V-PESQUEIRO (Vereda do Pesqueiro) is a 2.3 km each way (4.6 km round trip), easy, community 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.
Madeira
A coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 517m up here. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Go or wait today?
At 517m, Vereda do Pesqueiro makes its own weather. A coastal forecast will not tell you what today looks like up here. The pass reads the live conditions on the trail and gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
Ten seconds, one tap, from €2.99 once. No subscription.
Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Vereda do Pesqueiro 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
28min
About Vereda do Pesqueiro
Vereda do Pesqueiro is a steep coastal footpath at Ponta do Pargo on Madeira's far west, one of the island's few cliff veredas rather than a levada. The route zigzags down a high sea cliff on loose gravel to a remote pebble beach, then climbs the same brutal slope back to the Miradouro do Fio viewpoint at the top. The path is fully open to the Atlantic with no shade and a few narrow, vertigo-inducing sections above big drops, so the return climb is the hardest part.
Vereda do Pesqueiro (V-PESQUEIRO) is a round trip route of about 4.6 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Expect coastal cliffs and ocean views, exposed, drop-side sections and a deep valley.
The path runs between roughly 14 m and 517 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda do Pesqueiro rates as easy on our objective scale, based on 4.6 km round trip and 0 m of ascent.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 2h 15m 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 Lombadinha (E.R. 101). Ends at Porto do Pesqueiro. The car park at the start has room for about 28. The car park is about 540 m from the start.
Best time to walk it
Year-round; avoid midday summer heat (no shade, very exposed)
Coastal walks are often at their best in soft late-afternoon light.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vereda do Pesqueiro 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 Pesqueiro, 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 Pesqueiro?
Vereda do Pesqueiro is about 4.6 km round trip.
How difficult is Vereda do Pesqueiro?
Vereda do Pesqueiro rates as easy based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
How long does Vereda do Pesqueiro take to walk?
Allow about 2h 15m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda do Pesqueiro?
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 Vereda do Pesqueiro free to walk?
Yes. Vereda do Pesqueiro 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 Vereda do Pesqueiro start and finish?
Vereda do Pesqueiro starts at Lombadinha (E.R. 101) and finishes at Porto do Pesqueiro.
What will I see on Vereda do Pesqueiro?
Highlights include coastal cliffs and ocean views, exposed, drop-side sections and a deep valley.
When is the best time to hike Vereda do Pesqueiro?
Year-round; avoid midday summer heat (no shade, very exposed)
How do I check live conditions for Vereda do Pesqueiro?
Levadas scores Vereda do Pesqueiro 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.