PR9 (Levada do Caldeirão Verde) is a 8.7 km each way (17.4 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.
Also known as the “Green Cauldron”
Madeira
A coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 1020m 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 Levada do Caldeirão Verde 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 Levada do Caldeirão Verde 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
2h17
About Levada do Caldeirão Verde
From the Queimadas Forest Park, follow the Levada do Caldeirão Verde through laurisilva to the Caldeirão Verde waterfall, which falls about 110 m into a lagoon. A more demanding extension continues to the Caldeirão do Inferno, a deep river gorge formed by water erosion. Back at Queimadas, visit the 'Casa das Tradições Madeirenses', a typical Santana thatched house.
Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR9) is a round trip route of about 17.4 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Along the way you'll find walk-through tunnels, endemic Madeiran flora, a dramatic gorge, a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
Landmarks on the route include Birdwatching.
The path runs between roughly 872 m and 1,020 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Levada do Caldeirão Verde rates as medium on our objective scale, based on 17.4 km round trip, 326 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 6h 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 Queimadas. Ends at Caldeirão do Inferno. The car park at the start has room for about 168.
What to bring
Carry a torch (tunnels along the path) and wear non-slip footwear; danger of vertigo.
There are tunnels along the path; carry a torch.
Best time to walk it
Year-round; the Caldeirão Verde falls run hardest in spring after winter rain. Bring a torch for the tunnels and expect mud in winter.
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
Levada do Caldeirão Verde 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 Levada do Caldeirão Verde worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Levada do Caldeirão Verde, 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 Levada do Caldeirão Verde?
Levada do Caldeirão Verde is about 17.4 km round trip.
How difficult is Levada do Caldeirão Verde?
Levada do Caldeirão Verde rates as medium based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Levada do Caldeirão Verde safe?
Levada do Caldeirão Verde is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. It reaches 1,020 m, and the weather up there is not the weather at the coast. Part of it runs underground, so without a head torch you are walking in the dark. 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 Levada do Caldeirão Verde, 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 Levada do Caldeirão Verde take to walk?
Allow about 6h 30m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Levada do Caldeirão Verde?
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 Levada do Caldeirão Verde?
Yes. Levada do Caldeirão Verde 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 Levada do Caldeirão Verde start and finish?
Levada do Caldeirão Verde starts at Queimadas and finishes at Caldeirão do Inferno.
What will I see on Levada do Caldeirão Verde?
Highlights include walk-through tunnels, endemic Madeiran flora, a dramatic gorge, a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
When is the best time to hike Levada do Caldeirão Verde?
Year-round; the Caldeirão Verde falls run hardest in spring after winter rain. Bring a torch for the tunnels and expect mud in winter.
Are there tunnels on Levada do Caldeirão Verde? Do I need a torch?
There are tunnels along the path; carry a torch.
Is Levada do Caldeirão Verde open right now?
IFCN lists Levada do Caldeirão Verde as officially open. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Levada do Caldeirão Verde?
Levadas scores Levada do Caldeirão Verde 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.