Overview of São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado in Madeira, Portugal

São Lourenço Viewpoint is a stunning scenic spot located on the easternmost tip of Madeira, offering breathtaking views of the Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula. This rugged, windswept landscape is known for its dramatic cliffs, striking rock formations, and panoramic ocean vistas.

The viewpoint is easily accessible by car and serves as a popular stopping point for those hiking the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço trail. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, photographer, or simply looking for a peaceful spot to take in Madeira’s coastal beauty, São Lourenço Viewpoint is one of the most popular destinations on the island. Pico do Furado is located at the end of the hiking trail, approximately 2.5 miles from São Lourenço Viewpoint, offering stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Key highlights to see on the São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado hike in Madeira:

1. Dramatic Cliffs & Coastal Views – Witness the striking contrast between Madeira’s rugged cliffs and the deep blue Atlantic Ocean.
2. Ilhéu da Cevada & Ilhéu do Farol – Enjoy views of these offshore islets, adding to the dramatic seascape.
3. Final Ascent to Pico do Furado – Reach the highest point of the peninsula for a rewarding 360° vista.
4. Clear Views of the Desertas Islands – On a bright day, spot the distant Desertas Islands in the horizon.

Here is a trail map of this hike:

This is a map (via alltrails.com) of the route I did. This is a 3D map of the terrain:

Where to Park

Where to park is always a big question that goes through my mind on any hike. For this one, you’ll have plenty of options. When I went in early December, this hike was very busy. Fortunately there is a ton of parking along the road leading up to São Lourenço Viewpoint. And that’s a good thing because this place was packed, there weren’t too many spots available when I went on a Thursday afternoon.

Here is the address for where I parked: Estrada Regional 214, Ponta do Sol, Portugal

You’ll see parking spots all along the road when you get closer to São Lourenço Viewpoint. If you zoom in the below map, you’ll see cars parked all along this road:

Distance Traveled

According to my Alltrails.com, I traveled 4.7 miles on this hike. In reality, according to my tracking, I traveled over 5 miles. It felt like a long hike.

How Long Does it Take to Hike?

I parked at around 12:00 PM and returned to my car at 4:00 PM. I’d recommend at least 3 hours set aside for this hike and more time if you plan on taking photos and relaxing a little on the top of Pico do Furado

Elevation Change

According to Alltrails.com, I hiked 1469 feet in elevation. It felt about right. When I think back about this hike, while there are certainly hills along this hike, the largest hills are in the beginning (specifically on your way back to the car) and of course on Pico do Furado, which is relatively steep.

Elevation Map for São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado in Madiera, Portugal (via alltrails.com)

Difficulty

If you exercise regularly, you’ll get a cardio workout on this one. However, I wouldn’t say it’s VERY difficult, just moderately so with some good elevation for such a short hike. You’ll be going up and down several times due the nature of this hike going up an down hills along the coast.

Overall, I’d give this hike an 6.5 / 10 in difficulty.

Permits

There are no permits required for this hike.

Cost

You’ll have to pay 3 Euros to hike this one. Boo!

When to Go

I hiked this one in early December, and the weather was lovely and mostly sunny. I think this hike is fine to hike any time of the year. This one might be hot in the summer due to the very sunny and exposed nature of this area.

Recommended Gear

Having the right gear can make or break your hiking experience. In Portugal, preparing accordingly will help you maximize your adventure. I’ll highlight the gear that I brought hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado in December, as well as additional gear that might benefit you:

• The Proper Clothing: In December, it really depends on the weather. I wore shorts and a sleeveless exercise shirt. It’s never bad idea to wear long exercise pants with exercise shorts underneath and a short sleeve exercise shirt underneath if you want to layer clothing so you can take off if needed. I typically roll up a waterproof/windproof jacket and keep it in my pack, but I definitely wore it on this one. I also recommend wearing some thick socks so you don’t get blisters. (If it’s cold, wool are great. if it’s not cold, get something breathable). I also usually bring along a sun hat, which also doubles as a rain hat.
• Hiking backpack with straps: If you don’t have a backpack with straps, I recommend you get one. They aren’t too expensive on Amazon. Your shoulders and back will thank you later.
• Portable charger: If you take a lot of photos / videos like me, you’ll want to bring a portable charger for your phone. I also use the alltrails.com app to navigate so having enough battery is important.
• Water bladder: If you want to save on weight and also help your backpack be more balanced than carrying a big bottle of water in your bag, a water bladder is important. I personally use a 3L water bladder.
• Hiking Shoes: I recommend waterproof hiking shoes. The terrain is not super tennis shoe friendly.
• Snacks: Who doesn’t like snacks? While hiking, even on a short hike like this, some organic gummy bears did the trick for me.
• Bug spray: While I didn’t encounter mosquitos on this hike, it’s never a bad idea to be prepared. I can imagine in the summer you’d find some bugs out on the trail.
• First aid kit: It’s a good idea to bring Band-Aids, a bandage, and some cut cleaning items. I have needed band-aids in the past from slipping on rocks, but I did not on this hike.
• Sunscreen: I used sunscreen on this hike, it was very sunny and exposed.
• Flashlight: If you go anytime near sunrise or sunset, I’d recommend having a flashlight.

Nice to Have Gear:

Here are a few items that would make your hiking experience even better:

• Shoe impact insoles: These can help as you traverse hard rocks along the way.
• Phone tripod: If you go alone or with a group and want great pictures, a phone tripod is key. I use one on every hike I go on.
• DJI Osmo Action Camera: This is my go-to recording device for every hike I go on.
• Hiking Poles: These can help take pressure off your body while you hike.

The Play By Play: My Route Hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado

So what’s it like hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado? Read my hiking guide play by play below:

Parking

There is a ton of parking along ER109 street leading up to the starting point of this hike. And it’s a good thing there is because it was absolutely packed in the afternoon on a December day. I can’t imagine how busy this area would be in peak seasons. This was by far the busiest location anywhere on the island that I saw.

Initial Views on PR8

After parking and passing the roundabout in the road, you’ll notice a lot of people standing around here, taking in the views. If you don’t hike PR8, this would be a good place just to take it in for a bit:

After paying 3 Euros, you’ll immediately be met with some hills to traverse (much tougher on the way back):

The first part of this trail is very man-made, with neat stones and wood set up to be hiked my multitudes of tourists:

São Lourenço Beach

After you traverse the hills above, you’ll be met with the option to go down a set of stairs towards São Lourenço Beach, to be met with a peaceful beach:

When I went down, there was not a person on the beach. Perhaps they thought the reward to go down all the steps was not worth it? Yes, there were a lot of steps:

Middle Section of PR8

The middle section of PR8 is where the path goes up and down Ponta de São Lourenço. This section is quite hilly:

You’ll see your destination off in the distance, Pico do Furado. Along the way, you’ll see some great shots of the coast:

Here’s another beauty:

You’ll notice a thin isthmus (yeah, I had to look that word up) that connects two larger bodies of land that you’ll be crossing at the end of the video, also here on the bottom left:

While you cross this area of the hike, you’ll have some great views of the ultimate destination, Pico do Furado, off in the distance:

All that’s left between you and Pico do Furado is one last valley:

Pico do Furado looks steeper and steeper as you get closer to it:

 

Climbing Up Furado

I wouldn’t really call Pico do Furado a mountain, but it’s more like a big hill that gets steeper and steeper towards the top:

The first portion of the climb is pretty easy, but the pitch continues to steepen as you get closer to the top:

Be sure to turn around a few times to enjoy the views as you continue your ascent:

Pico do Furado

Once you arrive at Pico do Furado, you’ll have some amazing 360 views of Ilhéu da Cevada and São Lourenço:

You’ll probably notice a bunch of people up here, as was the case when I went. I spotted another peak behind me and to the left (from the perspective of the video above). There was no one up there!

This ledge is a great spot to take some photos with Ilhéu da Cevada in the background, like this one:

Hiking Back

After you finish resting at the top of Pico do Furado, it’s time to go back to where you started. The descent from Pico do Furado has some of the best views of the entire hike:

Here’s one more cool shot I took on the way back:

About My Experience Hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado

Overall, hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado in Madeira, Portugal was a great experience. In this section, I’ll highlight the best things about hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado, as well as a few of the not so good parts.

Favorite Parts

Here are a few of my favorite parts of hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado:

Beautiful Coast Views

The coastal views are beautiful on this hike, and you’ll get a lot of them as you zig zag back and forth along both sides of the coasts.

Pico do Furado

I always like conquering peaks, even when it’s not a super tall one. The views of the entire area are available up there.

Least Favorite Parts

Here is my least favorite parts of this hike:

Very Busy

I was shocked that this hike was the busiest of any that I did, including the open portion of PR1. I find busy overly touristy hikes kind of annoying.

Felt Overly Touristy

I have not seen more tour buses at any place in Madeira than this hike. A decent amount of this hike felt overproduced, with less natural surfaces than many of the less known hikes around the island.

Dangerously Sharp Railings

Don’t grab on to the metal rope railings when climbing up Furado, they are full of spikey Tetanus inducing spikes most of the way. Seriously, they need to fix this, you can really cut yourself on these railings if you’re not careful.

Overall Score

While I did enjoy this hike and the area is a must see if you’re in Madeira, it wasn’t my favorite. I still think it’s beautiful with some cool parts to it, but if you’re looking for a more natural hike with less people, this shouldn’t be high on your list. However, if you have the time, do this one.

Overall, I give this trail an 8 / 10.

Tips for Hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado After the Fact

Here are some tips for hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado that I learned after the fact that can help you have the very best adventure:

• If you’re limited on time but still want to see São Lourenço from a distance, I recommend doing this beautiful hike that passes Boca do Risco.
• Don’t touch the metal ropes while climbing up or down Furado, it’s dangerously sharp and spikey.

Final Thoughts on Hiking São Lourenço Viewpoint to Pico do Furado in Madeira, Portugal

São Lourenço is one of the most unique and striking landscapes in Madeira—a statement that could be said about many parts of the island, yet this peninsula truly stands apart. With its dramatic cliffs, rugged volcanic terrain, and sweeping ocean views, there’s nowhere else quite like it. The contrast between the deep blue sea and the earthy tones of the rocky trail creates a surreal, almost otherworldly atmosphere.

If you’re looking for a hike that showcases Madeira’s raw, untamed beauty, São Lourenço is an absolute must-visit. The trail offers an unforgettable glimpse into the island’s volcanic origins, with breathtaking viewpoints along the way. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just looking to explore a different side of Madeira, this hike promises an experience you won’t forget.

Happy wandering to you!