Round trip route 4 from Funchal to Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Nick Carthew - (MRA Master)
Last edit: 12-01-2022
Route Summary This route and 4 other routes will form a collection of 5 round trip routes all starting from the Hotel Dorisol Florasol in the capital city of Funchal.
The views are breathtaking and the roads thrilling making this a 4**** star route.
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Verdict
Duration
3h 25m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
139.32 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review After leaving the hotel, this route passes through 11 tunnels in the first 15 minutes and then travels through the semi urban hillside on a twisty road passing many banana plantations terraced into the hillside. Madeira was a big banana exporter in Europe until the EU regulations on the size of bananas changed. Many of the bananas that grow on the island of Madeira don’t grow up to EU standards, and thus can not be exported out of Portugal anymore. Now 80% of the bananas on island are exported to mainland Portugal, and banana growing is still a big business. Madeirans seem to be very proud of their small bananas!
An even more twisty road with several hairpin bends takes you up to an altitude of over 1400 m to join the ER110 to follow ridge lines to the north west coast. This is a great road that has viewpoint all along it.
Leaving the ER110 for the ER101 takes you through the lush green hillsides. The island's all year round mild climate helped Madeira to be awarded with the decorative suffix 'Floating Floral Island in the Atlantic'. Bird of paradise and Torch Lilies, Daisies and Hydrangea - leave no doubt: Madeira is rich in flowers like no other island.
A quick detour off the road at RP 26 takes you to the island's most westerly point and the Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse. The views from here are spectacular and looking due west, the next landfall would be South Carolina in the USA nearly 6ooo kms away.
Heading back now along the south coast. I have added a stop for lunch or coffee at a cliff-top restaurant that has simply fabulous views. The road after lunch takes you down to sea level on a narrow road with hairpin bends that have no protection - don't take your eyes off the road for too long to admire the beautiful vista!!
The section between RPs 41 - 45 is an old coastal road with crude tunnels carved through the rock and waterfalls across the poorly surfaced road, there is also the chance of falling rocks. I have given instructions on RP 41 for an alternative route if you don't want to take a chance.
Having said all of that, the road has some incredible views as you emerge from tunnels and where else can you ride under a waterfall?
Back through the 10 short tunnels on the VR1 to the hotel finishes this route.
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Nearby routes 
Madeira
About this region
Madeira ( mə-DEER-ə, US also -DAIR-, Portuguese: [mɐˈðejɾɐ, -ˈðɐj-]), officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira (Portuguese: Região Autónoma da Madeira), is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal, the other being the Azores. It is an archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, in a region known as Macaronesia, just under 400 kilometres (250 mi) to the north of the Canary Islands and 520 kilometres (320 mi) west of Morocco. Madeira is geologically located on the African Tectonic Plate, though the archipelago is culturally, economically and politically European. Its total population was estimated in 2016 at 289,000. The capital of Madeira is Funchal, which is located on the main island's south coast.
The archipelago includes the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Desertas, administered together with the separate archipelago of the Savage Islands. The region has political and administrative autonomy through the Administrative Political Statute of the Autonomous Region of Madeira provided for in the Portuguese Constitution. The autonomous region is an integral part of the European Union as an outermost region. Madeira generally has a very mild and moderate subtropical climate with mediterranean summer droughts and winter rain. Many microclimates are found at different elevations.
Madeira was claimed by Portuguese sailors in the service of Prince Henry the Navigator in 1419 and settled after 1420. The archipelago is considered to be the first territorial discovery of the exploratory period of the Age of Discovery.
As of 2017, it was a popular year-round resort, being visited every year by about 1.4 million tourists, almost five times its population. The region is noted for its Madeira wine, gastronomy, historical and cultural value, flora and fauna, landscapes (laurel forest) that are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and embroidery artisans. The main harbour in Funchal has long been the leading Portuguese port in cruise liner dockings, receiving more than half a million tourists through its main port in 2017, being an important stopover for commercial and trans-Atlantic passenger cruises between Europe, the Caribbean and North Africa. In addition, the International Business Centre of Madeira, also known as the Madeira Free Trade Zone, was created formally in the 1980s as a tool of regional economic policy. It consists of a set of incentives, mainly tax-related, granted with the objective of attracting foreign direct investment based on international services into Madeira.
Read more on Wikipedia
The archipelago includes the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Desertas, administered together with the separate archipelago of the Savage Islands. The region has political and administrative autonomy through the Administrative Political Statute of the Autonomous Region of Madeira provided for in the Portuguese Constitution. The autonomous region is an integral part of the European Union as an outermost region. Madeira generally has a very mild and moderate subtropical climate with mediterranean summer droughts and winter rain. Many microclimates are found at different elevations.
Madeira was claimed by Portuguese sailors in the service of Prince Henry the Navigator in 1419 and settled after 1420. The archipelago is considered to be the first territorial discovery of the exploratory period of the Age of Discovery.
As of 2017, it was a popular year-round resort, being visited every year by about 1.4 million tourists, almost five times its population. The region is noted for its Madeira wine, gastronomy, historical and cultural value, flora and fauna, landscapes (laurel forest) that are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and embroidery artisans. The main harbour in Funchal has long been the leading Portuguese port in cruise liner dockings, receiving more than half a million tourists through its main port in 2017, being an important stopover for commercial and trans-Atlantic passenger cruises between Europe, the Caribbean and North Africa. In addition, the International Business Centre of Madeira, also known as the Madeira Free Trade Zone, was created formally in the 1980s as a tool of regional economic policy. It consists of a set of incentives, mainly tax-related, granted with the objective of attracting foreign direct investment based on international services into Madeira.
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Route Collections in this region 5 round trip routes on the beautiful sunshine island of Madeira
This collection of 5 round trip routes will take you to every corner of the beautiful winter sunshine island of Madeira. The reviews contain links to two popular motorcycle/car rental companies (others available) that will allow you to explore the island at your leisure.
Geologically dramatic and bursting with exotic colour, Portugal’s most enchanting island is a place that has a subtropical climate making it an ideal location for a short winter break.
Ride along the island’s coast to discover secluded coves, rocky beaches and charming fishing villages serving the freshest seafood. The southern coastal road is twisty with flowers lining the roads and banana plantations on the terraced hillsides, while the northern coast is much more spectacular, characterised by steep cliffs and valleys. Stop for a refreshing dip in the beautiful rock pools by the village of Porto Moniz, marvel at the vineyards in Seixal or explore the island’s unique volcanic formations with a tour of the mesmerising caves and lava tubes in São Vicente. The routes use the winding roads to discover the island’s mountainous interior. The Paul da Serra plateau, the highest point in the western part of the island, offers spectacular views across the unique landscape.
The wide variety of sights and activities means that Madeira is the ideal destination for the more intrepid or independent tourist who wants more than just sitting by the pool for their holiday.
Geologically dramatic and bursting with exotic colour, Portugal’s most enchanting island is a place that has a subtropical climate making it an ideal location for a short winter break.
Ride along the island’s coast to discover secluded coves, rocky beaches and charming fishing villages serving the freshest seafood. The southern coastal road is twisty with flowers lining the roads and banana plantations on the terraced hillsides, while the northern coast is much more spectacular, characterised by steep cliffs and valleys. Stop for a refreshing dip in the beautiful rock pools by the village of Porto Moniz, marvel at the vineyards in Seixal or explore the island’s unique volcanic formations with a tour of the mesmerising caves and lava tubes in São Vicente. The routes use the winding roads to discover the island’s mountainous interior. The Paul da Serra plateau, the highest point in the western part of the island, offers spectacular views across the unique landscape.
The wide variety of sights and activities means that Madeira is the ideal destination for the more intrepid or independent tourist who wants more than just sitting by the pool for their holiday.
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