Camara de Lobos is a small town in the South Central coast of Madeira. It’s technically a suburb of Funchal but it doesn’t feel like it at all. The unusual name comes from the fact that maritime explorer João Gonçalves Zarco came across a large colony of animals (monk seals) and named the area after them. It literally translates to ‘Den of Wolves’ afer Zarco mistook the seals for a wolf pack. The beautiful seaside town was home to some of Madeira’s earliest settlements in the 15th century. It was then a traditional fishing village and you can see that tradition live on firsthand.
There’s not loads to do in the seaside town, but you’ll find some stunning cafes, bars and restaurants without the crowds of Funchal. I recommend spending an afternoon there, on the waterfront, nursing a Madeiran wine or a poncha. In fact, I’m not the first person to recommend doing so. Camara de Lobos was a favourite spot of Winston Churchill’s where he set up his easel and painted the day away.
Sadly, there are very few monk seals left in the area, but you can still explore the beautiful sights that it has to offer. (And if you do want to spot some marine animals, I recommend booking a catamaran trip – I saw dozens of dolphins and it was one of the most magical few hours ever.) The views are idyllic and the weather was gorgeous. It’s also a very short distance away from Cabo Girão, one of the world’s tallest cliffs, so you can easily visit both sites in one day.
Did you know about Madeira’s Churchill connection?
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
10 Things to Do in Madeira
Visiting 25 Fonts, Madeira
10 Things to do in Barcelona
10 Things to do in Palma de Mallorca
10 Things to do in Cartagena
10 Things to do in Fuerteventura
Benidorm
Alternative Activities in Benidorm
Pin it for later:
