PR8 Vereda da Ponta São Lourenço Hiking Trail

The PR8 Vereda da Ponta São Lourenço Hiking Trail has 4 km, lasting 2:30 hours, exploring the peninsula of St. Lawrence. This route traverses the peninsula more of Madeira Island

The PR8 Vereda da Ponta Sao Lourenço Hiking Trail has 4 km, lasting 2:30 hours, exploring the peninsula of St. Lawrence. This route traverses the peninsula more of Madeira Island

This peninsula is of volcanic origin, mostly basaltic, there are also formations of calcareous sediments. It is classified as nature reserve and is part of the European network of important community sites – Natura 2000.
The semi-arid climate and exposure to North winds have sculpted the underbrush and the absence of trees, differing from the rest of the island and is a veritable natural heritage. Here is the basement floor of the island of Madeira in better condition and several rare and endemic plants.
Along the way you can often see several bird species such as the Berthelot’s Pipit (Anthus bertheloti madeirensis), the goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis parva), the canary-the-earth (Serinus canaria canaria), the kestrel (Falco tinunculus). Also nest seabird protected like Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), the Roque-de-castro (Oceanodroma castro), Bulwer’s Petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) and common-Tern (Sterna hirundo).
At the end of the route we saw the house “Sardinha” property of the Madeira Natural Park, responsible for watching over the area. At the end you can dive in the Sardinha harbor. On the horizon to the south the Desertas Islands and the northern Porto Santo Island.

Distance: 4 Km (+ 4 Km return)
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2.3 hours
Start/Finish: E.R. 109 (Baía d’Abra – Caniçal) / E.R. 109 (Baía d’Abra – Caniçal)
Highest point/Lowest point: 110 m / 5 m
Warning tips: Do not get to close to the cliff ; take sufficient drinking water;