CR-BV (Caminho Real de Boaventura) is a 2.0 km each way (3.9 km round trip), medium, community route. Cost: free. Whether it is worth hiking right now depends on live conditions and today's official status, re-checked every 20 minutes in the live app.
Madeira
A forecast for the nearest town is not a forecast for this path. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Go or wait today?
You have already picked the walk. The pass answers the one question left, whether today is the morning worth the drive: it reads the live weather on the trail and gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
Ten seconds, one tap, from €2.99 once. No subscription.
Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Caminho Real de Boaventura as a free GPX file, no signup. Load it into Garmin, Komoot, AllTrails, Gaia GPS or OsmAnd and follow the route offline, even where there is no phone signal.
ⓘ Source & safety
Track and waypoints from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Planning aid, not a safety guarantee. Check the official trail status and conditions before you go.Estimated hiking time
1h09
About Caminho Real de Boaventura
The Caminho Real de Boaventura is a historic stone-paved royal path along Madeira's rugged north coast, not a levada, linking Boaventura with Arco de São Jorge by way of the São Cristóvão viewpoint. It is short but steep, gaining a lot of height over a few kilometres on switchbacks cut into cliffs above the Atlantic, with a fountain at São Cristóvão and a small stone bridge over the Ribeiro do Porco along the way. Some sections run close to drops where railings are broken or missing, so the open ocean views come with real exposure.
Caminho Real de Boaventura (CR-BV) is a round trip route of about 3.9 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Expect historic features, exposed, drop-side sections, panoramic viewpoints, laurel forest (laurisilva) and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
Landmarks on the route include São Cristovão.
The path runs between roughly 28 m and 234 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Caminho Real de Boaventura rates as medium on our objective scale, based on 3.9 km round trip and 459 m of ascent.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 2h 15m for the round trip (you return the same way).
The app's live 0-100 score also flags the latest safe start time for the day. See it in the app.
Getting there and back
Starts at Boaventura. Ends at Arco de São Jorge. The car park at the start has room for about 8. It is signed for customers of the business it belongs to, not public parking.
Best time to walk it
Apr to Oct (go in dry weather; wet stone is slippery and the cliff edges are exposed)
Coastal walks are often at their best in soft late-afternoon light.
Most of this route sits in shade, which keeps it walkable on days when open ground is punishing.
The sun and shade reading comes from the slope's aspect and steepness, so it describes terrain shading and not tree cover.
A live 0-100 score picks the best 30-minute window for the day. See today's window in the app.
Frequently asked questions
Is Caminho Real de Boaventura worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Caminho Real de Boaventura, the safe-start window, how busy it is and the official IFCN status, then gives one honest go-or-wait score from 0 to 100, re-checked every 20 minutes. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance: an official IFCN closure always overrides the score, no matter how good the weather looks.
How long is Caminho Real de Boaventura?
Caminho Real de Boaventura is about 3.9 km round trip.
How difficult is Caminho Real de Boaventura?
Caminho Real de Boaventura rates as medium based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
How long does Caminho Real de Boaventura take to walk?
Allow about 2h 15m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Caminho Real de Boaventura?
Yes. Tap Download GPX on this page: the first download on any device asks for an email so we can also send the free trail pack, then every later trail downloads instantly.
Is Caminho Real de Boaventura free to walk?
Yes. Caminho Real de Boaventura needs no reservation and has no fee. Only the regulated official PR trails require a paid SIMplifica booking; this one you simply walk.
Where does Caminho Real de Boaventura start and finish?
Caminho Real de Boaventura starts at Boaventura and finishes at Arco de São Jorge.
What will I see on Caminho Real de Boaventura?
Highlights include historic features, exposed, drop-side sections, panoramic viewpoints, laurel forest (laurisilva) and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
When is the best time to hike Caminho Real de Boaventura?
Apr to Oct (go in dry weather; wet stone is slippery and the cliff edges are exposed)
How do I check live conditions for Caminho Real de Boaventura?
Levadas scores Caminho Real de Boaventura from 0 to 100 using live weather along the path and the official status, refreshed every 20 minutes. You also see how busy it is. Open the trail in the app to see the live score and the best time to go today.