It has been a long time i did not share my road trips, here is the last trip in line.
ARRIVAL DAY - FUNCHAL DAY 1 - THURSDAY 3 SEPTEMBER
Arriving by plane from Lisbon at 18h50.
We pass the security and the covid gates finally after some time waiting we got into the JEEP of Nuno, direction the VAN. Nuno took around an hour to explain the way to use the van, it's pretty complete.
Just a bit too late to make the groceries, we nevertheless decide to run to the Pingo Doce to make the basic buying (water, B-fast and Beers).
Because it was late we decided to stay around the Cristo in FUNCHAL.
We finally met teenagers and decided to party with them at the parking lot (seemed to be the place to be).
ALL ALONG THE SOUTH COAST - ROAD TRIP DAY DAY 2 - FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER
The inital plan was to go to the Farmers' Market, Mercado dos Lavradores but impossible to park the car so we decided to continue the road.
This day we did quite a lot of road from FUNCHAL to MIRADOURO PONTA DA LADEIRA passing by Camara de Lobos, Teleférico do Rancho, Paul do Mar or Farol da Ponta do Pargo.
We slept around the miradouro ponta da ladeira.
NATURAL POOL DAY/ CRAZY CLOUD IN THE LAURISSILVA FOREST DAY 3 - SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER
We drove along the coast to Lombada Velhay, get to the Miradouro Garganta Funda until we reach the Natural Pools
We pass by the one of In Porto Moniz (Beautiful lava pools filled with turquoise clear water from the ocean were converted into something we can call a spa. For a small fee 1,50 EUR you can go and have a swim in several pools of different depth while enjoying waves crashing against the beautiful cliffs).
We decided to set up at the natural pool in Seixal (seemed so much more authentic than in Porto Moniz).
Luis is afraid that i die over all the huge waves, we got out and find a more peaceful place to get some beer).
The day is quite rainy, we finally head back to the car and got into a crazy drive up the clouds, in the Laurissilva forest, where we can't see much (cows passing by, fast cars).
We finally stop at the side of the street, alone, under the rain.
CHILL DAY - HANGOVER RECOVER
DAY 4 - SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
It still rain in the morning we are a bit hangover anyway so we enjoy cooking in the car and resting for the day.
We also finally got some fresh water and a warm shower in the van.
We did not have the courage to walk around, the cloud where quite intense at the top, ocated in a deep valley overlooking Seixal, the collection of Cow sheds were once used as warehouses to support agriculture. Today they are an integral part of the landscape. Set in idyllic surroundings, Chão da Ribeira is where the Laurissilva forest and human activity coexist in harmony.
We finally decided to move a little and check out :
Check out Miradouro do Véu da Noiva
At night we set up on a parking space close to the pick up point for the Canyoning and got some Espetada (local BBQ).
CANYONING DAY / WATERFALL RISCO DAY 5 - MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER
At 9h45, we got pick up by Luis and Pedro from the Harmony Canyoning team https://www.madeira-harmonyinnature.com/.
Let's go for a Level 3 Canyoning session including a rappel at 55 meters, and a 6 meters jump.
Quite an amazing experience, that finished at the seas level.
We paid a total of 80€ per person (instead of 100 eur)
We finished quite early, around 13h, and we took the road to
Miradouro do Cabo Aéreo
Santana (watch the houses)
Crane Viewpoint Miradouro do Guindaste
PICO DO FURADO/PONCHA/SIESTA/PICO ARREIROS PONCHA DAY 6 - TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER
Situated on the eastern tip of the island Ponta de São Lourenço is a great place for sunrise. This place is quite unreal and looking totally different than the rest of Madeira.
Difficulty moderate
Distance 7.1 km
Duration 2:46h (my friend told me 5h)
Points of interest on route:
Mirador De São Lourenço
Many stunning Viewpoints
Ponta De São Lourenço
Ponta Do Furado
Pica Do Furado
Pica Do Furado/Viewpoint
Cais do Sardinha
Parking and start point: Start point & free parking at Ponta São Lourenço car park, map ref N32° 44’ 36.0 W16° 42’ 3.6 just copy and paste into google maps or click the link below it will take you straight to the car park. https://goo.gl/maps/voZyz7nDXCG2
We did not wake up so early this days as last night wide keep us awake for sometime. We got the shorts on, the confortable shoes and starting to walk for 20 minutes around the Pico do Furado (well I start complaining about the fact that is all the same that is feel useless to walk). 20 minutes later after passing the "peito do mar" as I decided to call them and the Mirador De São Lourenço we decided to head back.
New objective of the day : try to drink 5 ponchas each.
We reach the restaurant : Restaurante Casa De Abrigo Do Poiso where Claudio welcome us with some Poncha
- The reginal one
- The passion fruit one
- The "pescador" one
Well we are drunk, Luis decided to cheat and drunk some coca cola in between, i am starting to dance on the table, time to pay and go for an amazing siesta in the forest.
Later on we drove to PICO DO ARIEIRO and spent the night next to the Prainha, there i could finally read my yoga book and Luis enjoy the splendid view over the mountain while listening to some music.
PICO DO ARIEIRO SUNRISE DAY 7 - WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER
Sunrise at Pico do Arieiro
Pico do Arieiro, the third highest peak on Madeira (About 1800 metres above sea level) and skip the Pico Ruivo.
We put the alarm at 7 and got out of bed around 7h30, just in time to admire the sun rising over the Pico do Arieiro, a magic moment when the sun go above the cloud and wakes up slowly.
We decided not to walk until the Pico Ruivo (5h of walking) and instead choose to eat at an amazing restaurant (with some Poncha for breakfast).
RESTAURANT : Restaurante Abrigo do Pastor, Estrada das Carreiras, 9125-080 Camacha, Portugal
Luis enjoyed the company of the animals while i start eating all the amazing stuff they have :
- Sopa de tigo a antigua (5,70 eur)
- Caldeirada de cabrito na panela
With some Sangria.
