Cliffs, Sun, and a Few Bruised Thumbs

We landed in Madeira at night, grabbed our rental car, and drove straight to the hotel. The next morning, we were off on our first adventure – anyone expecting a chill, relaxing trip clearly hadn’t met us. We were here to rack up the kilometers!

Our first stop: Ponta de São Lourenço. Wow. The cliffs, the ocean, the wind-swept landscape – it’s like nothing else. Luckily, it was still cool in the morning, because by midday the sun really hits.

You definitely need good shoes here. At least solid trekking shoes, ideally full-on hiking boots. The trail is supposed to be “easy to moderate,” but with all the uneven ground, endless ups and downs, and steps, I’d call it at least moderately challenging. Not for anyone with knee problems or limited mobility. My lungs were screaming, and I had to take several breaks, genuinely feeling like I couldn’t catch my breath.

The last part of the trail? Totally optional. I tried going further, but after a steel cable slipped through my hand and ripped my thumb, I decided enough was enough. Even turning back was tricky. The rocks are slick, and there’s no real path.

Still, I don’t regret stopping where I did – the views along the way were jaw-dropping. Coming back, the sun was blazing, making the trail even tougher. But on the bright side, little lizards came out of their hiding spots to bask on the warm rocks, which was a cute little reward for surviving the hike.Read more