Go Southwest Island Tour

Follow us Southwest with the Go Southwest Tour

The Go Southwest tour is a good option all year round. The weather is always warmer and sunnier in this area. On this trip, you will travel to less touristic locations and discover many hidden treasures.

The first stop of our journey is the village of Ponta do Sol. Its name “sunny point” derives from the fact that this is one of the sunniest places on the Island. In the 15th century, Ponta do Sol’s main agricultural product was the sugar cane, which brought great prosperity and development to the town.

Nowadays, banana plantations predominate in agriculture. The picturesque bay with a pebble beach invites you on a relaxing walk by the sea. In the center of the village, you may also visit the 15th-century church, the interior is of beautiful Baroque style.

The next location is not far away. Madalena do Mar is surrounded by rocky slopes, high cliffs, and the coastline. The typical pebble beach is a constant while we drive along the sea. Inland you will find the biggest banana plantation in Madeira.

Continuing along the coast, we arrive at Calheta. This is the biggest municipality of Madeira, the final 4 stops of this tour all belong to Calheta. In the village, there are several interesting places to visit, one of them is The Old Sugarcane Mill. It was founded in 1901 and it hosts an important museum space that recreates the history of the factory and the transformation of sugarcane into honey and aguardente (similar to rum). Here you may also try the delicious honey cake. Around the same area, you may visit the local church. By the sea, you will find a promenade, the marina, and the artificial golden sand beach. It is a wonderful place for a pleasant stroll.

The next stop is the small and quiet town of Prazeres. Here you may visit the pedagogical farm, which targets education, awareness, and appreciation of the rural environment. The farm is run by the church, which is right next to it. At the farm’s entrance, there is a tea house, which is made with natural herbs that grow on the farm. Another drink you may try is the delicious natural cider. On the farm, you will find a variety of animals, such as pigs, goats, turkey, ducks, and donkeys. Around lunchtime we arrive at Ponta do Pargo, here the break will be for about 90 minutes. You will find a few family restaurants in the area.

Ponta do Pargo is on the extreme Southwest point of Madeira. Here you will find the well-known lighthouse, built on a steep hillside at 290 meters above sea level. It was constructed in 1922 to help fishermen navigate in the dangerous coastline.

After lunch, we drive to the traditional fishing village of Paúl do Mar. It is considered to be one of the warmest places in Madeira, even in the winter, the temperature is quite warm. The small village is located under high cliffs. As you walk along the seafront you will see a pebble beach. This is a popular location for surfers, it is considered by some as one of the best places to surf in Europe.

Afterward, we reach Jardim do Mar, a remote village that until 1960 could only be reached by boat. The town is surrounded by colorful wildflowers and steep cliffs. Jardim do Mar preserves the tranquility of the past, which the old narrow streets still bear witness. The promenade built across the village offers a pleasant walk from one end to the other.