V-VIGIA (Vereda da Vigia) is a 0.7 km each way (1.4 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 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 Vigia 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
14min
About Vereda da Vigia
The Vereda da Vigia is a short cemented path to an old whalers' lookout above Porto Moniz. It follows the route the whalers once walked, with constant views over the village, the sea and the Ilhéu Mole, ending at the vigia where benches face the open ocean.
Vereda da Vigia (V-VIGIA) is a round trip route of about 1.4 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Expect coastal cliffs and ocean views and panoramic viewpoints.
Landmarks on the route include Vigia and Redondo.
The path passes cultural heritage nearby, including Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Porto Moniz).
The path runs between roughly 98 m and 266 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda da Vigia is officially graded easy by Câmara Municipal do Porto Moniz, based on 1.4 km round trip, 59 m of ascent and low exposure.
How long it takes
Allow about 45m 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 Caminho da Ladeira (Porto Moniz). Ends at Vigia dos Baleeiros (whalers' lookout). The car park at the start has room for about 20. The car park is about 390 m from the start.
What to bring
3 drinking-water points are mapped along the route. Fill up where you can, but carry enough to finish without them.
Best time to walk it
Coastal walks are often at their best in soft late-afternoon light.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vereda da Vigia 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 Vigia, 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 Vigia?
Vereda da Vigia is about 1.4 km round trip.
How difficult is Vereda da Vigia?
Vereda da Vigia is officially graded easy by Câmara Municipal do Porto Moniz.
Is Vereda da Vigia safe?
Vereda da Vigia 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 Vigia, 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 Vigia take to walk?
Allow about 45m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda da Vigia?
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 Vigia free to walk?
Yes. Vereda da Vigia 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 Vigia start and finish?
Vereda da Vigia starts at Caminho da Ladeira (Porto Moniz) and finishes at Vigia dos Baleeiros (whalers' lookout).
What will I see on Vereda da Vigia?
Highlights include coastal cliffs and ocean views and panoramic viewpoints.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda da Vigia?
Levadas scores Vereda da Vigia 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.