If you’ve ever tried to find a hiking trail on Madeira, you’ve probably come across a bunch of confusing names – Levada this, Vereda that, and what on earth is PR? I’m not gonna lie, it took me a while to figure it out too (especially with the Portuguese pronunciation that sounds nothing like how it’s written 😅). So let’s break it down.
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What Are PR Trails?
Let’s start with the official ones. PR trails are the officially marked and maintained hiking trails on Madeira. They’re numbered from PR1 to PR28, plus three more on the neighboring island, Porto Santo. So “PR” doesn’t mean a specific type of trail, it just means it’s an official route, maintained by the IFCN (Instituto das Florestas e Conservação da Natureza).
These are the trails you’ll find on official maps and signs and they’re open or closed publicly depending on weather and safety conditions. You can check their current status here: IFCN Official Trails. Since the beginning of the year, there’s also a small €3 fee to walk these trails, which helps fund nature preservation and trail maintenance.
Some of the most popular PR trails include:
- PR1 – Vereda do Pico do Arieiro: the iconic peak-to-peak hike between Arieiro and Ruivo.
- PR6 – Levada das 25 Fontes: the famous levada trail leading to a waterfall (so popular that it now has a one-way system to avoid “traffic jams” on the narrow path!).
- PR8 – Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço: a breathtaking coastal trail to the eastern tip of the island.
What Are Levadas?
As you might have noticed, some PR trails are also Levada trails. That’s because levadas are not a classification — they’re a type of trail. Levadas are old irrigation channels built hundreds of years ago to distribute water from the rainy north to the dry south of the island. There are literally thousands of kilometers of levadas across Madeira, some built along cliffs or even through tunnels up to 2 km long – an incredible engineering feat when you think about it!
Levada hikes are great because they’re usually flat and easy, with beautiful views of valleys, waterfalls, and lush vegetation. But be careful: some paths can be narrow and run along steep drop-offs. The official PR levadas usually have handrails and are well-maintained, but the non-PR levadas can be riskier — not ideal if you’re afraid of heights.
What About Veredas?
“Vereda” is simply the Portuguese word for path or trail. Some veredas are official PR trails (like PR1 or PR8), while others are local or historical paths that aren’t officially marked. These non-PR veredas were often used centuries ago to connect villages before roads and tunnels were built, so they tend to follow old routes along the coast or through the mountains – for example, the old Nun’s Valley trail. If you hike a non-PR vereda, make sure to download an offline map since there are often few (if any) signs along the way. Always use caution on these trails, since they are not officially marked and maintained. But the reward? Stunning, authentic views and a true sense of Madeira’s past.
So hopefully that clears up the mystery of Madeira’s hiking names! Whether you’re exploring a Levada, a Vereda, or an official PR trail, each one has something special to offer — from rainforest-like valleys to rugged coastal views.
Still unsure where to start? Book a guided hike with me — I’ll be happy to lead you to some of Madeira’s most beautiful (and lesser-known) spots.
