Camara de Lobos holidays

Camara de Lobos holidays put you right in a thriving fishing town within easy reach of Funchal.

Funchal’s fishing neighbour

Introducing Funchal’s quieter and lesser-known neighbour, Camara de Lobos. It’s plotted on Madeira’s south coast, and has its roots in the fishing industry. You only need to stroll around to see nods to the town’s seafaring culture, like the chapel with paintings of Saint Anthony’s out-at-sea adventures, and the colourful fishing boats – also known as xavelhas – bobbing around in the turquoise waters. Come dusk, you can join the fishermen in the bars to down a glass of poncha – a strong local liquor.

Pebbled beaches

Much of this fishing town’s seafront is marked by cliffs, apart from Viagario Beach, which is right at the centre of the bay. It’s about 400 metres long and made up of grey pebbles of all different sizes, so you’ll be able to find a patch to comfortably lay a towel out. Plus, thanks to its slim shore, wherever you choose, you won’t be far from the water for a quick dip. If you want to see what lives under the waves, Garajau Beach is your best bet. It’s a 20-minute drive away and is part of the Partial Nature Reserve, home to ginormous groupers, lizard fish and eels – so bring your snorkelling or diving gear.

Clifftop camera shots

The views from Camara de Lobos are top notch. In fact, Winston Churchill admired them so much that he created a series of paintings showing off the whitewashed houses, basalt cliffs and colourful wooden fishing boats. Another one of the top tourist attractions here is all about the views, too. If you head up Cabo Girao – the highest cliff in Madeira, and in fact Europe – you’ll reach a viewpoint with a glass floor. Your braveness to look down the 500-metre drop will be rewarded with panoramic views of vineyards and cultivated terraces flowing into the sea. There’s also a cable car that you can ride down across the face of the cliff to its base, for a secluded beach.