Ponta da Oliveira

Ponta da Oliveira

Ponta da Oliveira is near the suburb of Caniço de Baixo and the town of Reis Magos. Discover Madeira by reading What to Visit in Madeira and find a guide to Funchal in Visit Funchal in 5 Days.

As we walk along the path devoid of shops and bars, we are involved in its dramatic landscapes and its intriguing history.

Ponta da Oliveira

Coordinates: 32.641099, -16.831517

Here, we find a small pier built in the early 20th century, known as Cais das Cebolas due to its export of this product in the past.

Around us, imposing hotels dominate the landscape. To the west, we can glimpse the rocky beach and the Lido Galomar pool, while Ponta do Garajau stands out in the distance.

To the east, the large hotel buildings hide the Praia dos Reis Magos, a true hidden treasure.

The crystal clear waters that surround Ponta da Oliveira are truly a spectacle apart.

Bright and sparkling, perfect for exploring mysterious caves and iridescent fish.

We are in the Garajau Partial Natural Reserve, delimited by this tip and the tip of the Lazareto.

Among the species we can find, some large fish that delight divers stand out.

And we can't forget that, nearby, in the Ponta do Oliveira Cave, we find a refuge for the well-known sea wolf (Monachus monachus).

To dive and explore the depths, nothing better than the Manta Diving Madeira diving centre.

The best way to get to the centre is through the modern and well-kept gardens of Sentido Hotel Galomar.

Here, a modern and well-maintained elevator transports us quickly to the base and swimming area.

And as soon as we dive into the Atlantic, our eyes are attracted by the rich reef contours of the Reserve, where fish swim freely around the corals.

A Little History

The first Portuguese to land on the island of Madeira were led by two young people, João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira, only 25 and 23 years old, respectively.

In the delimitation of their captaincies, they established a straight line from Ponta da Oliveira to Ponta do Tristão, with a symbolic olive stake in the extreme southeast, sent by Infante Dom Henrique from the continent.

That's how Ponta da Oliveira got its name.

The low vegetation that covered the land at the time, especially the reed plant, gave rise to the name Caniço

Tom Van Raemdonck