PR8 - Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço) hiking permit in Madeira. One of the most popular hikes on the island.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Distance
- 4 km to a dead end and back the same way, 8 km in all
- Elevation gain
- 130 m
- Start
- Baía d'Abra
- End
- Casa do Sardinha
- Status
- open
PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço) permit - frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to hike PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço) in Madeira?
Yes. Since December 2025 every classified trail on Madeira and Porto Santo needs a reservation, and PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço) is one of them. Non-resident visitors pay the permit fee; Madeira residents, children aged 12 and under, and visitors with a disability of 60% or more are exempt from the fee but still need to register and reserve a time slot.
How much does the PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço) hiking permit cost?
Government permit fee: EUR 4.50 per non-resident visitor for PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço). Madeira residents, children aged 12 and under, and visitors with a disability of 60% or more are exempt from the fee. You pay the fee directly to the Madeira government through the PayPay link we email you after you reserve; Madeira Fun does not collect it.
How hard is PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço) and how long does it take?
PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço) is graded moderate, about 4 km to a dead end and back the same way, 8 km in all, 130 m of ascent. It starts at Baía d'Abra and ends at Casa do Sardinha.
What time can I start PR8?
You reserve a specific 30-minute time slot and may not begin before your booked start time. Time slots run through the day, so pick the one that suits your plan.
How do I book a permit for PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço)?
Reserve with Madeira Fun: check live time-slot availability for PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço) on madeira.fun/hiking, pick your date and 30-minute time slot, and Madeira Fun places the government reservation for you. You pay the permit fee directly to the Madeira government through the PayPay link we email you. You can also reserve on the official IFCN Simplifica portal yourself.
Permit availability for PR8 (Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço)
Current observed availability
- Earliest open date: Wed, 4 Nov at 14:00
- Open days in the next 14: 13 of 14
- Current booking pressure: moderate (4.5 out of 10)
- Last checked: 3 Nov, 06:57 (Madeira local time)
Next 7 days
| Date | Status | Permits left for visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, 3 Nov | Full | 0 |
| Wed, 4 Nov | Open | 86 |
| Thu, 5 Nov | Open | 169 |
| Fri, 6 Nov | Open | 309 |
| Sat, 7 Nov | Open | 348 |
| Sun, 8 Nov | Open | 368 |
| Mon, 9 Nov | Open | 424 |
Madeira dates. Permits left counts places for non-resident visitors at start times that have not begun. The exact start times are on the booking page.
Official rule
A paid IFCN permit is required. Government permit fee: EUR 4.50 per non-resident visitor. Madeira residents, children aged 12 and under, and visitors with a disability of 60% or more are exempt from the fee. You reserve a specific 30-minute time slot and may not start before your booked time.
Madeira Fun recommendation
Book a few days ahead to be safe, especially for weekend or morning slots.
Book PR8 permit with Madeira Fun
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