Praia do Garajau lies below the cliffs in the Caniço area of Madeira, Portugal. It is a pebble beach inside a protected marine reserve, and the water deepens quickly and stays clear, which is why swimmers, snorkellers and divers come rather than sunbathers. Access is by cable car from the Christ the King statue, or by car with the last stretch on foot. A bar on the beach has a toilet and a free shower.
Praia do Garajau
A cable car drops from the Christ the King statue to a pebble beach inside a protected marine reserve.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible parking and entrance. Reaching the water still means the cable car and a stretch on foot over stone.
- Parking
- Two free car parks within about 100 m of the beach. Free street parking and a paid car park are also available.
- Difficulty
- Cable car down, then a walk on foot to the shore. Going back up on foot instead is a hard climb, and the beach underfoot is loose pebble.
- Transport
- The nearest bus stops are about 530 m from the beach.
- Hours
- Monday to Friday 10:00–20:00; Saturday and Sunday 10:00–22:00.
What makes it special
Praia do Garajau is a pebble beach at the foot of a cliff, inside a protected marine reserve. The water is clear and deepens close to shore, so this is a place for swimming, snorkelling and diving rather than for lying on sand. Do not expect coral. Snorkellers get open water, stone and a few fish. A cable car runs down from the Christ the King statue (Cristo Rei), and the last stretch on foot passes a banana plot before the shore. A bar stands on the beach itself, with a toilet and a free shower.
Good to know
- Stones, not sand. The beach is pebble throughout. Water shoes make getting in and out of the sea bearable.
- The waves get big. Entering and leaving the water is the part that needs care.
- The climb back up is hard. Walking up from the beach instead of riding the cable car is a serious effort.
- Facilities are on the sand line. The beach bar has a toilet and a free shower, and there is another toilet close by.
- Snorkelling is modest. Clear, deep water and a few fish, but no coral.
Getting there
Most people start at the Christ the King statue (Cristo Rei) above the beach and take the cable car down. From the lower end a walk on foot leads past a banana plot to the shore. Coming by car and covering the last stretch on foot works too. Either way, the return on foot is a climb up the cliff, and the cable car exists to spare you it.
Best time to visit
Better: Saturday and Sunday, when the beach keeps its longer hours. Avoid: arriving close to closing on a weekday. The cable car and the bar work to those hours, and the alternative to the cable car is a climb back up the cliff on foot. Plan the visit around the water: swimming and snorkelling are the reason to come here, not the shoreline itself.
Sun & daylight
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Praia do Garajau on the map
The waves here get big and the shore is loose stone. Entering and leaving the water is the risky part: go in slowly, watch your footing, and keep an eye on the sea.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you get down to the beach?
By cable car from the Christ the King statue, or by car with the last stretch on foot past a banana plot.Is it a sandy beach?
No. It is pebble. Water shoes are worth bringing, both for the beach and for getting into the sea.Are there toilets and showers?
The bar on the beach has a toilet and a free shower. Another toilet stands a short distance away.Is it worth snorkelling here?
The water is clear and deep and the beach sits in a marine reserve, but there is no coral and fish are few.Can you walk back up instead of taking the cable car?
You can, but it is a hard climb up from the beach. Most people take the cable car in both directions.