While the first few metres are secured by a makeshift fence, the following sections of the path—some of which are quite steep—lack such comforts. Therefore, it’s advisable to be cautious (especially on windy days) and to avoid stepping too close to the near-vertical cliffs at the end. With sturdy shoes and sufficient surefootedness, the 5-minute walk should pose no major challenges, and the stunning view more than compensates for the minor effort involved.

I visited this spot in the evening, which proved to be ideal. The setting sun, descending to the right of the view, not only coloured the scattered clouds, but also bathed the steep cliffs above the village of Fajã da Quebrada Nova in wonderfully warm and soft light.

As my test shots appeared to lack not only a distinct focal point, but also a sense of scale, I decided to include myself in the frame. Instagram, here I come! ;-)

However, executing this idea without a working remote shutter release wasn’t easy (see video).

• KEY POINTS
  

Accessibility: Moderate

Best time to visit: Sunset

Equipment: Wide-angle lens (14-35mm), remote shutter release for selfies, sturdy footwear

• GENERAL INFORMATION
  

These striking rock formations, rising up to 40 metres from the sea, are located on Madeira’s northwest coast near the village of Porto Moniz.

A visit is particularly worthwhile in the morning, when the warm light of the rising sun illuminates the rocks and the sea from the right, creating dramatic and colourful images. Additionally, there tend to be fewer tourists at this time of day.

From the ample parking spaces, it’s just a short 2-minute walk to the rocky beach. It doesn’t really matter whether you take the path to the left, which runs between the rocks and the river, or use the staircase leading through the tunnel in the cliffs on the right—both routes will lead you to the same area of the beach.

• PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
  

During my stay in Madeira, I have been to this location twice and captured completely different types of images on those occasions.

On my first visit, I positioned myself rather low and as near as possible to the water. The compositional idea was to use the breaking waves as a framing element for the towering rock spires. It took me exactly 365 shots to get all the variables just right for the image I envisioned.

However, this process involved several moments where unexpected high waves caught me off guard, exposing my equipment to saltwater splashes.

Having learned from this experience, I kept a respectful distance from the ocean during my second visit a few days later.

On that evening—after a disappointing sunset and an uneventful blue hour—I managed to capture a surreal-looking long exposure of nearly six minutes in the deepening darkness, resulting in the image I titled "An Angel Exposure".

• KEY POINTS

With the sun rising behind the rocks in May, the spires at Ribeira da Janela are a classic morning spot. In the pre-dawn darkness (or after sunset), a headlamp is highly useful for safely navigating the large, slippery rocks near the water’s edge.

Accessibility: Easy to moderate (depending on proximity to the waterline)
Best time to visit: Sunrise
Equipment: Wide-angle lens (14-24mm), headlamp, non-slip footwear
Bonus tip: Beware of the waves!

• GENERAL INFORMATION

Fanal, an ancient laurel forest that has been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, is located in the Laurisilva region in northwest Madeira. It lies near the Paúl da Serra plateau and is renowned for its frequent mist in the area that creates with the old gnarly trees growing here a truly unique atmosphere.

From Funchal, it takes just over an hour by car to reach the parking area near the forest. Access is free of charge and available year-round, 24 hours a day.

• PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Visiting the Fanal Forest was the primary reason for my photography trip to Madeira, and on the very first day, I was fortunate enough to encounter the desired misty conditions.

In the Making-of for the "Fanal Magic" photo series, I describe in detail the experience of wandering aimlessly among the fantastical trees, grazing cows, and their droppings. Being in an unfamiliar landscape shrouded in dense fog was one of the most memorable moments of my trip.

The mist in Fanal often arises because the area is enveloped in low-lying clouds moving over the plateau. As a result, it’s not only significantly cooler but also much more humid than on sea level. After hours of photographing, I was soaked to the skin and wished I had brought waterproof clothing or a change of clothes. A simple shower cap proved to be useful when placed over the lens between shots in order to prevent raindrops from landing on it.

The images I captured here fell all within the focal range of 15mm to 40mm, but only partly for compositional reasons. In some cases, I would have preferred to use a telephoto lens, but the increased distance from the trees would have rendered the subject nearly invisible in the dense mist. This required constant balancing between creative intent and practical execution.

• KEY POINTS

  
  Accessibility: Easy
  Best time to visit: Any time, as long as it is misty
  Equipment: Wide-angle lens (14-24mm) and standard lens (24-70mm), rain protection for camera/lens
  Bonus tip: Bring warmer, waterproof clothing and/or a change of clothes.

• GENERAL INFORMATION

The picturesque town of Ponta do Sol, which dates back to the 16th century, has managed to retain its historical charm despite modern developments and expansion from its quaint beach to the surrounding mountains. Located around 20 kilometres west of Funchal on the southern coast, this town is not only considered one of the sunniest places on Madeira, but also offers charming old buildings and maze-like streets.

• PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Although my accommodation for the week-long Madeira trip was in Ponta do Sol, I mostly used the town as a base for sleeping and shopping—the other spots on my location list were far too tempting to resist. The image "Split Worlds" came about almost by accident. After a sleepless night and a sunrise session at Miradouro do Abismo, I fell asleep around midday and only woke up shortly before sunset.
With such a tight timeframe, I had no choice but to photograph locally. Fortunately, I found a parking spot along the street near the beach, and within a few steps, I was at the pier, which offers a beautiful view of the town and the

coastline behind it. That evening, Ponta do Sol delivered one of its famously vibrant sunsets. Using the time-blend technique, I was able to create a lovely image despite my oversleeping and the limited time.

• KEY POINTS

Accessibility: Easy; parking available nearby
Best time to visit: Sunset to blue hour
Equipment: 14-24mm or 24-70mm lens, tripod

• GENERAL INFORMATION

On Madeira’s north coast, between the villages of Seixal and São Vicente, this viewpoint offers a spectacular view of the Véu da Noiva (Bride’s Veil) waterfall and the dramatic coastal landscape behind it. The steep retreat of the coastline due to vertical erosion has resulted in the overhanging mouth of the João Delgado River appearing as the waterfall visible today.

• PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

From late afternoon until sunset, the light falls favourably on the waterfall and the coastline, enhancing colours and contrasts—if the sun makes an appearance. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a view to enjoy on the cloudy, rainy evening of my visit. Despite the poor weather forecast, I had hoped for at least a brief burst of sunlight.
However, it quickly became clear that the vibrant sunset image I had planned was not going to happen. In my experience it’s not advisable to work against the available lighting conditions.

Given the lack of colour on this overcast day, I opted for a black-and-white composition with strong tonal contrast. A 4-minute long exposure smoothed out both the sea and the sky, creating a pleasing textural contrast with the rugged coastline.
The image "White Falls" was not taken from the official viewpoint, which is secured by a steel railing, but from the grassy area in front of it. Climbing the small wall to access this spot was straightforward and provided a better angle for the shot.

• KEY POINTS

Accessibility: Easy; parking nearby
Best time to visit: Evening golden hour
Equipment: Standard lens (24-70mm), tripod for long exposures
Bonus tip: Use the grassy area in front of the viewpoint for a better perspective.

• GENERAL INFORMATION

About 15 kilometres from Funchal lies, nestled in a deep valley, the mountain village of Curral das Freiras. The name translates to “Nuns’ Corral”, but today it is more commonly referred to as the “Valley of the Nuns.” Originally named Curral da Serra (Mountain Corral), the village became a refuge in 1566 when nuns from Funchal fled there to protect their convent treasures from pirates and raiders. The remote location and difficult access made it an ideal hiding spot at the time.

• PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

After arriving at the car park near the Hotel Eira Do Serrado, situated at the exit of the so-called “Nuns’ Path", I decided to leave my heavy camera backpack in the car while scouting for an ideal shooting location. This turned out to be a wise decision, as I covered many kilometres hiking downhill (and back up again) in search of the best vantage point. Ironically, after reviewing the phone photos I had taken during my scouting, I ended up choosing a spot relatively close to the car park.

To pass the remaining five hours until dusk, I drove about half an hour to Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s third-highest peak. Unfortunately, thick clouds rolled in upon my arrival, reducing visibility to just a few metres. After waiting for an hour with no sign of clearing skies, I returned empty-handed but open-eyed to the Valley of the Nuns. Due to my attention-paying I found an interesting scenery at Miradouro do Paredão on the way back and captured the bonus image "The Pride of Madeira".

Back at Eira Do Serrado car park, I grabbed my gear and returned to the spot I had scouted so meticulously earlier in the afternoon. Once there, I set up my camera, made final adjustments to the composition, and waited for nightfall.

As the valley grew dark, the village lights began to twinkle, and a profound silence settled in, broken only by occasional dog barks. It was in this serene moment that I captured the photograph "Down in The Valley".

• KEY POINTS

Accessibility: Easy to moderate, depending on the chosen viewpoint; parking available nearby
Best time to visit: Early morning (when the rising sun illuminates the valley) or evening blue hour
Equipment: Standard lens (24-70mm), tripod for long exposures, headlamp for navigating in the dark

• GENERAL INFORMATION

Pedra Furada viewpoint (sometimes referred to as Miradouro do Caniçal) is located in eastern Madeira and offers a spectacular view of an Atlantic bay framed by rugged cliffs. It is just over a 30-minute drive from Funchal, with parking conveniently available just a few metres away.

Although the viewpoint faces east and is often recommended as a sunrise spot, it is equally captivating in the evening, when the warm light of the setting sun illuminates the coastline, creating a glowing effect.

• PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

When I visited Pedra Furada viewpoint, the weather forecast suggested almost no chance of the sun breaking through the overcast sky at sunset. Still, following the trusted mantra, “You gotta be in it to win it”, I decided to go anyway. Upon arrival, I scouted potential shooting locations and compositions.

I quickly settled on the arrangement featured in the photo "Light Kicker", which features a sweeping view of the bay, with the overhanging rock in the lower left corner acting as a visual guide leading back to the start of the cliffs.

My primary shot was a long-exposure landscape photo at around 30mm, but I did also set up my secondary camera with an ultra-wide lens to capture a portrait orientation as a backup.

With both compositions fine-tuned, there was little to do but wait in the two hours until sunset - and hope for a miracle in the form of a gap in the clouds. The solitude that evening made the wait feel even longer, as there were no fellow photographers to chat with.

Suddenly, just 20 minutes before sunset, everything changed. Two young women arrived on a motor scooter, cameras in hand, and began enthusiastically photographing the scene.
Their initial energy seemed a bit too excessive - until I turned my gaze back to the bay and immediately understood their excitement.The once-flat contrasts and muted colors had transformed into a dramatic light show, with parts of the cliffs glowing in intense reds and oranges against the cloudy sky.

I had just enough time to adjust the exposure settings on both cameras, initiate the long exposure on my primary setup and capture a bracketing sequence with my secondary camera.

Then, the magical light disappeared as abruptly as it had arrived.

• KEY POINTS

Accessibility: Extremely easy; parking is very close by
Best time to visit: Sunrise, sunset, or golden hour
Equipment: Wide-angle or standard lens, tripod for long exposures

• GENERAL INFORMATION

The viewpoint “Miradouro do Abismo” at Ponta de São Lourenço is located slightly further east than the previously introduced “Miradouro da Pedra Furada.” Perched at an elevation of around 100 metres on a steep cliff above the coast, it offers a breathtaking view of Madeira’s easternmost reaches.
Since 2023, access to this part of the island requires a permit, which can be obtained locally for a small fee. You can find up-to-date information about this requirement here.

From Funchal, the nearest car park is about 40 minutes away. From there, it’s a moderately uphill walk of around 15 minutes. The route initially follows the marked PR 8 hiking trail before the second half (starting at GPS coordinates 32.7459167, -16.6994722) transitions to faint, cross-country paths leading to a summit marker that soon comes into view. I can’t recommend this spectacular viewpoint to people with a fear of heights, as you’ll be moving very close to sheer cliffs.

• PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

When visiting Miradouro do Abismo, I initially wandered to the wrong spot in the pre-dawn darkness. In my defence: I had done little research beforehand since I only decided to visit this spectacular location three hours before sunrise. At 4:00 a.m., I had finally given up falling asleep, checked the weather forecast, and saw a promising prediction for a beautiful sunrise. Miradouro do Abismo seemed like a worthwhile destination under such conditions.

By 5:30 a.m., I had reached the car park and, feeling utterly exhausted, began stumbling along the PR 8 trail, confident I was heading towards the viewpoint. Imagine my surprise when I found myself at the viewpoint Miradouro de São Lourenço instead.

I had overshot the mark entirely! Apparently, I had failed to see the summit marker in the darkness. By this point, the sky was beginning to lighten slightly, and I realised I was running out of time. I was done stumbling; it was time to sprint!

If it hadn’t been for the fortunate presence of a fellow photographer already at the intended viewpoint, I likely would have overshot the location again. However, I was able to spot the beam of his headlamp and, after a strenuous climb with the heavy camera backpack (of all things at the steepest side of the hill), finally reached the summit. Sweating profusely and with my heart racing, I arrived just in time for the sunrise.

Unfortunately, there was no time to meticulously plan a composition, so I opted for an ultra-wide horizontal shot at 14mm. Thanks to the high resolution of my Nikon D850, I should be able to refine the composition by cropping during post-processing.

Due to the immense contrast range in the scene, I captured multiple 7-frame exposure brackets for the image “Lourenco Rising” as the sunrise unfolded. While my main camera remained fixed on the tripod, I used my second camera with a 24-70mm lens to shoot the coastal landscape behind me handheld.

• KEY POINTS
  

Accessibility: Rather easy (if you know the correct path), but be cautious: the spot is directly adjacent to a 100-metre drop!
Best Time to visit: Sunrise, early blue hour, or golden hour.
Equipment: Wide-angle and standard lenses, tripod for long exposures.
Bonus Tip: Scout the correct route to Miradouro do Abismo during daylight to avoid mishaps.

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