Pico Redondo Viewpoint, listed on maps as Miradouro do Pico Redondo (Picaroto), sits beside the road above Santana on the northern side of Madeira. A flight of steps leads from the roadside up to an open platform, and from the top the view runs a full 360 degrees over the surrounding ridges and valleys. The same road carries walkers up to the PR 1.2 trail, and most of them drive past; the viewpoint itself is unstaffed, has no facilities and stays quiet.
Pico Redondo Viewpoint
Local name: Miradouro do Pico Redondo
The stairs are what photographers and drone pilots come for, as much as the view at the top of them.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: access is by steps, and there is no accessible parking bay.
- Parking
- Free car park and free roadside spaces just off the main road; the nearest is about 200 m from the viewpoint, with another around 380 m away.
- Difficulty
- About three minutes on foot from the nearest parking, then a flight of steps up to the platform.
- Transport
- No bus serves the viewpoint; the nearest stops, at Lombo Galego, are about 2.9 km away.
What makes it special
A few metres off the tarmac, up one flight of steps, and the landscape opens the whole way round — ridge behind ridge inland, the ground falling away towards the coast. That is all it takes. Most of the traffic on this road is heading further up to the PR 1.2 trailhead and goes past without slowing, which is why people who do stop tend to find the place to themselves. Sunrise is a reason to come early: the platform is open on every side, with nothing standing between it and the light.
Good to know
- The map pin is off. Google Maps does not put the viewpoint exactly where it stands; head for the parking on the main road and take the steps from there.
- No facilities. There are no toilets, no drinking water and no information point within 800 m of the viewpoint.
- Steps only. There is no step-free entrance and no accessible parking bay, so the platform is out of reach for wheelchair users.
- Cloud takes the view away. The panorama is the entire point here, and when the ridge sits inside the cloud there is nothing to see and no shelter.
Getting there
Everyone arrives by car. The viewpoint sits directly off the main road that climbs above Santana, with parking at the roadside: the nearest area about 200 m from the steps, a second one roughly 380 m out. From there it is about three minutes on foot to the bottom of the stairs, and the stairs are the whole of the walk in. The nearest bus stops, at Lombo Galego, are close to 3 km away, which puts the place beyond reach without a vehicle.
Best time to visit
Best: first light. Sunrise is one of the things people drive up here for, and at that hour the platform is almost certainly yours alone.
Avoid: days when the ridge is in cloud — the view is the only reason to stop, and there is no shelter to wait it out under.
Crowds are not the deciding factor at any hour; visibility is. Check what the summits look like before committing to the drive.
Sun & daylight
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Frequently asked questions
Can you reach Pico Redondo Viewpoint without a car?
Not realistically. The nearest bus stops are at Lombo Galego, about 2.9 km away, and no service runs to the viewpoint itself.How long is the walk from the parking?
About three minutes. The nearest parking area is roughly 200 m away, with a second around 380 m out, and the steps up to the platform follow.Is the viewpoint accessible for wheelchair users?
No. Access is by steps, there is no step-free entrance, and there is no accessible parking bay.Are there toilets or drinking water at the viewpoint?
No. There are no toilets, no drinking water and no information point within 800 m.Is Pico Redondo Viewpoint busy?
Rarely. The road carries traffic up to the PR 1.2 trail and most of it drives past; people who stop have found the platform empty.