PR6.3 (Vereda da Lagoa do Vento) is a 3.0 km each way (6.1 km round trip), 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.
Madeira
A coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 1282m 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 da Lagoa do Vento is right now, then gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
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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 da Lagoa do Vento 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
1h08
About Vereda da Lagoa do Vento
PR6.3 is a short mountain footpath in the Rabaçal area of western Madeira that drops from high heathland into the laurel forest to reach the Lagoa do Vento, a pool fed by a tall waterfall off the Ribeira do Lajeado. The route is a vereda rather than a levada, and the final stretch is a steep set of rock steps that get slick when wet, so the walk down is easy but the climb back is the real effort. Wind frequently blows the falling water sideways, which is where the lake gets its name.
Vereda da Lagoa do Vento (PR6.3) is a round trip route of about 6.1 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
The route takes in endemic Madeiran flora, a deep valley, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
Landmarks on the route include Risco and Pico do Vento.
The path runs between roughly 1,051 m and 1,282 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda da Lagoa do Vento rates as medium on our objective scale, based on 6.1 km round trip, 315 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 2h 45m 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 Rabaçal. Ends at Lagoa do Vento. The car park at the start has room for about 50.
What to bring
One drinking-water point is mapped on the route. Fill up if you pass it, but carry enough to finish without it.
Best time to walk it
Apr to Oct; avoid wet/winter days (steep rock steps turn slippery)
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 da Lagoa do Vento 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 da Lagoa do Vento worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Vereda da Lagoa do Vento, 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 da Lagoa do Vento?
Vereda da Lagoa do Vento is about 6.1 km round trip.
How difficult is Vereda da Lagoa do Vento?
Vereda da Lagoa do Vento rates as medium based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Vereda da Lagoa do Vento safe?
Vereda da Lagoa do Vento is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. It reaches 1,282 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 da Lagoa do Vento, 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 da Lagoa do Vento take to walk?
Allow about 2h 45m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda da Lagoa do Vento?
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 da Lagoa do Vento?
Yes. Vereda da Lagoa do Vento 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 da Lagoa do Vento start and finish?
Vereda da Lagoa do Vento starts at Rabaçal and finishes at Lagoa do Vento.
What will I see on Vereda da Lagoa do Vento?
Highlights include endemic Madeiran flora, a deep valley, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
When is the best time to hike Vereda da Lagoa do Vento?
Apr to Oct; avoid wet/winter days (steep rock steps turn slippery)
Is Vereda da Lagoa do Vento open right now?
IFCN lists Vereda da Lagoa do Vento as officially open. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda da Lagoa do Vento?
Levadas scores Vereda da Lagoa do Vento 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.