PS-PR1 (Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã) is a 2.7 km each way (5.4 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.
Porto Santo, 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 do Pico Branco e Terra Chã 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 do Pico Branco e Terra Chã 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
48min
About Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã
This is a mountain footpath on Porto Santo, originally a mule track, that climbs through the greenest part of an otherwise dry island toward Pico Branco, the island's second-highest peak, and ends at Terra Chã. The route runs over rocky, gravelly ground with switchbacks and railed drop-offs, passing protected pockets of endemic plants within a Natura 2000 area. Along the way it opens onto several natural lookouts over the coast and ocean before reaching the small house and picnic spot at Terra Chã.
Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã (PS-PR1) is a round trip route of about 5.4 km in Porto Santo.
What you'll see
Along the way you'll find endemic Madeiran flora, exposed, drop-side sections, a mountain summit and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
Landmarks on the route include Branco.
The path runs between roughly 171 m and 424 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã rates as hard on our objective scale, based on 5.4 km round trip, 159 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 58m 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 ER 111. Ends at Terra Chã. No car park is mapped at the start, so plan to leave the car on the road nearby.
Best time to walk it
Year-round; spring and autumn are most comfortable, avoid the midday summer heat on exposed sections
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 do Pico Branco e Terra Chã 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 do Pico Branco e Terra Chã 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 Pico Branco e Terra Chã, 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 Pico Branco e Terra Chã?
Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã is about 5.4 km round trip.
How difficult is Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã?
Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã rates as hard based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã safe?
Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã 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 Pico Branco e Terra Chã, 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 Pico Branco e Terra Chã take to walk?
Allow about 2h 58m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã?
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 do Pico Branco e Terra Chã?
Yes. Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã 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 do Pico Branco e Terra Chã start and finish?
Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã starts at ER 111 and finishes at Terra Chã.
What will I see on Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã?
Highlights include endemic Madeiran flora, exposed, drop-side sections, a mountain summit and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
When is the best time to hike Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã?
Year-round; spring and autumn are most comfortable, avoid the midday summer heat on exposed sections
Is Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã open right now?
IFCN lists Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã as officially open. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã?
Levadas scores Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã 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.