PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço) is a 4.0 km each way (8.0 km round trip), 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.
Also known as the “São Lourenço peninsula”
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.
Is today the day?
You have already picked the trail. The only question left is whether today is the day worth the slot. The pass reads the live weather and how busy Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço 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 da Ponta de São Lourenço 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
1h15
About Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
Trail follows the easternmost peninsula of Madeira (Ponta de São Lourenço), passing the caravel sailed by João Gonçalves Zarco, one of the three discoverers of Madeira. The peninsula is classified a partial nature reserve and a Natura 2000 site (since 2000). Viewpoints toward the Ilhas Desertas; possible sightings of the monk seal (Monachus monachus).
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço (PR8) is a round trip route of about 8.0 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
The route takes in endemic Madeiran flora, panoramic viewpoints, a mountain summit and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
Landmarks on the route include São Lourenço, Pedra Furada, Furado, Casa do Sardinha and Pedras Brancas.
The path runs between roughly 23 m and 126 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço rates as hard on our objective scale, based on 8.0 km round trip, 268 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 2h 30m 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 Baía d'Abra. Ends at Cais do Sardinha. There is a car park at the start, though its size is not recorded on the map.
What to bring
Carry water (little shade on this exposed coastal trail).
Best time to walk it
Spring and autumn are ideal; the bare, exposed peninsula has no shade, so summer midday is very hot. Carry water and sun protection year-round.
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.
Booking
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço 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 Ponta de São Lourenço 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 Ponta de São Lourenço, 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 Ponta de São Lourenço?
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço is about 8.0 km round trip.
How difficult is Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço?
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço rates as hard based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço safe?
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço 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 da Ponta de São Lourenço, 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 Ponta de São Lourenço take to walk?
Allow about 2h 30m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço?
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 Ponta de São Lourenço?
Yes. Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço 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 Ponta de São Lourenço start and finish?
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço starts at Baía d'Abra and finishes at Cais do Sardinha.
What will I see on Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço?
Highlights include endemic Madeiran flora, panoramic viewpoints, a mountain summit and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
When is the best time to hike Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço?
Spring and autumn are ideal; the bare, exposed peninsula has no shade, so summer midday is very hot. Carry water and sun protection year-round.
Is Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço open right now?
IFCN lists Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço as officially open. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço?
Levadas scores Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço 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.