Miradouro do Cabo Girão, Madeira, Portugal · 17 pics

Hello everyone!

Today I will tell you about Miradouro do Cabo Girão, the most famous and most popular observation deck in Madeira. Cabo Girão is a unique natural landmark of the island, the highest sea cliff in Europe (580 meters high!) and one of the highest in the world. The cliff is located near the village of Câmara De Lobos, and you can get here by taxi or by any passing bus. I always rent a car on my travels, and I recommend everyone to do the same. On that beautiful sunny day, I arrived at the Cabo Girão cliff early in the morning, and I was lucky — there were few visitors to the observation deck.

The observation deck of Cabo Girão has an interesting feature — part of the platform is made in the form of a balcony with a transparent floor and hangs over the cliff which greatly enhances the impression of being at such a high altitude. The floor trampled by visitors is no longer as transparent as it used to be, but some people (such as people with a fear of heights) get their adrenaline rush anyway.

It's more than half a kilometer down to the shore! This is the first time I've been to an observation deck of this type. The sensations are quite interesting, but, in my opinion, it is not scary to be there at all.

But if you go to the very edge of the observation deck, as I did, then you will have completely different sensations. Dizzying sensations! Look at these pictures!

At the foot of the cliff, you can see areas of cultivated land. This place is called Fajas do Cabo Girão. Previously, it was only accessible by water, until a cable car was built in 2003 — this made it much easier for farmers to access their land.

You will also see the relief of the bottom in the turquoise coastal waters, and small fishing boats, almost invisible in the scale of the ocean. If you are lucky with the weather and there is no haze hanging over the ocean, then you will see how the vast expanses of water end with a rounded horizon line and merge with the sky. In short, from the height of Cabo Girão, you can enjoy the most picturesque views of the southern coast of the island and the Atlantic Ocean. Don't miss this place when you're in Madeira!

According to geological studies, the steep slopes of Cabo Girão represent the summit of a long-dormant underwater volcano. Eucalyptus trees and ferns grow on its basaltic slopes. There are also small waterfalls.

In good weather, the Cabo Girão observation deck also offers views of Funchal, the capital and largest city of Madeira.

Next to the observation deck there is a small hotel complex — Village Cabo Girão. I haven't visited its territory, but at first glance, the place is quite cozy.

Finally, let me remind you once again that it is best to visit Cabo Girão either in the morning, at dawn, or in the evening, before sunset. At this time, there will be few people on the observation deck, and the soft sunlight will allow you to take great photos. It is also worth paying attention to the weather, sometimes the cliff is covered by low clouds. In any case, Miradouro do Cabo Girão will give you beautiful views and a pleasant experience.

Thank you for stopping by!

Cabo Girão, Madeira, Portugal. 
October, 2017. 
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