Ponta de São Lourenço Lighthouse

Ponta de São Lourenço Lighthouse (Farol da Ponta de São Lourenço) guards the eastern tip of Madeira, in the municipality of Machico. It sits on Ilhéu do Farol, a small uninhabited islet, and has been the island's oldest lighthouse since it first shone on 30 September 1870.

What is the story behind the lighthouse?

Madeiran deputies first proposed a rotating light on this headland in 1861, but the plan went nowhere at the time. Shipwrecks, among them the Forerunner in 1854, kept up the pressure. The design was worked out in 1867, building began in 1868, and the keeper's house and outbuildings were finished in early 1870. The French firm Saulter supplied the light, and engineer Charles Trepardoux oversaw its installation. The headland takes its name from the caravel São Lourenço, commanded by João Gonçalves Zarco when Madeira was discovered.

Sources quote slightly different figures: a focal height of about 103 m and a range of 20 nautical miles are the most common. The light was automated in 1983.

Can you visit the lighthouse itself?

Not on foot. It stands on its own islet, so you see it from the peninsula or from the water. The best vantage point is the final summit at the end of the trail, which looks straight down onto Ilhéu do Farol.

How do you get there?

Start from Baía d'Abra near Caniçal, in Machico municipality. There is a large car park, but it fills up early, so arrive in the morning. From here the PR8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço trail runs east and ends at Pico do Furado.

What will you see on the way?

• After roughly 3 km of ups and downs you reach Casa do Sardinha, the only house on the peninsula, which works as a ranger post and cafe. Toilets are available when it is open, around 10:00 to 17:00.
• Behind the house, steep steps climb to the last peak and the view of the lighthouse islet.
• You can return by boat from the Cais do Sardinha pier if you book that option.
• There are no shops on the trail, so carry water and food.

How do you see the lighthouse up close?

Boat trips from the coast sail past the islet and show Madeira's oldest lighthouse from the sea.

Frequently asked questions

When was the lighthouse built? Construction ran from 1868 to early 1870, and the light was switched on on 30 September 1870.

Is the lighthouse open to the public? No. It stands on the islet of Ilhéu do Farol and is viewed from the peninsula or on a boat trip.

How long is the walk to the viewpoint? It is about 3 km one way to Casa do Sardinha, then a stepped climb to the summit with the view. Allow several hours for the round trip.

Where does the name come from? From the caravel São Lourenço, the ship Zarco sailed when Madeira was discovered.