PR13 (Vereda do Fanal) is a 10.8 km, medium, official IFCN route that requires a SIMplifica booking. Cost: €4.50 per person. 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.
Also known as the “Fanal Forest”
Madeira
A coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 1420m up on this ridge. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Is today the day?
The difference between a clear morning above the clouds and a wet, foggy drive is knowing before you go. Levadas reads the live weather, the safe-start window and how busy Vereda do Fanal is right now, then gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
Ten seconds, one tap, from €2.99 once. No subscription.
Advance booking required via SIMplifica
The slot is €4.50 per person, tied to the day and time you pick. Book it on the right day, the first time.
Book now on SIMplifica How to book this trail Which trails are freeDownload GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Vereda do Fanal 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
2h40
About Vereda do Fanal
Starts on regional road ER209 on the Paúl da Serra plateau and descends to Fanal, crossing the UNESCO Laurissilva forest (a World Natural Heritage site since 1999, part of the Natura 2000 network). Known for its ancient laurel trees and high open mountain scenery and viewpoints.
Vereda do Fanal (PR13) is a one way route of about 10.8 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
The route takes in endemic Madeiran flora, panoramic viewpoints, a mountain summit and laurel forest (laurisilva).
Landmarks on the route include Rocha dos Ingleses, Miradouro, Vereda do Fanal, Fio, Fanal and Pedreira.
The path runs between roughly 1,130 m and 1,420 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda do Fanal rates as medium on our objective scale, based on 10.8 km, 304 m of ascent and low exposure.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 4h one way, a point-to-point route.
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 Paul da Serra. Ends at Fanal. This is a one-way route, so you finish where your car is not: plan a second car, a taxi from the far end, or the walk back before you set off. There is a car park at the start, though its size is not recorded on the map.
What to bring
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; autumn and winter mist give the ancient til wood its mystical look, while dry spells make the muddy plateau path easier.
High trails are best early: clear summits and the chance of a sunrise above the clouds before the cloud builds.
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.
Booking
Vereda do Fanal is a regulated trail with a daily visitor cap, so you must reserve a timed slot in advance through SIMplifica before you go. The official fee is around €4.50 per person. Levadas does not sell tickets or make the reservation for you.
Official trail status
According to IFCN, as of 20 Aug 2026, this trail is currently officially open.
IFCN's own status page is dated 24 Jul 2026. The date above (20 Aug 2026) is ours: it records when we last read that page, not when IFCN wrote it.
Official status can change, so always check the latest before you go.
Fire and other live hazards near this trail are tracked on the Madeira trail alerts page
Frequently asked questions
Is Vereda do Fanal worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Vereda do Fanal, 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 Vereda do Fanal?
Vereda do Fanal is about 10.8 km (one way).
How difficult is Vereda do Fanal?
Vereda do Fanal rates as medium based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Vereda do Fanal safe?
Vereda do Fanal is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. It reaches 1,420 m, and the weather up there is not the weather at the coast. None of that tells you about today, and this page does not try to. Conditions decide, which is why Levadas reads the current weather on Vereda do Fanal, the safe-start window and the official IFCN status, then gives one go-or-wait score from 0 to 100. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance, and an official IFCN closure overrides the score however good the weather looks.
How long does Vereda do Fanal take to walk?
Allow about 4h.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda do Fanal?
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.
Do I need to book Vereda do Fanal?
Yes. Vereda do Fanal is a regulated trail with a daily cap, so you must reserve a timed slot through SIMplifica in advance. The official fee is around €4.50 per person.
Where does Vereda do Fanal start and finish?
Vereda do Fanal starts at Paul da Serra and finishes at Fanal.
What will I see on Vereda do Fanal?
Highlights include endemic Madeiran flora, panoramic viewpoints, a mountain summit and laurel forest (laurisilva).
When is the best time to hike Vereda do Fanal?
Year-round; autumn and winter mist give the ancient til wood its mystical look, while dry spells make the muddy plateau path easier.
Is Vereda do Fanal open right now?
IFCN lists Vereda do Fanal as officially open. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda do Fanal?
Levadas scores Vereda do Fanal 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.