Vereda do Calhau
Vereda do Calhau is a difficult vereda (footpath) trail near Porto Moniz in north-west Madeira. The route is 1.9 km to a dead end and back the same way, 3.8 km in all, from Achadas da Cruz cable-car parking / upper station to Calhau / Fajã da Quebrada Nova coastal path. Allow about 2 h 15 min (2 h 45 min at an easy pace). No permit is needed.
3.8 km there and back · about 2 h 15 min · Difficult · No permit
Today's Trail Score (Sun, Oct 18): 65 out of 100, Acceptable.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 1.9 km to a dead end and back the same way, 3.8 km in all
- Time
- Easy 2 h 45 min · Avg 2 h 15 min · Fast 1 h 40 min
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Area
- Porto Moniz, north-west Madeira
- Start
- Achadas da Cruz cable-car parking / upper station
- End
- Calhau / Fajã da Quebrada Nova coastal path (dead end: walk back the same way)
- Elevation
- 0 m up, 391 m down, 11 to 441 m
- Route Registry code
- VER 102
- Permit
- Not needed
- Status
- Unverified
- Safety
- Do not assume the cable car is operating; check same-day hours/status and be physically able to climb roughly 450 m back to the trailhead.
- Safety
- The municipality warns against swimming because of rough sea conditions at the exposed shore.
- Safety
- The 2018 user panorama is useful for orientation only and does not validate current parking, cable-car or trail condition.
About this trail
A very steep descent from the Achadas da Cruz cable-car station to the cultivated coastal fajã and Calhau, returning by the same path or cable car.
Questions about Vereda do Calhau
- Do I need a permit for Vereda do Calhau?
- No. It is not a classified PR trail, so no permit is needed.
- Where does Vereda do Calhau start?
- It starts at Achadas da Cruz cable-car parking / upper station.
- How long does Vereda do Calhau take?
- About 2 h 15 min at an average pace and 2 h 45 min at an easy pace, for 1.9 km to a dead end and back the same way, 3.8 km in all.
Connected trails
- Overlap · 0.3 km: VER 103 Vereda da Ladeira
Sunrise and sunset on this trail
This trail has 1 sunset spots and 1 golden hour spots. The exact spots, seasons and times are part of the Fun Pass.
All Madeira trails · Madeira hiking permits · The Madeira Fun Route Registry