PS-PR3 (Levada do Pico do Castelo) is a 4.1 km, easy, official IFCN route. Cost: free. 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.
Go or wait today?
You have already picked the walk. The pass answers the one question left, whether today is the morning worth the drive: it reads the live weather on the trail and gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
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Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Levada 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
1h03
About Levada do Pico do Castelo
A levada walk on Porto Santo that follows a water channel built in the early 20th century to carry rainwater for farming, tracing the southern slope of Pico do Castelo between Camacha and the Nossa Senhora da Graca chapel. The route passes several open viewpoints over the island's coastline and the Ilheu de Baixo islet, with heather and poplars along the way. About a third of the way it runs through a 530 metre rock tunnel toward Ribeiro Formoso, so a light is needed for that stretch.
Levada do Pico do Castelo (PS-PR3) is a one way route of about 4.1 km in Porto Santo.
What you'll see
The route takes in walk-through tunnels, a levada water-channel path, a mountain summit, laurel forest (laurisilva) and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
Landmarks on the route include Quebrada.
The path runs between roughly 88 m and 213 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Levada do Pico do Castelo rates as easy on our objective scale, based on 4.1 km, 138 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 1h 6m.
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 Camacha. Ends at Capela da Graça. 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. A car park is mapped for this route, though its size is not recorded. The car park is about 670 m from the start.
What to bring
One long rock tunnel of about 530 metres leads toward Ribeiro Formoso. Bring a torch or headlamp, as it is dark inside.
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; carry water and sun cover in summer (Porto Santo is dry and exposed)
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.
Official trail status
According to IFCN, as of 20 Aug 2026, this trail is currently officially closed.
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 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 Levada 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 Levada do Pico do Castelo?
Levada do Pico do Castelo is about 4.1 km (one way).
How difficult is Levada do Pico do Castelo?
Levada do Pico do Castelo rates as easy based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Levada do Pico do Castelo safe?
Levada do Pico do Castelo is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. 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 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 Levada do Pico do Castelo take to walk?
Allow about 1h 6m.
Can I download a GPX track for Levada 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.
Is Levada do Pico do Castelo free to walk?
Yes. Levada do Pico do Castelo needs no reservation and has no fee. Only the regulated official PR trails require a paid SIMplifica booking; this one you simply walk.
Where does Levada do Pico do Castelo start and finish?
Levada do Pico do Castelo starts at Camacha and finishes at Capela da Graça.
What will I see on Levada do Pico do Castelo?
Highlights include walk-through tunnels, a levada water-channel path, a mountain summit, laurel forest (laurisilva) and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
When is the best time to hike Levada do Pico do Castelo?
Year-round; carry water and sun cover in summer (Porto Santo is dry and exposed)
Are there tunnels on Levada do Pico do Castelo? Do I need a torch?
One long rock tunnel of about 530 metres leads toward Ribeiro Formoso. Bring a torch or headlamp, as it is dark inside.
Is Levada do Pico do Castelo open right now?
IFCN lists Levada do Pico do Castelo as officially closed. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Levada do Pico do Castelo?
Levadas scores Levada 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.