PS-PR2 (Vereda do Pico do Castelo) is a 3.2 km, 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 do Castelo 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 do Castelo 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
56min
About Vereda do Pico do Castelo
A mountain footpath on Porto Santo that climbs a forest road from Moledo up to Pico do Castelo, a 437 m peak that was fortified in the 16th century to shelter islanders from pirate raids. The route winds through Aleppo pine and dragon-tree woodland, the result of a reforestation effort that left this the only green peak on an otherwise dry island, and passes the Canhão viewpoint on the way up. From the summit you get a wide panorama over Vila Baleira, the bay, and the islets offshore.
Vereda do Pico do Castelo (PS-PR2) is a one way route of about 3.2 km in Porto Santo.
What you'll see
Expect a mountain summit, laurel forest (laurisilva) and historic features.
Landmarks on the route include Castelo and Juliana.
The path runs between roughly 225 m and 357 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda do Pico do Castelo rates as hard on our objective scale, based on 3.2 km, 172 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 51m.
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 Moledo. Ends at Pico do Castelo. 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. No car park is mapped at the start, so plan to leave the car on the road nearby.
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
Year-round; avoid midday in summer (low, dry, sun-exposed island)
High trails are best early: clear summits and the chance of a sunrise above the clouds before the cloud builds.
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 do Pico do Castelo 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 do Castelo 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 do Castelo, 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 do Castelo?
Vereda do Pico do Castelo is about 3.2 km (one way).
How difficult is Vereda do Pico do Castelo?
Vereda do Pico do Castelo rates as hard based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Vereda do Pico do Castelo safe?
Vereda do Pico do Castelo 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 do Castelo, 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 do Castelo take to walk?
Allow about 51m.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda do Pico do Castelo?
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 do Castelo?
Yes. Vereda do Pico do Castelo 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 do Castelo start and finish?
Vereda do Pico do Castelo starts at Moledo and finishes at Pico do Castelo.
What will I see on Vereda do Pico do Castelo?
Highlights include a mountain summit, laurel forest (laurisilva) and historic features.
When is the best time to hike Vereda do Pico do Castelo?
Year-round; avoid midday in summer (low, dry, sun-exposed island)
Is Vereda do Pico do Castelo open right now?
IFCN lists Vereda do Pico do Castelo as officially open. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda do Pico do Castelo?
Levadas scores Vereda do Pico do Castelo 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.