Paul Do Mar: Fishing Tradition, Coastal Landscape and the PR 19

Paul do Mar lies on the southwest coast of Madeira and combines a valley-like landscape with a strong fishing tradition. The valley-like landscape is protected by impressive cliffs on one side and bordered by the sea on the other. For planning your trip, this creates a remarkable mix of coastal experiences, local history, hiking and the everyday life of a place traditionally shaped by fishing.

Discover the fishing tradition and local history

The fishing tradition continues to shape the appearance and everyday life of Paul do Mar. A historic testament to this past is the former tuna cannery in Sítio da Lagoa. It was built in 1912 and opened on 17 April 1913. Its historic status is explicitly part of the history of the village: it is a former factory.

West of the pier stands the Homem do Mar statue. It was unveiled to the public on 21 August 2004. The chapel dedicated to Santo Amaro is also part of the village’s history. In 1676, it became the seat of the parish independent of Estreito da Calheta. Those interested in regional traditions and historical traces can include these different facets in their holiday plans.

The PR 19: a historic path with clear requirements

The PR 19 – Caminho Real do Paul do Mar is a 1.8 km hiking trail with an estimated duration of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It is part of Madeira’s historical heritage and descends through the landscape in a zigzag pattern along a path paved with small steps. The trail begins at an altitude of around 550 metres and has a moderate difficulty level.

This information helps you plan your hiking day realistically. If your travel group has different interests, the PR 19 can be treated as a separate active part of the itinerary, while other days can focus more on the coast, local history or discovering the area together. Its length, estimated duration, descent and moderate difficulty level are important factors when making your decision.

Praia do Porto and the sea off Paul do Mar

At the eastern end of Paul do Mar lies Praia do Porto, a pebble beach with clear water and mild temperatures all year round. The beach is suitable for swimming. This gives the coast a different holiday perspective from the historic hiking trail: you can plan a day involving activity and elevation changes or focus on the sea and swimming.

The sea off Paul do Mar is also known for its reef breaks and frequently occurring tube-shaped waves. This feature particularly appeals to travellers interested in the form and dynamics of the coast. It complements the image of a place whose character is shaped not only by its landscape but also by its close relationship with the sea.

July with the Festa da Lapa

The Festa da Lapa takes place annually in Paul do Mar in July. If you schedule your trip during this period, you can consider the event a special cultural highlight when planning your itinerary. When choosing a holiday apartment, it makes sense to first consider whether the focus of your trip should be on the fishing history, the PR 19, Praia do Porto, the waves or the festival.

Compare Paul do Mar as a holiday destination

A holiday apartment in Paul do Mar is particularly suited to your plans if you would like to combine coastal scenery and local history. Families and other travel groups can take different daily routines into account: one part of the trip can be devoted to the historic path and another to the beach or the local scenery.

If you would like to compare other places for your Madeira trip, you can also find Caniço, Ponta Delgada, Campo De Cima, Machico, Porto Da Cruz, Arco Da Calheta, Funchal and Fajã Da Ovelha.

For the higher-level travel overview: Madeira.