Vereda do Pico Castanho
Vereda do Pico Castanho is a difficult vereda (footpath) trail near Machico in north-east Madeira. The route is 4.3 km one way, from Casa dos Levadeiros / Levada do Caniçal at Poço do Gil to Boca do Risco junction. Allow about 1 h 50 min (2 h 15 min at an easy pace). No permit is needed.
4.3 km one way · about 1 h 50 min · Difficult · No permit
Today's Trail Score (Sun, Oct 18): 55 out of 100, Poor.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 4.3 km one way
- Time
- Easy 2 h 15 min · Avg 1 h 50 min · Fast 1 h 20 min
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Area
- Machico, north-east Madeira
- Start
- Casa dos Levadeiros / Levada do Caniçal at Poço do Gil
- End
- Boca do Risco junction
- Elevation
- 394 m up, 245 m down, 216 to 614 m
- Route Registry code
- VER 839
- Permit
- Not needed
- Status
- Unverified
- Safety
- The official route is not a closed loop: it ends at Boca do Risco after 4.3 km. Plan your return before leaving; the municipality's 9 km circuit is a different, longer walk.
- Safety
- Expect steep irregular ground, repeated climbs/descents and limited waymarking on a natural path. Offline GPX, sturdy footwear and sure-footedness are essential.
- Safety
- Boca do Risco/Larano terrain has severe coastal exposure nearby even though the municipal page rates vertigo as low. Avoid strong wind, fog and rain, and turn back if visibility or footing deteriorates.
- Safety
- There are no reliable facilities at Boca do Risco; carry water, food, sun protection and enough time for the return.
About this trail
A strenuous, rugged climb from the Levada do Caniçal through agricultural slopes and eucalyptus/exotic woodland to Pico Castanho and onward across undulating ridge terrain to Boca do Risco, with broad views over Machico, Caniçal and the east coast.
Questions about Vereda do Pico Castanho
- Do I need a permit for Vereda do Pico Castanho?
- No. It is not a classified PR trail, so no permit is needed.
- Where does Vereda do Pico Castanho start?
- It starts at Casa dos Levadeiros / Levada do Caniçal at Poço do Gil.
- How long does Vereda do Pico Castanho take?
- About 1 h 50 min at an average pace and 2 h 15 min at an easy pace, for 4.3 km one way.
Connected trails
- Overlap · 0.2 km: LEV 831 Levada dos Maroços: Caniçal Oeste
- Overlap · 1 km: VER 821 Vereda do Caniçal à Boca do Risco
- Branch: VER 838 Vereda da Boca do Risco
- Branch: VER 819 Vereda do Larano
Sunrise and sunset on this trail
This trail has 1 sunrise spots, 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