Câmara de Lobos - Praia Formosa - Funchal

Câmara de Lobos is a picturesque fishing village notable for its colourful fishing craft, association with Sir Winston Churchill (a frequent visitor) and proximity to the Cabo Girão, one of the highest cliffs in Europe. The village is located a few kilometres to the west of Funchal and there are frequent buses connecting the two municipalities. In recent years, there have also been attempts to connect Câmara de Lobos with the Madeiran capital via a continuous seafront promenade. Work on this walkway is still ongoing, but this should not deter walkers from tackling what's there already.

Our walk begins from Câmara de Lobos' attractive harbour. Steps rise from the harbour to a cobbled road (the Caminho do Calhau) overlooking the sea. East of the village, this continues as a concrete walkway stretching all the way to Praia Formosa, a pebbly beach backed by a number of open-air bars.

At the time of writing, further progress along the beach was not yet possible, forcing us to climb steeply via steps and a concrete track to a main road, the Estrada Monumental. A right turn a bit further along takes us back down to the coast and a second stretch of promenade, this time extending as far as Funchal's Hotel Zone, where a popular public lido is situated (this is a good place to end the walk if staying nearby).

The full route continues along the main road to Funchal. This is not the most pleasant of sections, but it does pass the famous tea rooms at Reid's Hotel. The real reward for this road-work though, is a stroll through a delightful little park overlooking Funchal Harbour. After admiring the views, we drop down a zigzagging path to the seafront and follow a wide promenade into the centre of Funchal.

Portugal - Madeira Islands - Madeira - Cruise Walk

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9/14/2019 - Deryck Shead

Just completed the walk, but from opposite way i.e Funchal to Camara de lobos, there is now a promenade walk from point 8 right to point 2, the cave tunnel is open between hours of 9.00 to 21.00 every day apart from one section of 100yards which is in pebbles the rest is a walkway. We chose to walk opposite way as we were in Funchal. There is a lit if nice open bars and restaurants in Camara, and you can either return on a bus at least 4 different companies or back same way. (14/09/2019)

11/5/2018 - Ryszard Bialoszewski

We have completed this walk (with slight variations) on a number of occasions over the last few years and until yesterday we have always used the tunnel along the coast just before Formosa beach. The tunnel and section of boardwalk referred to previously are currently closed with no indication as to how long they will remain so. Stick to the map instructions and you will not go wrong.

6/12/2015 - Judith Humphreys

June 2015 - the path is now continuous as far as step 11, where you head for the main road. From step 2 you continue along Praia Formosa on a boardwalk, then a pedestrian tunnel then a good path between the buildings and the sea, rejoining the instructions at step 8 where 'the path is level....'

Walk id: 6781

Walk grade

Moderate Walk

Length

5.7 Miles

Height gain

100 Metres

Duration

2 Hours 26 Mins

Average rating

Rated by 2 members

Dog rated by 0 members