Every official trail, and whether it is open today

Vereda do Areeiro

Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo

The high ridge walk between the island's two tallest peaks, through tunnels and along staircases cut into the rock.

• 6.1 km
• 3 h
• Moderate
• One way

Vereda do Areeiro

Pico do Areeiro to Miradouro da Pedra Rija

The first stretch of the Areeiro ridge, out to the Pedra Rija viewpoint and back.

• 1.2 km
• 1 h
• Moderate
• There and back

Vereda da Ilha

Down off the mountain from Pico Ruivo to the village of Ilha, losing more than 1200 metres on the way.

• 8.2 km
• 3 h
• Moderate
• One way

Vereda do Pico Ruivo

The back way up Pico Ruivo, from Achada do Teixeira. Much shorter than the ridge from Areeiro, and the summit is the same.

• 2.8 km
• 1 h 30
• Moderate
• There and back

Vereda da Encumeada

The mountain traverse from Pico Ruivo west to Encumeada. Half of it is currently closed.

• 11.2 km
• 5 h
• Moderate
• One way

Vereda do Urzal

A crossing from the mountain bowl at Curral das Freiras over to the north coast at Boaventura. Currently only walkable from the north.

• 10.3 km
• 4 h 30
• Moderate
• One way

Vereda do Burro

Down from the Pico do Areeiro car park to Ribeira das Cales, mostly through heather and then laurel forest. A descent, not a climb.

• 7.2 km
• Easy
• One way

Caminho Real do Monte

The old royal road from Ribeira das Cales down to Monte, cobbled for long stretches, under trees most of the way.

• 4.2 km
• 2 h
• Moderate
• One way

Levada do Barreiro

A high levada from Poço da Neve, near the Areeiro road, down to the Casa do Barreiro. Partly passable at the moment; check the IFCN.

• 6.7 km
• Easy
• One way

Vereda das Funduras

Through the Funduras forest from the Portela viewpoint down to Maroços, in the quiet east of the island.

• 8.7 km
• 3 h
• Moderate
• One way

Levada das 25 Fontes

A levada path through laurel forest to a green amphitheatre where two dozen springs come out of the rock at once.

• 4.3 km
• 3 h
• Moderate
• There and back

Levada do Risco

The short one at Rabaçal: half an hour of forest to a waterfall that drops in a single white line down a black wall.

• 3 km
• 2 h
• Easy
• There and back

Levada do Alecrim

A gentle levada from Rabaçal out to the Dona Beja lagoon, and the quietest of the walks that start there.

• 3.5 km
• 2 h 30
• Easy
• There and back

Vereda da Lagoa do Vento

Down to a waterfall and lagoon below Rabaçal. Short, and much harder than short suggests.

• 1.8 km
• 1 h 30
• Easy
• There and back

Levada Velha do Rabaçal

The old channel above Rabaçal, from Pico Gordo down to the forestry house.

• 5 km
• 2 h
• One way

Vereda do Pico Fernandes

The back way into 25 Fontes, dropping off the Paul da Serra plateau instead of coming down from Rabaçal.

• 3.8 km
• 1 h 30
• One way

Vereda do Túnel do Cavalo

Into Rabaçal through an 800-metre tunnel cut between 1863 and 1877, from the Caldeira side.

• 2.3 km
• 45 min
• One way

Vereda da Câmara de Carga do Rabaçal

A short link from the Rabaçal loading chamber to the Túnel do Cavalo. The one classified trail with no official description at all.

• 1.8 km
• One way

Levada do Paul II

Um Caminho para Todos

A level 1.2 km beside the levada at Rabaçal, built so that people with limited mobility can get into this landscape too.

• 1.2 km
• 30 min
• There and back

Levada do Moinho

A long levada in the far north-west, from Ribeira da Cruz down towards Junqueira. Closed.

• 10.3 km
• 3 h 30
• Moderate
• One way

Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço

The bare red-and-ochre peninsula at the eastern tip, with the Atlantic on both sides and not a tree in sight.

• 4 km
• 2 h 30
• Moderate
• There and back

Levada do Caldeirão Verde

A long levada walk from the Queimadas forest park to a waterfall falling into a green bowl, through four tunnels on the way.

• 8.7 km
• 6 h 30
• Moderate
• There and back

Queimadas

Um Caminho para Todos

The accessible stretch of the Caldeirão Verde levada, between Queimadas and Pico das Pedras — built for wheelchairs and for anyone who cannot manage the long version.

• 1.9 km
• 45 min
• Easy
• One way

Levada do Furado

Eleven kilometres of levada from Ribeiro Frio to Portela, through some of the oldest laurel forest on the island.

• 11 km
• 5 h
• Moderate
• One way

Vereda dos Balcões

A flat half-hour through the laurel forest to a balcony looking straight at the island's highest peaks.

• 1.5 km
• 1 h 30
• Easy
• There and back

Caminho Real da Encumeada

The old royal road between Boca da Corrida and Encumeada. Only the first 3.5 km are open.

• 12.5 km
• 5 h
• Moderate
• One way

Vereda do Fanal

The high plateau of ancient til trees, bent into shapes by the wind and standing in fog most of the year.

• 10.8 km
• 4 h
• Moderate
• One way

Vereda da Palha Carga

A short, steep drop off the ER 209 into the top of the 25 Fontes valley.

• 1.8 km
• 45 min
• One way

Levada dos Cedros

A wooded levada across the top of the north-west, from Fanal down to Curral Falso.

• 7.2 km
• 3 h
• Moderate
• One way

Vereda da Ribeira da Janela

A short, steep descent from the ER 209 down to the village of Ribeira da Janela.

• 2.7 km
• 1 h 30
• Moderate
• One way

Levada Fajã do Rodrigues

A levada into the São Vicente valley with three tunnels, the longest around 600 metres.

• 3.9 km
• 3 h 30
• Moderate
• There and back

Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal

The hardest classified trail on the island: 15 km across the centre from Lombo do Mouro to Encumeada, through long dark tunnels. Currently open only in part.

• 15 km
• 6 h 30
• Hard
• One way

Levada do Rei

A quiet levada walk into a wooded valley above São Jorge, and one of the few popular trails where you can still be alone.

• 5.3 km
• 3 h 30
• Moderate
• There and back

Caminho Real do Paul do Mar

The old royal road down the cliff from Prazeres to the fishing village of Paul do Mar. All descent, 534 metres of it.

• 1.8 km
• 1 h 20
• Moderate
• One way

Vereda do Jardim do Mar

The neighbouring descent to Paul do Mar's, this one down to Jardim do Mar. Closed at the moment.

• 1.9 km
• 1 h 30
• Moderate
• One way

Caminho do Norte

Three kilometres downhill from the Encumeada pass to Ribeira Grande in São Vicente.

• 3.2 km
• 1 h 30
• Moderate
• One way

Vereda do Chão dos Louros

A short loop around the Chão dos Louros forest park, and the only classified trail here that brings you back to your car.

• 1.9 km
• 45 min
• Easy
• Loop

Levada da Azenha

A short, easy levada walk in Caniço, from the Azenha to the Caminho Velho do Castelo. Half an hour, flat, good for children. Run by the parish council, so no licence and no fee.

• 1.3 km
• 20 min
• One way

Glaciar de Planalto

A short walk on the Paul da Serra plateau, from Bica da Cana. Classified in 2024 and closed at the moment.

• 4.6 km
• 1 h 30

Levada da Rocha Vermelha

A long levada route down from Fanal towards Lombo da Atouguia, with tunnels and a steep stairway. Classified in 2024, closed at the moment.

• 10.8 km
• 4 h
• One way

Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã

Porto Santo's best walk: up the green north-eastern corner of an otherwise dry island, on a path cut into the rock.

• 2.7 km
• 1 h 30
• Moderate
• There and back

Vereda do Pico do Castelo

Up Porto Santo's wooded peak from Moledo, through the pines planted to hold the hillside together.

• 4.6 km
• 2 h 15
• Easy

Levada do Pico do Castelo

A levada walk across Porto Santo from Camacha to the Graça chapel, through a 530-metre tunnel. Closed for waterworks.

• 4.1 km
• 1 h 30
• Moderate
• One way