PR20 (Vereda do Jardim do Mar) is a 1.9 km, hard, official IFCN 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 coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 530m up here. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Go or wait today?
At 530m, Vereda do Jardim 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.
Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Vereda do Jardim 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
23min
About Vereda do Jardim do Mar
One of the oldest routes on Madeira's west coast, connecting Prazeres to the picturesque village of Jardim do Mar. Descends about 500 m. Lack of water in Jardim do Mar reflects the terraced agriculture (poios). Before arriving, the path passes a recently restored water-mill once used to grind wheat.
Vereda do Jardim do Mar (PR20) is a one way route of about 1.9 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Expect coastal cliffs and ocean views and panoramic viewpoints.
The path passes cultural heritage nearby, including Quinta da Piedade.
The path runs between roughly 35 m and 530 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda do Jardim do Mar rates as hard on our objective scale, based on 1.9 km, 0 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 30m 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 Jardim 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 10. The car park is about 520 m from the start.
What to bring
4 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; a warm, dry coastal path with little shade or water, so start early and carry sun protection in summer.
Coastal walks are often at their best in soft late-afternoon light.
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.
Official trail status
According to IFCN, as of 20 Aug 2026, this trail is currently officially closed.
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 Jardim 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 Vereda do Jardim 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 Vereda do Jardim do Mar?
Vereda do Jardim do Mar is about 1.9 km (one way).
How difficult is Vereda do Jardim do Mar?
Vereda do Jardim do Mar rates as hard based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Vereda do Jardim do Mar safe?
Vereda do Jardim 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 Vereda do Jardim 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 Vereda do Jardim do Mar take to walk?
Allow about 1h 30m.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda do Jardim 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.
Is Vereda do Jardim do Mar free to walk?
Yes. Vereda do Jardim do Mar 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 Vereda do Jardim do Mar start and finish?
Vereda do Jardim do Mar starts at Prazeres and finishes at Jardim do Mar.
What will I see on Vereda do Jardim do Mar?
Highlights include coastal cliffs and ocean views and panoramic viewpoints.
When is the best time to hike Vereda do Jardim do Mar?
Year-round; a warm, dry coastal path with little shade or water, so start early and carry sun protection in summer.
Is Vereda do Jardim do Mar open right now?
IFCN lists Vereda do Jardim do Mar as officially closed. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda do Jardim do Mar?
Levadas scores Vereda do Jardim 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.