Towns & villages · 20 m above the sea
Caniçal
Former whaling village, now home to Madeira's Whale Museum.
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The place
Caniçal was Madeira's last whaling port until commercial hunting ended in 1981, and it has turned that history into the Museu da Baleia, with life-size cetacean models and 3D films on deep-Atlantic life. The village itself is still a working fishing harbor, and the launch point for the Ponta de São Lourenço trail and Prainha beach.
When to come
Year-round; the museum is a good air-conditioned midday stop between hikes.
Worth knowing
- Whale Museum open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mondays
- Adult museum ticket around 10 euros
- Saltwater bathing complex with two pools in the village