Rocha do Navio (Madeira) – cable car + viewpoint

Why visit Rocha do Navio in Madeira?

Rocha do Navio is y favorite cable cars in Madeira (see list).
So many people head to the Santana traditional houses, and yet, only a few of them make the very short detour to discover this hidden gem.
It has it all:

• a belvedere,
• impressive cliffs,
• gardens in the faja,
• waterfalls,
• an islet,
• a cable car,
• and views all the way to Ponta de Sao Lourenço, the tail of Madeira.

Just have a look at the view:

About the name

The name Rocha do Navio means "ship rock". It refers to the sinking of a Dutch ship in the 19th century.

More photos after the planning tips.

Planning Tips - Rocha do Navio, Madeira

This highlight (with GPS coordinates and practical tips) is included in my travel Guide eBook that helps you easily plan your Madeira trip:

Need to rent a car in Madeira?
My tips:

• Compare car rental prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best customer-rated comparison sites!
• Choose the car and company you prefer (with enough power for steep roads)
• Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind! 
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See my 36 tips about renting a car in Madeira

Miradouro do Rocha do Navio - viewpoint

Have a look at the picture below, you will see:

• Tall cliffs dropping into the sea
• A waterfall (you can see only one from the viewpoint, but there are others to discover if you go down)
• An small islet, called Ilheu da Rocha do Navio
• The faja at the bottom (small piece of land with fertile soil where locals created gardens) and its beach
• Ponta do Clerigo, the promontory behind the islet
• and, in the background, the cliffs of Ponta de Sao Lourenço, the "tail" of Madeira.

Below is a zoom to the waterfall.
Waterfalls can dry up in the Summer in Madeira, but this one has quite a good volume of water.

And below is a zoom towards Ponta de Sao Lourenço:

And if you are very lucky, you could see a school of dolphins or a monk seal. So, bring your binoculars! (see my buying guide).
It did not see any, but the view was totally enough!

Teleferico Rocha do Navio (cable car)

You can come here and just stop at the view.
But I recommend taking the cable car.
This one is less impressive in terms of steepness, but it offers stunning views as you go down: you discover more waterfalls, colorful rocks and you can even spot a traditional Santana house in the middle of the gardens.

Below is a picture of the cable car from the ground.

Rocha do Navio village, farms, faja and promenade

At the bottom is what is called a faja - it is a piece of land at the bottom of cliffs.
Here, the volcanic soil is quite fertile, so from a long time ago, locals have been farming on these lands.
Before the cable cars there were carrying back their produce either by boat or hiking steep trails.

At the bottom, you can enjoy a short leisure walk along the beach with large rocks.
There are a few picnic tables with shade available along the way.
But apart from that, you won't find any shade at all.

Waterfalls

If you look up, you will see several waterfalls on the cliffs.
Sadly, you are looking towards the South, so the sun's position is not ideal for pictures.
The cliffs are around 330m tall, so you can estimate the sizes of the waterfalls.

Faja & Farms

You can explore a little around the farms, but those are private property.
Therefore, it does not take that long to tour the small piece of land.

Rocha do Navio hike

If you feel like it, you can opt for going down via the hiking trail and come back up with the cable car.
The walk is 1.5km (0.93mi) long with 330m height difference (1082ft).
The path starts right there, next to the cable car station. You cannot miss it.

I did not do it but reviews of the hike say that:

• the path is steep
• it is slippery in places (make sure you wear proper shoes with grip) - hike to be avoided after rain
• not recommended for people with vertigo.
• you enjoy pleasant views of the coast and of the waterfalls
• at the base of the trail, there is an old wine press set up inside a small cave cut in the rock. They were using it to produce wine without having to carry the grapes up the cliff

Rocha do Navio marine reserve

The area is also famous because the waters surrounding it are a Natural Reserve.
The protected area is 1710 hectares, with a length of 6259m (around 3.9mi), between Ponta de São Jorge and Ponta do Clérigo.
It only covers the marine area to protect several species of endemic flora and rare species threatened with extinction.

Locals created the reserve in 1997 because locals were noticing that illegal fishing with explosive was causing severe damage to the coast and marine life.

Hotel Quinta do Furao

Want to see more of the best Madeira offers?

• 42 Madeira travel tips to plan an unforgettable trip - read article
• Where to stay in Madeira - best areas - read article
• The best landscapes in Madeira in 40 pictures - read article
• 10 best hikes & levada walks in Madeira - reach article
• Tips to drive around Madeira - read article
• 4 Madeira Natural Pools (and 6 coastal alternatives) - read article
• 18 best beaches in Madeira - read article
• 7 best Madeira boat tours & trips - read article

Planning a trip to Madeira?

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

Inspired? Share it on your favorite platform!