Timeline
16:23
Grab a coffee and a local pastry at the café near the trailhead to fuel up before the climb.
16:53
Start the hike up Vereda da Penha d'Aguia. Take any main road uphill from the centre, follow the blue and white sign, and walk the levada for 100 m. The ascent takes about 40 minutes.
18:03
Settle in at the Palheiros viewpoint. It is close to the anchor and offers a clear WSW view, perfectly aligned with the sunset direction.
18:23
Watch the sun set over the sea.
19:08
Head down to the main bar in town to join locals and unwind with an affordable drink after the hike.
Local tip
The hike is strenuous. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. The sunset direction shifts slightly by season, but the WSW view from Palheiros remains reliable for the winter solstice period.
Check before you go
- Bar do Luis de Luís Câmara is open Mo-Fr 08:30-20:00.
- Dino's Bar is open Tu-Su 15:00-02:00.
Worth knowing
- Bar do Luis de Luís Câmara is open at 16:23 only on Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr
- Dino's Bar is open at 19:08 only on Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa, Su
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Porto da Cruz (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).