Funchal to Sao Vicente via Camara de Lobos

After Câmara de Lobos comes Estreito de Câmara de Lobos (alt. 500m/1,640ft). From here a minor road runs 4km/2.5mi north to the Jardim da Serra (750m/2,460ft), from which there are beautiful views. About 4km/2.5mi beyond Estreito de Câmara de Lobos a road forks left to the viewpoint over Cabo Girao.

9km/6mi further on from Funchal is the little fishing port of Câmara de Lobos (wolves' gorge), picturesquely situated under the east side of Cabo Girao (589m/1,933ft), a rugged headland falling almost vertically down to the sea and said to be the highest cliff of its kind in Europe.The village has long been a favorite with painters, among them Sir Winston Churchill. The village owes its name to the wolf fish which were once found here in large numbers. Beyond Câmara de Lobos the road climbs away from the coast, with numerous turns, to make its way around the north side of Cabo Girao.

Campanário (alt. 300m/985ft) is a village perched attractively on the hillside, with a 17th C. church.

It is 6km/4mi from Campanário to Ribeira Brava (pop. 7,500), a little fishing town beautifully situated at the mouth of the stream of the same name, which is beginning to be modernized. In the main square, which is paved with pebble mosaic, is a charming 16th century church. Standing above the stream is a small 17th century fort. The picturesque Festas de Sao Pedro, with a procession and various folk events, take place here at the end of June every year. The Sao Vicente road running north from Ribeira Brava climbs inland, mostly on the west side of the river, through magnificent scenery.

12km/7.5mi further on from Ribeira Brava the road passes the Pousada dos Vinháticos (alt. 660m/2,165ft), a good climbing base (Pico Grande, Pico do Jorge, Pico Ruivo, etc.) in a beautiful setting.

2km/1.25 beyond Pousada dos Vinháticos the road reaches the pass, the Boca da Encumeada (1,007m/3,304ft), with superb views of the Serra de Água (1,405m/4,610ft) to the left and the Pico Grande to the right. From the pass a path runs west to the Paúl da Serra plateau and the Rabaçal mountain hut.

Once through the Boca da Encumeada, the road descends via Rosário to the coast and Sao Vicente (pop. 5,000). This is a straggling settlement in wild mountain scenery on the north coast of the island. It was partly buried by a landslide in 1928. Sao Vicente is a good site for climbing the Pico dos Tanquinhos (1,524m/5,000ft) and the Pico Ruivo do Paúl (1,642m/5,387ft), both offering magnificent views of mountain scenery, as well as opportunities for exploring the beautiful Paúl da Serra area. From Ribeira Brava to Sao Vicente via Calheta (92km/57mi)