PAÚL DO MAR

Paúl do Mar is a quiet village about 40 kilometers west of Funchal. There is one hotel there, <%-- Paul Do Mar Hotel --%>Paúl do Mar Apart hotel, which is a good place to stay when exploring the walkpaths around the area. Most of the village people are fishermen. When the season comes they go fishing for months all the way to Panama and other places of The Atlantic ocean.
Since year 1460, when the first road was built, Paúl do Mar was quite isolated place. Only three footpaths were in use to get up to mainland. These days two of them are in use and quite a few people climb these paths every day enjoying the marvelous views.
Along Zimbreiros path on the westside of the village you can get to the Fajã da Ovelha and again to Levada Nova higher on the slopes of the southcoast.
From the harbour on the east side of the village we can find Paúl do mar-Prazeres path which gets us to Prazeres and again to Levada Nova. Both of the paths, Zimbreiros and path to Prazeres are in very good condition. Prazerespath is restored in 2007 and has brand new railings, as the path is very steep going zig-zag uphill.
The centerpath from Paúl to Raposeira has not been used for years and is in unnavigable state. It is damaged by landslides and growing vegetation. I started to climb the path in december 2007 and after few hundreds of meters there was a place where landslide had washer away the path, so I decided to turn around and get back to the village. Maybe some day they also renovate this path and we may enjoy the nice center views to Paúl do Mar.

PAÚL DO MAR - FAJÃ DA OVELHA - PRAZERES - PAÚL DO MAR

Combining Paúl do Mar paths and Levada Nova higher on the slopes we get introduced with the landscapes of the area. It is a nice adventure, although quite demanding because of the length of the route (about 20 kilometers) and steep climb up along the Zimbreiros and down from Prazeres.

Our starting point is on the parkingplace of <%-- Paul Do Mar Hotel --%> Paúl do mar Apart Hotel. The 400 meter climb looks quite nasty at this point of view but you shouldn't give up but get on the ball.
By following the road lined with laterns and Hibiscus we get to the bridge. Over the bridge and up the stairs made out of stones, we find the starting point of Zimbreiros zig-zag path which curves left at first and go around the rocky bank on the hillside.

The path zig-zag up along steep slope.
The white building up on the hill is hotel-restaurant,
slightly left we can see our first goal
The viewpoint of Zimbreiros

We climb uphill on a path which is elaborately wedged by small stones. In places, the path gets wavy shape. There may be suprises on the path also like this huge rock separated from the hillside. On december 2007 it had fallen to the path.(SEE THE VIDEO)
See how the views to Paúl do Mar and the Atlantic ocean gets more beautiful higher we climb. You should come to see the sunset here in the evening. It's lovely. Halfway by the path there is a cavity on the rocks where you can take a breath and enjoy the panoramic views. Illalla auringon laskiessa näkee täältä upean auringonlaskun. You can hear the moaning sounds of the sea as the waves crashing to the shore. The road on the other side of the small valley is the Fajã da Ovelha road. The plantlife is mostly agave- and cactus-plants.

EDUSTALLA PAÚL DO MAR JA TAUSTALLA JARDIM DO MAR

You may notice the small path starting from the Ovelha road. It is a short levada leading in the heart of the valley. At the end there is a small waterfall amongst rocky hillsides.

Our route get steeper before we reach the top and get to enjoy the marvelous views to Paúl do Mar and the sea. Our Zimbreiros path can be seen wimpling on the hillside down below.

This viewpoint offers interesting local history. Maybe they used this contraption for lifting goods from Paúl do Mar up to mainland once, as there once was no roads from Paúl do Mar. Maybe fish and other seavegetables, who knows.
If we look towards the hotel, there was an old tree standing in year 2006, when I first visited in this area. At december 2007 this old friend gave up and was lying across the footpath. Time changes things as well as landscapes. Now there is only a picture as a memory.(PICTURE OF A TREE).

After the climb it would be nice to go to refresh yourself to the hotel/restaurant. Unfortunatelly, there is no direct path, but you must go around via the road that is our next goal.
CONTINUE ON TOWARDS LEVADA NOVA .