Câmara de Lobos

Câmara de Lobos is a fishing town about 9 km west of Funchal on the south coast of Madeira, Portugal, and one of the quickest day trips from the capital. Rodoeste and Horários do Funchal buses take about 20 minutes, with an intermunicipal fare of €2.60 paid in cash on board, while a taxi or hire car on the Via Rápida takes about 15 minutes. The town centres on the small harbour below Largo da Praça do Povo, where brightly painted wooden boats are pulled up on the pebbly beach. Winston Churchill painted here during a visit in 1950, and the harbour viewpoint is still associated with that visit. Visitors can walk the waterfront, watch fishermen mend nets and look for the espada, the black scabbardfish, which is the local catch and the basis of the town's best-known dishes. The traditional drink is poncha, made from sugar-cane spirit, honey and lemon or orange juice, and it is served in the small bars around the harbour. The town sits at the foot of the Cabo Girão cliffs, and the surrounding terraces are among the island's main wine-growing areas, producing the grapes behind Madeira wine. A good one-day arc starts with a morning bus, a walk around the harbour and the old town streets while the fishing boats are in, and a visit to the parish church. Lunch suits a harbourside restaurant serving grilled espada, limpets or fresh fish, followed by a poncha tasting. The afternoon can be used for a short walk along the seafront or a taxi or bus up to the Cabo Girão skywalk, since combined half-day tours routinely pair the two places. Arrival in late morning gives the most activity at the harbour, while late afternoon brings softer light for photography. Câmara de Lobos works in any season thanks to the mild south-coast climate, although summer weekends are busier. The town is compact and can be covered on foot in two to three hours, leaving the rest of the day for a second stop on the same road.