V-RIBNATAL (Vereda da Ribeira do Natal) is a 2.6 km, medium, 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 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.
Ten seconds, one tap, from €2.99 once. No subscription.
Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Vereda da Ribeira do Natal 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
34min
About Vereda da Ribeira do Natal
The Vereda da Ribeira do Natal is a short coastal path in the Machico/Caniçal area on irregular ground. It links the Ribeira do Natal valley toward the coast, with sea views along the way over the eastern tip of Madeira.
Vereda da Ribeira do Natal (V-RIBNATAL) is a one way route of about 2.6 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Along the way you'll find coastal cliffs and ocean views, panoramic viewpoints and a mountain summit.
Landmarks on the route include Pico do Facho, Facho and Cabeço da Portela.
The path runs between roughly 44 m and 317 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda da Ribeira do Natal is officially graded medium by Câmara Municipal de Machico, based on 2.6 km, 31 m of ascent and low exposure.
How long it takes
Allow about 1h 30m one way, a point-to-point route.
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 / Caniçal. 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 410 m from the start.
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 da Ribeira do Natal worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Vereda da Ribeira do Natal, 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 da Ribeira do Natal?
Vereda da Ribeira do Natal is about 2.6 km (one way).
How difficult is Vereda da Ribeira do Natal?
Vereda da Ribeira do Natal is officially graded medium by Câmara Municipal de Machico.
Is Vereda da Ribeira do Natal safe?
Vereda da Ribeira do Natal 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 da Ribeira do Natal, 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 da Ribeira do Natal take to walk?
Allow about 1h 30m.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda da Ribeira do Natal?
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 da Ribeira do Natal free to walk?
Yes. Vereda da Ribeira do Natal 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 da Ribeira do Natal start and finish?
Vereda da Ribeira do Natal starts at Machico / Caniçal.
What will I see on Vereda da Ribeira do Natal?
Highlights include coastal cliffs and ocean views, panoramic viewpoints and a mountain summit.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda da Ribeira do Natal?
Levadas scores Vereda da Ribeira do Natal 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.