Viewpoints · 1007 m above the sea
Boca da Encumeada
The one road pass where you can see both coasts of Madeira at once.
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The place
Boca da Encumeada sits on the saddle between two valleys that almost cut the island in half, so on a clear day you can look north to São Vicente and south to Ribeira Brava from the same spot without moving your feet. It's also a junction point — the road pass, a restaurant, and the meeting of two long-distance trails all sit right at the col.
When to come
Clear mid-morning; the pass is a notorious wind and cloud funnel between whichever coast is wetter that day.
Worth knowing
- Small parking area with a restaurant and souvenir shop right at the saddle
- Weather flips fast here — it funnels through from both coasts
- Junction for PR1.3 (down from Pico Ruivo) and PR17 (toward Bica da Cana) — check each trail's SIMplifica status separately
- Fog can cut visibility to a few metres with little warning