Achadas da Cruz cable car: prices, hours and what to expect

Cable car opening hours: what is known and what is not

In November 1909 a yacht called the Varuna ran aground on the shore at Achadas da Cruz, and Porto Moniz council says part of its boiler still shows at low tide. More than a century later, anyone going down to the fajã has a far more ordinary problem: finding out when the cabin runs.

The council and Visit Madeira both say the cable car is open every day, but neither publishes the hours. What circulates comes from third parties, and it does not match.

All three versions agree on two things: it opens at 8:00 and stops for about an hour at lunchtime. A council notice from June 2026 closed the cable car for one morning, from 8am to noon, which points to those morning hours without proving them. The big doubt is the end of the day, somewhere between 16:00 and 19:00. Phone +351 291 852 951 and ask two questions: when is the last ride down, and when is the last ride up? The second is the one that stops you being stranded at the bottom.

On the same call, confirm it is running. In 2025 alone it was closed from 1 to 5 September for maintenance, from 27 to 31 October and 3 to 7 November for cable tests, and then until 17 November after a breakdown. The September notice came out the day before. Strong wind can stop it too.

How much the cable car costs

Buy a return unless you plan to walk one way: it is €5 against €6. For the reduced price, bring the card.

What the ride is like if you fear heights

The cabin is small and enclosed, and the ride lasts about 5 minutes. The strongest moment is the first one: the cabin leaves the station, passes the edge of the slope and the ground drops away quickly. After that it is one continuous descent of about 450 metres, with the green cliff on one side and the sea ahead.

Reports are split. Some visitors write that it is no place for people with vertigo, and others, afraid of heights, felt nervous at the start and enjoyed the ride. With mild vertigo it is worth trying. With a real panic of heights, stay at the viewpoint.

• Look first. The Cable Car viewpoint is next to the station: from there you can see the slope, the cabin and the fajã, and decide before you buy a ticket.
• Pick a day without wind. The ride is calmer, and wind is what can stop the cable car.
• Look into the distance. In the cabin, fix your eyes on the sea and the horizon, and not on the ground.
• Do not count on walking instead. The council rates both trails as medium for vertigo, and the descent runs across an open cliff.

What you find at the bottom

The Fajã da Quebrada Nova is a strip of farmland at the foot of the cliff, with no road: you get there by cable car or on one of two trails. These plots are the reason the cable car exists, and it still serves the farmers and their harvests. The stone huts are private, so walk past without going in.

A path by the sea crosses the fajã, and that is what you do down here: walk, listen to the sea and look for the boiler of the Varuna, which only appears at low tide.

The beach is all pebbles and boulders, and the council’s own pages disagree about swimming. One says you can swim in some areas; the trail pages ask you not to do so under any circumstances, because there are no lifeguards and both the rocks and the waves are large. Go with the second version.

Do not count on a restaurant. The council lists none, and visitors mention a café open in high season and nothing at all in January. Bring water. One to two hours at the bottom is enough.

Vereda do Calhau or Vereda da Ladeira

Choose the Vereda do Calhau. It is the old farmers’ path, it is in good condition, and the council itself recommends it over the other. The Ladeira is for experienced hikers, with poles and proper boots.

The usual combination is to walk down and ride up for €3. It carries one risk: if the cable car stops, the way back is a climb of more than 440 metres. Phone before you start.

Getting there by car

From Funchal it is 54.4 km to Achadas da Cruz, about an hour. From Porto Moniz you climb the ER101 through Santa, about 15 minutes. The cable car is on Caminho do Teleférico, signposted from the regional road.

The council says parking near the station is easy. Off season that is true; in July and August visitors report leaving the car further up and walking down.

This autumn, do not use the mountain roads as a shortcut without checking: the ER105 between Encumeada and Paul da Serra is closed, and the ER204 and ER211 are restricted.

Getting there by bus: route 380

Only the 380 serves Achadas da Cruz, with one trip in each direction, every day. A ticket costs €2.65 on board, cash only. The rest of the network is in our guide to Madeira without a car.

• Time on the ground. You get 3 h 40 on weekdays and 3 h 55 at weekends. Miss the return and there is no other bus.
• The stop is not the station. The SIGA timetable gives no walking distance. Ask the driver for the stop closest to the cable car, and expect a walk down through the village that becomes a climb on the way back.
• The lunch break. You may arrive with the cabin stopped. Use the time to eat at the top and go down at 13:00.
• You cannot add the pools. After Achadas the 380 carries on to Porto Moniz, and the return passes here at 16:15, so choose one or the other.
• No Bolt for the return. There are few cars far from Funchal, and you should not count on a pick-up here.

A day at Achadas da Cruz and what to combine

• Morning. Be at the station when it opens. In July and August visitors report an hour or more of queuing each way, in the sun, with cabins for six people. Go down, walk to the shore and come back up before noon.
• Afternoon. Carry on to Porto Moniz. Ribeira da Janela and Seixal lie on the way back along the north coast.
• For walkers. Go down early on the Vereda do Calhau and ride up, always after confirming the cable car is running.
• In rough seas. If the Porto Moniz pools have a red flag, this is a good plan B as long as there is no wind. You can see the power of the sea from the path, without going near the rocks.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Achadas da Cruz cable car?

A standard ticket costs €3 one way and €5 return. With a +65, student or reduced mobility card it costs €1 and €2. Tickets are sold at the cable car.

What are the Achadas da Cruz cable car opening hours?

It opens every day, but neither the council nor Visit Madeira publishes the hours, and the versions in circulation do not match. All mention an 8:00 start and a lunch break, and closing varies between 16:00 and 19:00. Phone +351 291 852 951.

Is the Achadas da Cruz cable car scary?

It depends on your tolerance. The cabin is enclosed, the ride lasts about 5 minutes and the strongest moment is leaving the station, when it passes the edge of the slope. Look first from the viewpoint next to the station, and pick a day without wind.

Can you walk down to Achadas da Cruz?

Yes, on the Vereda do Calhau, 5 km return and 2 h 30 to 3 h, or on the harder Vereda da Ladeira. Many people walk down and ride up for €3, but confirm first that the cable car is running.

Can you swim at Achadas da Cruz?

It is not a good idea. The beach is pebbles and boulders, there are no lifeguards, and the council’s trail pages ask people not to swim there because of the rocks and waves.

How do I get to Achadas da Cruz by bus?

Take route 380 from Funchal at 10:00, arriving 12:35 on weekdays and 12:20 at weekends and on holidays. The return passes at 16:15 every day. A ticket costs €2.65 on board, cash only.

Does the Achadas da Cruz cable car close for maintenance?

It closes several times a year, sometimes with a day’s notice. In 2025 it was shut in September, October and November for maintenance, cable tests and a breakdown. Strong wind can also stop it.