Viewpoints · 290 m above the sea
Farol da Ponta do Pargo
Madeira's westernmost lighthouse, on a 290 m cliff, with the island's best sunsets.
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The place
Ponta do Pargo is the westernmost tip of Madeira, and the 1922 lighthouse sits on a sheer 290 m cliff with nothing but Atlantic between here and the next landmass. A small lighthouse museum next door (opened 2001) covers the archipelago's other beacons. Because it faces due west with no high ground blocking it, this is the spot serious sunset-chasers drive out for.
When to come
Sunset, without question — this is the last point on the island the sun touches, and clear evenings give an uninterrupted horizon.
Worth knowing
- Lighthouse tower interior isn't always open; the adjacent museum keeps separate hours
- Exposed, windy cliff-top — bring a layer even in summer
- About 51 km from Funchal, roughly an hour's drive
- Small free parking area at the viewpoint