São Vicente & Volcanic Caves
São Vicente lies at the foot of steep, green cliffs on the north coast and is a charming, quiet place with a pretty Baroque church, narrow streets, and a handful of good restaurants. The main reason for a visit is the Grutas de São Vicente — volcanic caves formed about 890,000 years ago by a lava flow.
Grutas e Centro do Vulcanismo
The lava caves stretch over 700 meters and can be visited on guided tours (30–45 minutes, entrance 8€). The caves impressively show what the inside of a cooled lava flow looks like: stalactites of lava, magma chambers, and bizarre rock formations. This includes the Volcanism Center, a small but well-made museum explaining Madeira's volcanic origin — with interactive displays and a simulated volcanic eruption.
The surroundings of São Vicente are a paradise for nature lovers: The Ribeira de São Vicente valley cuts deep into the mountains and offers hiking trails through dense vegetation along the river. Over the Encumeada Pass (1,007 m), the road spectacularly leads between the north and south coasts — in clear weather, you can see both coasts simultaneously from here.
Between São Vicente and Porto Moniz lies the section of the old coastal road ER101, considered one of the most impressive road sections in Europe: The road was carved into the steep cliffs, crosses deep gorges on narrow bridges, and in several places, waterfalls plunge directly onto the roadway — an experience best enjoyed in the rain (but drive carefully!).
