4th day: Round trip of the north-western part of the island

The fourth day of our stay in Madeira will take you around the northwestern part of the island, where you will discover lush green countryside that contrasts with the rural area of Funchal and the south of the island in general.

The first stop is Seixal. Here you will find one of the few natural beaches with black sand that Madeira offers. The Seixal beach is the most beautiful one so make sure you arrive early enough to be able to enjoy it as much as you can. There are natural volcanic pools nearby as well.

Next, set your satnav for Porto Moniz. This town is famous for its large volcanic pools and therefore, it is on everyone’s agenda. There are two places to go for a swim – the paid pools that are much larger and free ones near the restaurant Cachalote. Because you’re on the north of the island, be prepared that the ocean here is very cold.

After a spot of swimming, we recommend you to have lunch here and then head out to Achada da Cruz. Those who don’t have the stomach to take the steep cable car down to the ocean can enjoy the view in the adjacent restaurant. However, for those who are brave enough to do it, either by following the goats’ path or by cable car, you will be amazed at how Madeirense people have been cultivating their fields. The return ticket will cost you around 5 EUR.

The last stop of the day is Ponta do Pargo – the westernmost tip of the island with a lighthouse. For sunset enthusiasts, there is a lovely restaurant just a little above the lighthouse. Here you can enjoy a wonderful sunset view of the Atlantic ocean and the rock formations.

Then it’s just a 70 km return trip on the local highway, which takes about an hour.

In the morning, or on the way back to your accommodation, you can stop at Cabo Girão if you missed it yesterday. Remember the Skywalk closes at 8pm.

The round trip around the north-western part of the island offers wonderful views, and we recommend stopping and enjoying the landscape wherever you can.

The volcanic pools in Porto Moniz are both shallow and deep so you can choose to either sit, lounge or swim in the salty water. The average annual water temperature is between 20 and 21º C – nice and refreshing!

The entrance fee for natural swimming pools of Porto Moniz is €3 EUR per person.

The lava pools of Porto Moniz are open all year round between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm during the winter months and 9:00 am and 7:00 pm during the summer time.

Don’t forget to pack a swimsuit and a towel for swimming in the pools.

The fee to enter Cabo Girão Skywalk is €2 per adult. Children under 12 are free. The viewpoint is open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.