Ponta de São Lourenço

Madeira's eastern tip is a narrow peninsula of exposed volcanic strata almost entirely without trees - which makes it the opposite of everything else on the island. The rock is layered in red, ochre, grey and black, cut by dykes, sculpted by wind into ridges and sea cliffs on both sides, with the sea visible north and south simultaneously along much of the walk. The PR8 trail runs about four kilometres each way from Baía d'Abra to the Casa do Sardinha, an old house now used by the park service, with a steep optional climb to the Morro do Furado at the end. It is a nature reserve holding endemic plants and seabirds, and the offshore Desertas islands are visible. There is no shade whatsoever and the sun here is intense; people get into difficulty on this trail with heat and water more often than with the terrain.

What you actually see

• The layered rock - red, ochre and black strata cut by volcanic dykes.
• The two coasts - sea on both sides at once along the narrow ridge.
• The treelessness - a bare peninsula unlike anywhere else on Madeira.
• The Desertas - the uninhabited islands visible offshore.

When to go

Year-round; go early to avoid heat and crowds. Three to four hours return. Avoid the middle of the day in summer entirely.

Honest expectations

No shade at all and no water on the route - carry plenty; heat exhaustion is the common problem here. Very exposed to wind, with drops beside the path. The car park fills by mid-morning. Trail closures happen in high wind.

Nearby

Caniçal and the whaling museum are west; Machico is beyond.