L-PIORNAIS (Levada dos Piornais) is a 7.0 km each way (14.0 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 Levada dos Piornais 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
1h45
Getting there by bus
The nearest public bus stop to the Levada dos Piornais trailhead is Redondo Barreiros S (815), 47 m away. That is a straight line on the map and not a walk: on this terrain the climb between the two can matter more than the distance.
The timetable we hold ran until July 30, 2026 and no newer one has been published, so departure times are not shown. The stop and the lines serving it (045, 050) are unchanged.
Horários do Funchal is the only Madeira operator that publishes a machine-readable timetable. A trail without this block is one we hold no bus data for, not one no bus reaches.
About Levada dos Piornais
The scenic São Martinho stretch of Funchal's Levada dos Piornais, where the channel runs out along cliff-edge ledges above the south coast, through low rock-cut tunnels and past banana terraces with open Atlantic and Funchal views. Walked as an out-and-back from São Martinho, just below Estádio dos Barreiros, towards the Socorridos valley. Note: the separate Praia Formosa to Câmara de Lobos stretch (outside this section) is partially closed; this modeled section has narrow unguarded ledges and low tunnels, so it needs a head for heights and a light.
Levada dos Piornais (L-PIORNAIS) is a round trip route of about 14.0 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Expect a levada water-channel path, coastal cliffs and ocean views, panoramic viewpoints and a mountain summit.
Landmarks on the route include Cruz.
The path passes cultural heritage nearby, including Capela de Nossa Senhora do Amparo and Capela de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda.
The path runs between roughly 85 m and 179 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Levada dos Piornais rates as medium on our objective scale, based on 14.0 km round trip and 206 m of ascent.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 5h 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 São Martinho, Funchal (south of Estádio dos Barreiros). Ends at Socorridos valley (turnaround). The car park at the start has room for about 24.
What to bring
Torch/headlamp for the low tunnels; the ledges are narrow and unguarded (head for heights).
Low rock-cut tunnels on the cliff ledges — head for heights and a torch or headlamp needed.
5 drinking-water points are mapped along the route. Fill up where you can, but carry enough to finish without them.
Best time to walk it
Year-round (low, dry south coast)
High trails are best early: clear summits and the chance of a sunrise above the clouds before the cloud builds.
This route is mostly open to the sun, so it bites on a hot, clear day. Start early and carry more water than you think you need.
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 Levada dos Piornais worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Levada dos Piornais, 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 Levada dos Piornais?
Levada dos Piornais is about 14.0 km round trip.
How difficult is Levada dos Piornais?
Levada dos Piornais rates as medium based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
How long does Levada dos Piornais take to walk?
Allow about 5h for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Levada dos Piornais?
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 Levada dos Piornais free to walk?
Yes. Levada dos Piornais 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 Levada dos Piornais start and finish?
Levada dos Piornais starts at São Martinho, Funchal (south of Estádio dos Barreiros) and finishes at Socorridos valley (turnaround).
What will I see on Levada dos Piornais?
Highlights include a levada water-channel path, coastal cliffs and ocean views, panoramic viewpoints and a mountain summit.
When is the best time to hike Levada dos Piornais?
Year-round (low, dry south coast)
Are there tunnels on Levada dos Piornais? Do I need a torch?
Low rock-cut tunnels on the cliff ledges — head for heights and a torch or headlamp needed.
How do I check live conditions for Levada dos Piornais?
Levadas scores Levada dos Piornais 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.