Rocha do Navio is a hidden gem on Madeira’s north coast. From the top of the cliff, visitors can enjoy an unforgettable view. The cable car provides a pleasant descent to the foot of the cliff, where a fajã (typical farmland), a pretty pebble beach and a few houses stretch out, all crossed by a pleasant footpath. As well as being an original experience, the gondola ride offers a panoramic view of the island’s raw, bewitching landscape. A stopover at Rocha do Navio promises a moment of wonder in harmony with nature.
Here are some useful tips to help you prepare for your visit and have a wonderful time!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Absolutely! Rocha do Navio offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and the island’s steep cliffs. We have indelible memories of the breathtaking view from the cable car. At the bottom of the cliff, in the village, its fajã and pebble beach, there’s a serene, wild atmosphere, far from the tourist hustle and bustle of the more popular areas. We highly recommend a visit to this peaceful spot to enjoy Madeira’s raw, natural beauty.
It’s one of Madeira’s finest vantage points and one of the island’s most enjoyable cable cars.
ATTENTION: the ropeway is currently closed to tourists (autumn 2024), it is undergoing maintenance but no date for reopening has been communicated.
Our favorite moments
We really enjoyed our visit! Among our favorite moments:
- The discovery of the viewpoint for which we fell in love. It’s one of the most beautiful we’ve visited. The view is breathtaking!
- The Santana cable car ride. As well as offering breathtaking panoramic views, we found it very gentle and reassuring. Unlike others, such as the Achadas da Cruz cable car, which is steeper.
- The walk along the path bordered on one side by the faja, on the other by the ocean as far as the eye can see. This pleasant walk allows you to immerse yourself in the agricultural and traditional side of the island.
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- in the town of Santana
- Driving time from Santana: 5min
- Driving time from Funchal: 40min
- Driving time from Porto Moniz: 50min
Here is a map to help you find your way:
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR AT Madeira
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Take a car with a good engine for hilly roads, but not too big for manoeuvring.
- There’s plenty of demand and few cars, so book early.
How to get there? Access road
The best way to reach Rocha do Navio in Santana is by car. If you arrive via the magnificent ER101 panoramic road that circles the island, follow the signs for Santana, then you’ll see signs for Rocha do Navio and the cable car. The road to the site is easy.
We didn’t see any public transport near the site.
Parking
There’s a parking lot near the viewpoint and the top station of the cable car, but it can be full if it’s very busy. If this is the case, we advise you to park along the street leading to the site.
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Useful tips: duration, schedules, difficulties…
Best time to visit, opening hours and prices
The cable car fare is €3 one way and €5 round trip.
Opening hours are as follows: 9am to 1pm, then 2pm to 5pm, and until 6pm at weekends.
We recommend that you visit the mountain and take the cable car down on a clear day with no wind. This way, you can fully admire the landscape from the viewpoint or during the hike, and if you take the cable car, you’ll avoid the turbulence that can be caused by the breeze.
ATTENTION: the ropeway is currently closed to tourists (autumn 2024), it is undergoing maintenance but no date for reopening has been communicated.
Length of visit and main difficulties
The cable car ride takes about 5 minutes. There’s a staircase between the parking lot and the station. We recommend you allow between 30min and 1h30 to make the descent and visit the seafront, the houses and gardens and the fajã at the bottom. There are no particular difficulties unless you suffer from vertigo.
If you choose to walk down the trail, allow around 1 hour to descend the 330m of ascent spread over 1.5km. We didn’t take the path on our visit, but please be careful: we learned that the route is strewn with stones and slippery in places. You’ll need good shoes!
Once you’ve reached the bottom of the cliff, a path emerges, allowing you to explore the coastline, gardens and farmland. The trail is well-maintained and presents no difficulties.
Catering, Toilets and Facilities
We saw a toilet at the top station of the cable car. Once down, there’s nothing.
OUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN Madeira
Catamaran tour to see dolphins and Madeira’s giant cliffs.
Miradouro do Rocha do Navio offers breathtaking views of Madeira’s North Coast. In our opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the island! On your way there, you can admire impressive cliffs plunging into the Atlantic Ocean. There’s a bench where you can sit and enjoy the scenery, a real invitation to contemplate.
From this vantage point, you’ll be able to observe several remarkable features:
- Majestic cliffs fall straight into the sea, creating a breathtaking natural spectacle.
- A beautiful waterfall. Note that if you choose to descend to the bottom of the cliff – on foot or by cable car – you’ll discover other waterfalls below, nestled behind the rock formations.
- Ilheu da Rocha do Navio, a small islet surrounded by water.
- The fajã at the bottom of the cliff: this small plot of fertile land is an ancient garden cultivated by the locals, with a pebble beach nearby.
- A pretty little pebble beach
- Ponta do Clerigo, a rocky promontory rising behind the islet.
- Finally, in the background, you should be able to see the cliffs of Ponta de Sao Lourenço. They form Madeira’s volcanic “tail”.
- Bonus: if you’re lucky, you might spot dolphins or even a monk seal. So bring your binoculars!
This gondola is one of Madeira’s many cableways. The 5-minute descent is gentle and offers breathtaking views! You’ll discover waterfalls invisible from the lookout, coastline as far as the eye can see, and impressive cliff formations. If you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll also spot a traditional Santana house nestled in the greenery. For all these reasons, we recommend you take the cable car down.
On the way down, we enjoyed taking the time to observe the view over the fajã. This is the name given to the farmland forming a narrow strip of cultivable land at the foot of the cliffs.. Here you can see crops and small traditional houses. We found the cable car a good vantage point from which to appreciate the ingenuity of the locals in cultivating these narrow strips of fertile land.
We learned that the Rocha do Navio area in Santana is famous for the nature reserve just below the cliffs. Set up in 1997 by local residents concerned about illegal fishing, its aim is to preserve the biodiversity that lives there, as well as fish and marine resources. It stretches from Ponta de São Jorge to Ponta do Clérigo, covering some 1,710 hectares.
We loved contemplating, from the top of the viewpoint and then in the cable car, this peaceful and enchanting natural space where life is preserved in its wild state. Species of endemic flora and endangered animals roam in peace.
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Once at the bottom of the cliff, you’ll find a lovely little path between the ocean and farmland. This is an opportunity to take a closer look at the Rocha do Navio fajã. Fajã is the name given to the farmland forming a narrow cultivable strip at the foot of the cliffs. The cable car is a good vantage point from which to appreciate the ingenuity of the local people who have managed to cultivate this fertile land under sometimes complicated conditions. Indeed, we learned that before the cable car was built, the plantations were only accessible by boat! And when the weather didn’t permit, farmers were forced to take the path to the bottom of the cliff, carrying their equipment on their backs.
You’ll also discover the small traditional houses that make up the village of Rocha do Navio. There are about 10 of them. We found them adorable, nestling on cliff terraces. Be aware that they are not inhabited by local farmers. They live in the village, at the top of the cliff, and use these shacks to store their equipment or as lodgings during harvest time. They grow fruit there: mostly bananas, sometimes grapes and other species.
During our visit, we also enjoyed the beach. It’s more like a bay adorned with volcanic pebbles. Not ideal for swimming. Bring water shoes. However, we loved its magnificent scenery: faja, steep walls and volcanic rocks offer a magnificent, raw landscape that reminds us that in Madeira, nature reigns.
Hike to the foot of the cliffs
If you wish, you can walk down the cliff and then take the cable car back up once you’ve finished exploring.
This hike, which starts near the cable car station, is around 1.5km long and has a D- of 330m. The descent is an opportunity to take time to admire the scenery, soak up the atmosphere and smells, and observe the flora and fauna along the way.
During our visit, we didn’t take this route, but we did read that the path is quite steep and sometimes slippery (especially after rain). It is decorated with pebbles and not recommended for those suffering from vertigo. However, your effort will be rewarded by the discovery, at the bottom of the path, of an ancient wine press nestled in a rocky cavity. It was used to produce wine directly in the fajã so as to avoid having to carry the grapes to the top.
Other nearby attractions
You can combine your visit to Rocha do Navio with these nearby attractions:
- Visit Santana and its traditional houses, viewpoints, hiking… (5min drive)
- Explore Caniçal, a small town with a charming seafront and an interesting museum (25min drive).
- Discover Sao Vicente, with its impressive waterfront, chapel, church and lava tubes (35min drive)
Frequently asked questions
The name “Rocha do Navio” means “Ship’s Rock” in French and derives from a shipwreck in the 19th century, when a Dutch vessel ran aground in this area of Madeira’s north coast. The name evokes both the historic event and the shape of the neighboring islet, reminiscent of the bow of a ship.
No, at the time of writing (autumn 2024), the cable car is currently closed. It is currently undergoing maintenance, but no reopening date has been given.
PLAN YOUR STAY IN Madeira
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Things to do in Madeira
Most beautiful viewpoints
Madeira’s most beautiful beaches
Most beautiful gardens
Natural pools
Most beautiful hikes
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Practical advice
Getting around Madeira
Rent a car in Madeira
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