Is Ponta de São Lourenço open today?

Watch the wind. Why it closes

São Lourenço is the one trail where the live status matters most. The peninsula is fully exposed with no shelter, so IFCN closes it when the north wind is strong — it can be open one day and shut the next.

• Check the status above the morning you go, not the night before. A booked slot is no use if it's closed for wind.
• No shade, no water, full sun — this is a semi-arid coast, not a green levada. Bring sun protection, a windproof layer and plenty of water.

Book it. PR8 on SIMplifica

1. Book your €4.50 slot on SIMplifica in advance, in a 30-minute window. Under-12s free but on the booking.
2. Go early or late. Midday sun on the exposed rock is brutal in summer; first or last slots are cooler and quieter.

Getting there. Baía d'Abra

The walk starts at Baía d'Abra, at the very eastern end of the island — about 45 minutes' drive from Funchal along the ER214.

• Park at the Baía d'Abra car park at the road's end; it fills up in high season.
• The path undulates along the peninsula — reddish, ochre volcanic rock and big sea views on both sides — out to Casa do Sardinha, with two islets beyond the tip.
• Look for seabirds and, if you're lucky, monk seals in the bays below.

Closed or full? Your options

• Reschedule via the SIMplifica call centre before your date — a wind closure counts as an official closure, so you can switch trail.
• Better on a windy/hot day: check the live board — the shaded inland walks like 25 Fontes and Caldeirão Verde are the comfortable call.