Pico do Galo is located right next to Cabo Girão, a tourist hotspot that claims to be “one of the highest cliffs in the world.” I’ve seen at least three taller cliffs: Croaghaun on Achill Island in Ireland (688 m), Cape Enniberg in the Faroe Islands (750 m), and Preikestolen in Norway (604 m). And there are more. Yet the phrase “one of” still gets attention, because, technically, it’s true—it is among the tallest.
I spent a few minutes struggling with the finicky automatic machine to pay the €2 entrance fee when Mrs. NoSmile mentioned they were closing in 10 minutes. I told her that should be enough time to see the cliff, and suddenly Mrs. NoSmile became Mrs. Smile, saying it was plenty. Standing on a glass floor 589 meters above the ground isn’t for everyone; the cautious looks people gave as others ventured out made that clear. At least the ocean view was fantastic, and the sunset was beautiful. The price was reasonable—just €2. I made the most of my three-minute adventure.
I got into the car and drove a few hundred meters to the chapel. The large parking lot at the top is likely the natural highpoint, but who really knows? A bit farther away, there’s another trig point. I’ve already lost count of how many I’ve seen today—nice. After a quick look around, I headed toward Pico da Torre.
