V-PICOCASTANHO (Vereda do Pico Castanho) is a 4.5 km each way (9.0 km round trip), hard, 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 631m 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 631m, Vereda do Pico Castanho 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 Pico Castanho 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
1h34
About Vereda do Pico Castanho
The Vereda do Pico Castanho climbs a rugged footpath from Machico to the Pico Castanho summit, where a survey marker opens onto wide views over Machico and Caniçal. The route passes the Rocha do Pena Branca rock formation and gains height through faia and eucalyptus woodland; walkers return the same way or descend via the Boca do Risco.
Vereda do Pico Castanho (V-PICOCASTANHO) is a round trip route of about 9.0 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Expect a mountain summit, panoramic viewpoints and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
Landmarks on the route include Castanho, Boca do Risco and Paraíso.
The path runs between roughly 232 m and 631 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda do Pico Castanho is officially graded hard by Câmara Municipal de Machico, based on 9.0 km round trip, 400 m of ascent and low exposure.
How long it takes
Allow about 4h 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 Machico. The car park at the start has room for about 4.
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
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vereda do Pico Castanho 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 Castanho, 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 Castanho?
Vereda do Pico Castanho is about 9.0 km round trip.
How difficult is Vereda do Pico Castanho?
Vereda do Pico Castanho is officially graded hard by Câmara Municipal de Machico.
Is Vereda do Pico Castanho safe?
Vereda do Pico Castanho is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. 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 Castanho, 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 Castanho take to walk?
Allow about 4h for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda do Pico Castanho?
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 Pico Castanho free to walk?
Yes. Vereda do Pico Castanho 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 Pico Castanho start and finish?
Vereda do Pico Castanho starts at Machico.
What will I see on Vereda do Pico Castanho?
Highlights include a mountain summit, panoramic viewpoints and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda do Pico Castanho?
Levadas scores Vereda do Pico Castanho 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.