PR 8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço · Stage 1
Best season: All year on the coast; May to September on the peaks. The high walks are very wet from October to April (437 mm in January at the Pico do Areeiro station) and nights can freeze; the coastal walks stay mild. Choose each day's walk by the forecast and the official status. Before you go
The walk
There and back on the dry eastern peninsula, close to the airport.
Madeira day routes: this walk joined with others, with busesLoading the forecast for on the trail (51 m)…
Typical weather on this stage, around -2–103 m. Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Good | Good |
| Day / night | 20°/14° | 20°/14° | 20°/14° | 21°/15° | 22°/16° | 23°/18° | 25°/19° | 27°/20° | 26°/20° | 25°/19° | 22°/17° | 21°/15° |
| Rain, mm | 78 | 81 | 69 | 50 | 30 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 27 | 97 | 91 | 105 |
| Snow at high point | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Daylight | 10 h 13 | 11 h | 11 h 55 | 12 h 57 | 13 h 49 | 14 h 18 | 14 h 07 | 13 h 24 | 12 h 25 | 11 h 25 | 10 h 30 | 10 h 01 |
Source: weather-station normals, not the climate grid. Averages, not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. Values come from the island's height profile between the Funchal (58 m, 1991–2020) and Pico do Areeiro (1,610 m, 1961–1990) weather stations, interpolated by height, because the grid runs warm and dry here. Northern slopes are wetter than this profile shows. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Before you go
Arrange your stays, food and travel first, then check conditions again near departure.
Walks managed by IFCN need a booking on SIMplifica, in an entry slot (30-minute slots; about 15 minutes' tolerance), for visitors, residents and children alike. Same-day booking works if slots remain. PR 3, PR 3.1 and PR 4 (Funchal council) and PR 23 (Caniço parish) are outside IFCN's booking and fees.
SIMplifica: walk booking€4.50 per walk for visitors over 12. Two or more walks cost at most €9 a day, €22.50 for three days or €52.50 for seven days, excluding PR1 (€4.50 to Pedra Rija or €10.50 in full). The caps are prices, not passes: each walk still needs its own slot. Refunds only when IFCN closes or restricts the walk that day.
IFCN: fees and bookingsPR1 is one way from Pedra Rija to Pico Ruivo, and PR6 is a one-way loop. Closed walks and sections must not be entered: IFCN fines range from €250 to €2,500 for individuals. Weather warnings do not close every walk automatically; IFCN decides case by case and has closed all walks at once in strong winds.
IFCN: notices to walkersAll of Madeira's recommended walks are PR day walks, and IFCN does not validate long crossings. IFCN says an east–west crossing between the central peaks and the Paul da Serra is not possible on classified walks at the moment. South to north works in a day: PR 2 on its own, or Pico do Areeiro over Pico Ruivo to Ilha. The MIUT race route is a race, not a walking route.
IFCN: questions and answersGetting there
Travel around Baía d'Abra to Cais do Sardinha.
Google Maps journey searches, not confirmed services. A mountain endpoint may need a booked transfer or an additional walk.
Line 113 (new number 702) Funchal–Machico–Caniçal–Baía d'Abra.
SIGA: bus timetablesThe Aerobus (line 500) links the airport with Funchal in about 50 minutes; some line 113 (702) trips run via the airport to Machico.
SIGA: AerobusThe bus network changed operators in 2024 and lines are being renumbered. Buses reach many starts and ends: Pico do Areeiro (Horários do Funchal's own service, €3 on board), Monte, Curral das Freiras, Ribeiro Frio, Portela, Ilha, Baía d'Abra, Ribeira da Janela and Encumeada. Achada do Teixeira, Queimadas, Rabaçal and the Paul da Serra need a taxi or a car.
SIGA: timetablesTake your trip with you
Prepare the walk while you still have a connection, and keep the official status page open before you set off.
Keep your route and maps on your phone for places without a signal. For multi-day trips, prepare them in the installed TrailSplits app.
Saving a bookmark is not a map download. Storage can be cleared by your device; keep a backup map for remote trips.
Route & sources
Mapped from the OpenStreetMap relation for PR 8. IFCN gives 4 km each way.
Official guidance and mapped-source comparison checked 18 September 2026. Map data is a route reference, not confirmation of today's path, weather or accommodation availability.
IFCN: status of the classified walksMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Source relation