Cabo Girao Cliffs Skywalk

Have you got a head for heights?  One way to find out is to try out the Cabo Girao Cliffs Skywalk.  The volcanic cliffs at Cabo Girao tower 580 metres above the crashing waves below, making these one of the highest cliffs in Europe.  The spot attracts base jumpers from around the world who come here to make death-defying parachute jumps into the depths below.  In 2012 someone came up with the idea of building a suspended glass-bottomed platform here which lets visitors experience the dizzying sensation of walking on air whilst looking down at the stunning views below.  

From the platform it's possible to see far down the coast towards Funchal and Camara de Lobos.  It's not unheard of to spot the occasional whale out at sea.  Try to come here on a clear, sunny day to get the most out of your visit. You're unlikely to get to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity alone. In summer long queues can form as coach trips make a stop-off here.  

While you're at the cape, it's also worth while taking the €5 Rancho Cable Car down the almost vertical cliff face.  The fertile soil and intense sun make the slopes below the cliffs perfect for cultivating vines and the cable car was built primarily to let local farmers access these fields here more easily.  

The skywalk attraction is free to enter and there is a café and souvenir shop as well as a car park.