São Vicente is a charming municipality located on the northern coast of Madeira, known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, lush greenery, and rich cultural heritage. The area is famous for its volcanic caves, scenic coastal views, and traditional festivals. São Vicente is also a gateway to some of Madeira's most beautiful natural attractions, including the Laurisilva forest and stunning viewpoints.
São Vicente is located west of Santana and Machico and east of Porto Moniz, linked by roadway to Santana and the western part of the island. It is also home to the São Vicente Caves.
The municipality includes three civil parishes, that handle local government administration:
Boaventura – physically the largest parish, but with the smallest population density, it is located in the northeast coast of the municipality, and ultimately the last to be settled
Ponta Delgada – a small parish, nestled between two promontories
São Vicente – the largest parish in population and density, home to the municipal seat; it had a population of 3,139 (in 2011) in an area of 44.14 km2
In Chão dos Louros there are predominantly trees of the Lauraceae family, were we not in the heart of the Laurissilva Forest, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.
Thus, you can enjoy a quiet walk to appreciate endemic species such as the laurel tree (Laurus novocanariensis) - the abundance of which justifies the name of the forest -, the 'Madre-de-Louro' (Laurobasidium laurii) fungi genus, the Til (Ocotea foetens) or the Madeira mahogany (Persea indica).
This ecosystem, which also includes plants such as the Lily-of-the-Valley Tree (Clethra arborea), the Firetree (Morella faya) and the Madeira Blueberry (Vaccinium padifolium), for example, is home to a rich birdlife.
