Parks and the outdoors in Porto da Cruz

8 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Porto da Cruz.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

See
Engenho Velho Museum
A short self-guided walk through dark rooms of a motley collection of antique tools and machinery. There is a viewpoint, but it's not much different from the publicly-accessible view of the beach that you see just north of the museum.
Tue–Sat 10:00–13:00 & 14:00–18:00€4, includes alcohol tasting
See
Fort Ruins
Fortim do Porto da Cruz
Walk up a small hill on the waterfront (behind the rum factory) to see the stone ruins of an 18th-century fort.
Free
Do
Levada do Castelejo
Porto da Cruz to São Roque do Faial
This levada hike takes you into the mountains and lush pine and native laurel forest, past waterfalls, to the Ribiero Frio (Cold River)—one of the most important sources of water for the north of Madeira, including this levada's source. To find the trailhead, take any of the main roads from the center of Porto da Cruz, uphill (about 40 minutes hiking, or 10 minutes driving). At the blue bar, there's a sign pointing the way. When this road forks, take the right (dry levada) fork a few hundred metres until you see the well-marked trailhead and map. From here it's an easy and tranquil 8.6-km round-trip hike with virtually no elevation change. At the opposite terminus the trail ends at a huge boulder and the Ribeiro Frio.
Free
Do
Madeira Surf Camp
Group surf or stand-up-paddleboard (SUP) lessons. Customized to any skill level, including beginner. Often held at the Porto da Cruz pocket beach, but if wave conditions require a different part of the island, they'll drive you to the best beach.
€35 for 2-hr lesson and equipment
Eat
Snackbar Praia da Alagoa
Bar, restaurant and events venue next to the Alagoa Beach. Good for poncha and beef sandwiches. Bad service.
Daily 10:00-23:00
Do
Vereda da Penha d'Aguia
Eagle Rock
This strenuous hike takes you to the 590-metre-high massif overlooking the sea and village. To find the trailhead, take any of the main roads from the centre of Porto da Cruz, uphill (about 40 minutes hiking, or 10 minutes driving). Just before the blue bar, a blue and white "Verada da Penha d'Aguia" sign will point to a levada threading between houses; follow this for 100 m until another sign (whose back is facing you) points to a left-turn away from the levada and up a steep, windy trail. After 40–60 minutes the trail forks: turn right to overlook Porto da Cruz, or turn left to overlook São Roque do Faial.
Do
Vereda do Larano
This hike connects Machico and Porto da Cruz along the north coast. From Machico, it begins with the Levada do Caniçal and goes via the Boca do Risco viewpoint. Bus routes or your car can take you back, or some tour companies offer this. Be safe: have a map and a buddy. 12 km one-way.
See
Watch surfers or surf
Go to the beach around low tide to watch surfers catch some waves, or join them.
Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Porto da Cruz (CC BY-SA 4.0).