The Miradouro da Encumeada sits at 1,007 metres above sea level at a mountain pass called Boca da Encumeada, in the geographic centre of Madeira. Most visitors encounter it on the ER228 between Ribeira Brava and S\u00e3o Vicente, a road that climbs through eucalyptus and laurel forest before the ridge opens up and sky appears on both sides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pass cuts directly across Madeira’s central mountain spine, so on a clear day you can look south towards the Atlantic and north towards S\u00e3o Vicente Bay from the same spot. There\u2019s a small car park, a caf\u00e9-bar, and a few trail information boards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Funchal, the most direct route is west along the via r\u00e1pida to Ribeira Brava, then north on the ER228 through the valley. The drive takes around 35 to 40 minutes. From S\u00e3o Vicente on the north coast, the pass is about 20 minutes south along the same road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SIGA line 6 bus route between Funchal<\/a> and S\u00e3o Vicente<\/a> passes through Encumeada, though it runs only once daily in each direction, which makes timing a visit around it quite restrictive. A hire car is considerably more practical and opens up the rest of the island’s interior at the same time. If you plan to spend time in the central mountains, consulting a reliable map of Madeira<\/a> before you set off helps considerably when navigating the mountain roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n