Skip to content
Madeira Wander
PR 13 Open · checked 28 Oct 2026 Paul da Serra · Fanal · West

IFCN lists PR 13 (Paul da Serra – Fanal) as open on 28 October 2026. Official IFCN list →

Vereda do Fanal

A moderate 10.8 km one-way walk from the Paul da Serra plateau to the old til trees of Fanal; it ends far from the start, so arrange a pickup or second car.

Vereda do Fanal
Distance
10.8 km
Time
4 h
Difficulty
Moderate
Route
Linear

Map and elevation

The GPX track and elevation profile will appear here once we have walked and recorded it.

Directions to the start

Vereda do Fanal (PR 13) is an IFCN classified trail in the west of Madeira. It starts on the regional road ER 209 at Assobiadores, on the Paul da Serra plateau, and ends near the forest station at Fanal, a small volcanic crater with centuries-old til trees. The official route is 10.8 km one way with an estimated 4 h, through laurel forest that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

How long and how hard is PR 13?

Official value
Distance 10.8 km, one way (IFCN route list, 2026)
Duration 4 h (IFCN estimate)
Difficulty Moderate (Visit Madeira)
Highest / lowest point 1,420 m / 1,130 m
Start / end ER 209 Assobiadores (Paul da Serra) / Fanal

The IFCN profile shows the route losing height overall, from about 1,400 m near Assobiadores to about 1,130 m at Fanal, with small climbs on the way. Because it is a linear route, the main planning question is transport: you finish at Fanal, not where you parked.

What will you see on the way?

The trail crosses native forest that IFCN describes as in an exuberant state of conservation, within the Laurissilva, a World Natural Heritage site since December 1999 and part of the Natura 2000 network. At the place called Fio, you can see what is left of a system of steel cables once used to send wood and shrubs from the Fanal area down to Chão da Ribeira and Seixal, where local people used them in farming and livestock.

The route ends at Fanal, a small volcanic crater that the Madeira Natural Park classifies as a "rest and silence" reserve. Its best-known feature is the stand of centuries-old til trees (Ocotea foetens), some of which, according to IFCN, predate the discovery of the island. See our guide to the Fanal forest if you want to visit only this part by car.

Booking and fee

PR 13 is in IFCN's paid time-slot system: book an entry slot on the SIMplifica portal. The 2026 fee for visitors is €4.50; children up to 12 and Madeira residents are exempt but must still register. IFCN refunds or reschedules only if it closes or restricts the trail, not for fog or a change of plans. See our trail booking and fees guide.

How do you get to the start and back?

The start at Assobiadores and the finish at Fanal are both on the ER 209, so the walk works with two cars, a drop-off and pickup, or a taxi. The IFCN panel lists Porto Moniz taxis on +351 291 852 243. We could not verify a public bus to either trailhead.

What do people commonly misjudge?

  • Fog. IFCN warns that fog passes through frequently and can cause disorientation. Do not leave the trail, even where the open ground looks easy to cross.
  • Cold. The route stays above 1,100 m and the weather changes often; IFCN advises warm clothing.
  • Logistics. A one-way route without a return plan means 10.8 km back on foot.

Connecting trails

From Fanal, PR 14 Levada dos Cedros (7.2 km, Fanal – Curral Falso) and PR 15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela continue towards the parish of Ribeira da Janela. For a day on the coast below, the Porto Moniz natural pools and Seixal are the nearest north-west stops. Another classic walk in the west is Levada das 25 Fontes.

The route, step by step

  1. 1 Assobiadores, Paul da Serra (ER 209)The trail starts beside the ER 209 on the Paul da Serra plateau, at the route's high end (up to 1,420 m). Arrange your return from Fanal before you set off.
  2. 2 Into the laurel forestThe path crosses native forest, descending gradually with short climbs. In fog, follow the waymarks closely.
  3. 3 Sítio do FioLook for the remains of the old steel-cable system that sent wood and shrubs down to Chão da Ribeira and Seixal.
  4. 4 ViewpointsSeveral natural viewpoints along the route look over the forested slopes of the north-west; on foggy days views may be limited.
  5. 5 FanalThe trail ends near the forest station at Fanal (about 1,130 m), a small volcanic crater with centuries-old til trees. PR 14 and PR 15 continue from here.

Before you go

Plan the returnLinear route: use two cars, a drop-off and pickup, or a taxi (Porto Moniz taxis per IFCN: +351 291 852 243).
Book firstReserve a slot on SIMplifica; €4.50 for visitors in 2026. Fog is not a reason for a refund.
What to bringWarm and waterproof layers, water and food for 4 hours or more, and a charged phone.
Safety in fogStay on the trail and follow the waymarks; IFCN warns of disorientation in fog. Emergency number: 112.
Protect the reserveFanal is a rest and silence reserve: keep noise down and do not climb on the old trees.

Make a day of it

Within 13 km of the trailhead.

Véu da Noiva Viewpoint Viewpoint Véu da Noiva Viewpoint 5.6 km away Fanal Forest Photo spot Fanal Forest 5.7 km away Seixal Beach (Praia do Porto do Seixal) Beach Seixal Beach (Praia do Porto do Seixal) 6.1 km away Piscinas Naturais do Porto Moniz Natural pool Piscinas Naturais do Porto Moniz 12.7 km away

Sources and fact-checking

Facts checked against the sources below on 28 October 2026. How we work

Report a correction

Photos: Dietmar Rabich (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Paulo SP (CC BY-SA 4.0)