The best photography spots in Madeira

Despite its small size, there is no shortage of landscape photography opportunities in Madeiria. From rugged ocean coastlines to stunning views above the clouds, below is a list of my favourite photography spots on this lovely island of Portugal.

Ribeira da Janela

I shared this location in another blog for one of the best locations for viewing a sunrise. Ribeira da Janela is in Northwest Madeira and situated in a way that provides a great sunrise view for your photographs. I also mentioned it’s a good place at sunset time. You may not see the sun directly in your frame then, but when you have a few clouds out the colour cast against the clouds can light up your frame. Be sure to take your time in the rocks to search for a composition you like as with similar locations, it can be quite chaotic but rewarding once you’ve lined up your shot.

Ribeira da Janela close to sunset

Miradouro da Ponta do Rosto

A short hike leads to a rewarding view of the coasts of Eastern Madeira. I prefer this location at sunrise. It can get a bit windy here so be prepared for the weather. Be sure to try out the other hikes as well that lead to the coasts, but in my opinion, this was not only one of the easiest but also the best.

 Ponta do Rosto

Bica da Cana

If you want to get away from the crowds to a more quiet and secluded location without sacrificing stunning views, Bica da Cana is for you. You’ll have plenty of space to search for a composition and fly out with your drone. The couple of times I visited felt like I was the only person there. Note that sunrise is the “prime time” to visit this spot but feel free to visit at sunset too as you can get wonderful colours in the sky.

Bica da Cana at sunrise

Fanal Forest

The term “enchanted forest” quite often gets overused and inappropriately applied but when using the phrase to describe Fanal Forest, there is no better place. It is one of the most unique and interesting locations I’ve visited. It’s filled with very old, interesting trees in all sorts of twisted positions. It is a designated world heritage site and interestingly the location where the Star Wars show Acolyte filmed a scene.

Most of the time Fanal is filled with mist and fog, which gives it its trademark and charm. You may have to visit this seemingly dark and spooky forest a couple of times before you get the right conditions. And you’ll have to spend time exploring for a composition, as it is a forest after all. Just remember, a little bit of light can add a bit of that extra touch to your photos. Be sure to take your time and enjoy your walk-through.

Fanal Forest

Pico do Arieiro

In a previous blog I mentioned that Pico do Arieiro is arguably one of the most majestic locations not just on the island of Madeira but that I’ve visited overall. Towering mountain peaks, cloud inversions, and hiking trails make it one of the best spots to catch both a sunrise and sunset. It has a convenient parking lot close to the main viewpoints. You will need to wake up extra early for sunrise though as most of the crowd visits around then. I found sunset to have better composition opportunities due to the direction of the mountains, etc. Just remember to be prepared for weather conditions, especially in the early hours of the morning as the wind can get quite strong.

Pico do Arieiro at sunset