PR19 (Caminho Real do Paul do Mar) is a 1.8 km, hard, 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.
Madeira
A coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 550m up here. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Is today the day?
At 550m, Caminho Real do Paul do Mar makes its own weather. A coastal forecast will not tell you what today looks like up here. The pass reads the live conditions on the trail and 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 Caminho Real do Paul do Mar 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
25min
About Caminho Real do Paul do Mar
Old royal path (caminho real) in western Madeira between Prazeres and Paul do Mar, descending from about 550 m to the coast. A viewpoint at Lombo da Rocha gives wide landscape views, and the route runs above dramatic basalt sea cliffs and ravines. Historically used to link the parishes and carry goods when the sea was rough.
Caminho Real do Paul do Mar (PR19) is a one way route of about 1.8 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
The route takes in waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, laurel forest (laurisilva), coastal cliffs and ocean views and a mountain summit.
Landmarks on the route include Prazeres and Raposeira.
The path runs between roughly 16 m and 550 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Caminho Real do Paul do Mar rates as hard on our objective scale, based on 1.8 km, 29 m of ascent and high exposure.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 1h 20m 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 Prazeres. Ends at Paul do Mar. 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. The car park at the start has room for about 3. The car park is about 310 m from the start.
What to bring
2 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; this warm, sun-exposed coastal descent is pleasant in winter and spring. Carry water and sun cover in summer heat.
High trails are best early: clear summits and the chance of a sunrise above the clouds before the cloud builds.
This route runs through a mix of sun and shade.
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
Caminho Real do Paul do Mar 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 Caminho Real do Paul do Mar 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 do Paul do Mar, 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 do Paul do Mar?
Caminho Real do Paul do Mar is about 1.8 km (one way).
How difficult is Caminho Real do Paul do Mar?
Caminho Real do Paul do Mar rates as hard based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Caminho Real do Paul do Mar safe?
Caminho Real do Paul do Mar is a high-exposure route: long unfenced stretches with a drop beside the path. 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 Caminho Real do Paul do Mar, 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 Caminho Real do Paul do Mar take to walk?
Allow about 1h 20m.
Can I download a GPX track for Caminho Real do Paul do Mar?
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 Caminho Real do Paul do Mar?
Yes. Caminho Real do Paul do Mar 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 Caminho Real do Paul do Mar start and finish?
Caminho Real do Paul do Mar starts at Prazeres and finishes at Paul do Mar.
What will I see on Caminho Real do Paul do Mar?
Highlights include waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, laurel forest (laurisilva), coastal cliffs and ocean views and a mountain summit.
When is the best time to hike Caminho Real do Paul do Mar?
Year-round; this warm, sun-exposed coastal descent is pleasant in winter and spring. Carry water and sun cover in summer heat.
Is Caminho Real do Paul do Mar open right now?
IFCN lists Caminho Real do Paul do Mar as officially open. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Caminho Real do Paul do Mar?
Levadas scores Caminho Real do Paul do Mar 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.