Baía d’Abra on Madeira (2)

Ponta de Barlavento and Ilhéu do Farol ahead (bottom L)    

Climbing up to a high point, for the first time in the walk, we were able to look ahead to Ponta de Barlavento and beyond it Ilhéu do Farol, whilst behind us we were still able to see BV at anchor. Ahead of us, in the lower ground, we could also see a visitors’ centre building surrounded by palm trees.

North coast cliffs (top), south coast cliffs (bottom)

View up from the small quay    

After walking past some more vantage points, the path then took us all the way down to sea level. Tucked in amongst the rocks was a small quay which presumable at one stage had supported the building, now a visitors’ centre, just above us. We never really found out because having walked up to the building we found it to be all closed up. Instead, we started the steep climb up to the final high point on our hike.

Ponta de Barlavento and beyond it Ilhéu do Farol with its São Lourenço lighthouse   

That was a far as we were allowed to go but the vantage point gave us an excellent view down onto the eastern-most part of Madeira, Ponta de Barlavento and close beyond it Ilhéu do Farol.

Looking west at Madeira   

Looking west we could see a lot more of the island but, sadly, the peaks were covered in cloud.

The route back   

We enjoyed the view for a few minutes and then it was time to retrace our steps back to the beach. It had been a good walk and with the spectacular cliffs and the lava ‘chimneys’ the authorities are fully justified in nominating the area a national park.

Back aboard BV, we had our own vantage point from which to view the cliffs. However, despite the fabulous setting, after a second night at anchor in Baía d’Abra we thought that it was time to move on to explore more of Madeira. The only issue was where to base ourselves. Nicky had been trying to get in touch with the marina at Funchal, the capital of Madeira, but with no success. So, as a first step we decided to move into the nearby Quinta do Lorde marina and from there see what we could arrange.

Baía d’Abra, Madeira