Cristo Rei Cablecar runs down the cliff at Garajau, near Caniço on the south coast of Madeira. It starts beside the Cristo Rei statue and reaches the shore in a little over a minute, on one of the steepest cable car lines on the island. At the bottom is a beach of stone with a restaurant, free toilets and changing rooms, and chairs for hire. The same shore can also be reached on foot or by car, but the cable car is the quick way down and back.
Cristo Rei Cablecar
The ride from the foot of the Cristo Rei statue down the cliff to the beach lasts a little over a minute, on one of the steepest cable car lines on Madeira.
- Entrance
- Paid ride, return ticket. Cash only — cards are not accepted, and the operator may not have change.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible parking at the top station.
- Parking
- Free car park at the station entrance, paved surface; a second car park about 150 m away.
- Transport
- Bus stops about 350 m from the top station.
- Hours
- Daily 10:00–20:00.
What makes it special
The line runs from the headland beside the Cristo Rei statue straight down the cliff to the shore at Garajau. The ride lasts a little over a minute, on one of the steepest cable car lines on Madeira. It behaves more like a funicular than a gondola, and the bottom station has no attendant. What waits below is a beach of stone with a restaurant, free changing rooms and toilets, and chairs for hire. The drop itself is the appeal: the water stays in view for the whole descent, and the cliff face passes close to the glass. The car takes a full load, and with one aboard it works its way up slowly.
Good to know
- Cash only. Cards are not accepted, and the operator can run short of change. Bring small notes.
- The beach is stone, not sand. Shoes are needed on the rocks; bare feet hurt.
- Free toilets and changing rooms are down at the beach. Chairs are hired for a fee.
- Nobody works the bottom station. The car runs unattended there, and a full load slows the climb back up.
Getting there
Drive to the top station beside the Cristo Rei statue above Garajau. The car park is at the entrance itself, paved, and a second one lies about 150 m away; bus stops are roughly 350 m from the station. From the car park there is nothing left but a few level metres to the car. The cable car then covers the whole drop to the beach. The shore can also be reached on foot or by car if the line is not running.
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Cristo Rei Cablecar on the map
The sea off this beach is for strong swimmers only. There is no sand and no sheltered spot to bathe, so keep small children out of the water. Wear shoes: the stones are painful barefoot.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there another way down to the beach?
Yes. The shore below can also be reached on foot or by car, so the cable car is a convenience rather than the only route.What is at the bottom?
A beach of stone with no sand, a restaurant, free toilets and changing rooms, and chairs available for hire.How long does the ride take?
A little over a minute in each direction. The line is one of the steepest on Madeira and descends the cliff in a single run.Is the beach suitable for small children?
For playing among the stones, yes. For swimming, no: there is no safe shallow area, and the water suits strong swimmers only.