Achadas da Cruz Cable Car, Porto Moniz (Madeira)

Cable Car, Hike and Viewing Point in Porto Moniz (Madeira)

Calhau das Achadas da Cruz
Calhau das Achadas da Cruz
CC BY-SA 3.0 / anagh

At the far northwestern edge of Madeira, Calhau das Achadas da Cruz feels like the island's hidden underside: a quiet strip of shoreline backed by steep slopes, with the Atlantic stretching out in every direction. The easiest way down is the Achadas da Cruz Cable Car, and the ride is the real headline-one of the top sights in Porto Moniz (Madeira) for travellers who love big scenery with minimal effort.

Once you reach Fajã da Quebrada Nova at the bottom, the atmosphere changes completely. It’s calmer, greener, and surprisingly pastoral, with cultivated plots that hint at why this cable car exists in the first place: it was created to help local farmers reach productive fields and bring harvests back up the cliff.

History and Significance of the Achadas da Cruz Cable Car

The Achadas da Cruz Cable Car is a practical piece of Madeira's rural infrastructure that happens to deliver an unforgettable visitor experience. This stretch of coastline has long been valued for its fertile fajã land-flat ground by the sea that supports cultivation in an otherwise steep and rugged landscape.

Because access is difficult, the cable car became the simplest solution for daily life: moving people, tools, and produce between the village above and the fields below. That agricultural backstory is what makes the visit feel authentic rather than manufactured-you are stepping into a working landscape, not a theme-park viewpoint.

Today, the same descent offers a rare perspective on Madeira’s northwest. From the cabin you see the full scale of the cliff, the deep blue Atlantic, and the patchwork of fields on the fajã, all in one continuous sweep.

Things to See and Do in the Achadas da Cruz Cable Car

Take the cable car down with your camera ready, but don’t rush to shoot immediately-watch how the view opens as the cabin drops. The contrast between green slopes and ocean is at its strongest mid-descent, when you can frame both the cliff face and the sea horizon in one shot.

At the bottom, slow the pace. Walk along the shore, enjoy the pebble beach, and look back up at the cliffs to appreciate just how steep the drop is. If you visit when it’s quiet, the fajã can feel wonderfully remote, like a private corner of the island.

If you prefer to earn the view, you can hike instead. A steep trail of roughly 2 km links the top station area to the fajã below; it’s well-used and direct, but the gradient is serious, and the return climb can be punishing in heat or wind. For a more trail-focused approach, the Vereda do Calhau and Vereda da Ladeira paths are also used to reach the shoreline, giving you options depending on fitness and conditions.

How to Get to the Achadas da Cruz Cable Car

Fly into Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo Airport (Funchal). For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Porto Moniz (Madeira) on Booking.com.

From Funchal, you can reach Porto Moniz and Achadas da Cruz by bus, but services in the far northwest can be infrequent, so plan your return time before you commit to going down to the fajã.

Driving is the simplest way to reach the upper station and parking area near the cable car entrance. If you are looking to rent a car in Portugal I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you.

If you don’t want to drive, a west-coast day tour is one of the easiest ways to include Achadas da Cruz alongside other northwest highlights without worrying about timing or logistics.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Achadas da Cruz Cable Car

  • Suggested tips: Check wind and visibility before you go; the experience is best on a clear, calmer day, and operations can pause in poor conditions.
  • Best time to visit: Morning for quieter parking and cleaner photos; late afternoon for warmer light on the cliffs, but don’t cut it close to last rides.
  • Entrance fee: One way: €3.00. Return: €5.00.
  • Opening hours: Daily: 08:00–11:30 and 12:30–19:00 (subject to weather, maintenance, and seasonal changes).
  • Official website: https://www.portomoniz.pt/en/visit/points-interest/cable-car
  • How long to spend: 60-120 minutes for the ride plus a relaxed walk at the bottom; longer if you plan to hike one way.
  • Accessibility: The cable car is the most accessible option for reaching the fajã, but surfaces at the bottom can be uneven and pebbly; those with vertigo may find the ride challenging.
  • Facilities: Limited at the bottom; treat it as a nature-and-scenery stop and bring water, sun protection, and a light layer.
  • Photography tip: Shoot both directions-on the descent for ocean-and-cliff scale, and from the bottom looking up to capture the dramatic vertical drop.
  • Guided tours: A west-coast tour can be the lowest-effort option if you want multiple stops without driving yourself.
  • Nearby food options: Plan a meal in Porto Moniz or São Vicente before or after; options right at Achadas da Cruz can be limited.

Where to Stay close to the Achadas da Cruz Cable Car

If you want to visit Achadas da Cruz early, avoid crowds, and stay flexible around weather, basing yourself in the Porto Moniz area makes the logistics far easier than doing a long round trip from Funchal. For a simple, well-located option near services and the northwest loop, consider Hotel Salgueiro.

If you prefer a smaller, budget-friendly base close to the sea and handy for quick drives to Achadas da Cruz, Residencial Atlântico is a practical choice.

For a quieter stay that keeps you close to the attraction itself, a local house-style base can work well, such as Achadas da Cruz Farm House.

Is the Achadas da Cruz Cable Car Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially if you want a Madeira experience that feels both dramatic and real. The ride delivers genuine cliff-scale scenery, and the fajã below feels like a working landscape rather than a staged viewpoint.

It’s also a flexible stop. You can keep it simple with a return ride and a short shoreline walk, or you can turn it into a more physical day by hiking one way and using the cable car for the other, depending on fitness and conditions.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.8 (268)

Achadas da Cruz is a dramatic coastal spot reached by a small cable car that delivers sweeping cliff and ocean views; visitors praise the ride as smooth and thrilling despite being warm and only seating a few people, and recommend arriving early to avoid long queues and crowded parking. At the bottom is a peaceful, secluded fajã with good, accessible hiking trails and a small bar/cafe, making it a rewarding place to relax and explore after the descent; drivers should note the approach road can be narrow, stony and misty in places.

Augi Yi
a month ago
"The view from the top was beautiful, but also showed how vertical it was. Cable car ride was really warm inside the car, but was smooth. Be preparedfor lines on both ends. Each car takes about 5 minutes each direction, with only 6 seats in each car...."
Kseniia Cherniak
5 months ago
"Scary but beautiful cable car drive, nice promenade and lovely cafe. Take your time and come early enough as there might be a queue to the cable caron both sides. Also, drivers, beware that the road may be somewhat challenging, with narrow passes, stones on the road and areas of mist due to clouds...."
Ani Arzoomanian
5 months ago
"So fun to take the cable car down. Great hiking at the bottom and a fun little bar to grab drinks at! Beautiful views. Well worth the looooong waitin line for the cable cars!..."

FAQs for Visiting Achadas da Cruz Cable Car

It descends from the clifftop down to the shoreline and fields of Fajã da Quebrada Nova (Calhau das Achadas da Cruz).
The journey is the highlight for most people, thanks to the panoramic cliff-and-ocean views.
Standard pricing is typically €3.00 one way and €5.00 return.
Discounts may apply for seniors, students, and visitors with reduced mobility, depending on the ticket categories available on the day.
It can feel intense because the drop is steep and exposed; if you have strong vertigo, consider whether you’ll enjoy it.
Yes. A steep trail of roughly 2 km connects the top and bottom, but the return climb is demanding.
Most visitors spend 30-90 minutes walking the shore and looking around before returning.
Yes with close supervision, especially near steep edges and on uneven ground at the bottom.
Operations can pause in strong wind or poor conditions, so it’s best to stay flexible.
It pairs well with Porto Moniz natural pools, Fanal Forest, and other northwest viewpoints in the same day.

For Different Travelers

Families with Kids

This can be a fantastic family stop because it turns “getting somewhere” into the adventure. Keep the plan simple: ride down, do a short walk at the bottom, then ride back up before kids get tired or conditions change.

Bring snacks, water, and a warm layer even in summer, because the northwest can feel cooler and windier than the south coast. If anyone in the family is nervous about heights, it helps to sit them away from the edge-facing side and focus on the horizon.

Couples & Romantic Getaways

Achadas da Cruz works beautifully for couples who like scenery with a sense of remoteness. The descent feels cinematic, and the fajã below often has a quiet, end-of-the-island atmosphere that’s perfect for a slow walk and unhurried photos.

For the most flattering light, aim for later in the day, but keep an eye on the last ride time. It’s the kind of place where the memory is less about a checklist and more about standing together, watching the Atlantic and feeling how big the landscape is.

Budget Travelers

This is a high-value stop: the ticket cost is modest, and the experience feels premium because the views are genuinely spectacular. If you’re watching spending, make it one of your “paid highlights” and build the rest of the day around free viewpoints and short walks nearby.

Bring your own water and snacks and treat it as a nature stop rather than a café stop. If you’re fit and comfortable with steep trails, hiking one way can add an extra layer of adventure without extra cost.

Nearby Attractions to the Achadas da Cruz Cable Car

  • Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools: Lava-formed pools where you can swim in Atlantic seawater with dramatic coastal scenery.
  • Fanal Forest: An atmospheric laurel-forest plateau known for ancient trees and misty, cinematic landscapes.
  • Miradouro do Véu da Noiva: A classic north-coast viewpoint where a waterfall drops toward the sea beneath lush cliffs.
  • Seixal Beach: A striking black-sand beach framed by green mountains and Atlantic surf, ideal for photos.
  • Ilhéus da Ribeira da Janela: Offshore rock formations and coastal viewpoints that showcase Madeira's rugged northwest shoreline.

The Achadas da Cruz Cable Car appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Porto Moniz (Madeira)!

Moira & Andy
Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

Read our full story here

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!

Planning Your Visit

Hours:

Daily: 08:00-11:30 and 12:30-19:00 (subject to weather, maintenance, and seasonal changes).

Price:

One way: €3.00. Return: €5.00.

Address: Calhau das Achadas da Cruz, Achadas da Cruz, Portugal
Porto Moniz (Madeira): 4 km
Official Website

Nearby Attractions

Similar Blogs