Caminho Real do Paul do Mar (PR 19)
Caminho Real do Paul do Mar is a 1.8 km walk from Prazeres to Paul do Mar on Madeira's west coast. It follows a historic path down to the sea. Entry costs €4.50 per person with an online SIMplifica booking.
- Status
- OpenOpen. IFCN table dated 14 September 2026 · checked by islandmadeira.com 24 September 2026 at 21:19, Madeira time.Fetch the current trail status from the IFCN page; one live request per 30 minutes for the whole site, otherwise the last check is shown.
- Length
- 1.8 kmIFCN table, Prazeres to Paul do Mar.
- Time on the board
- 1h 20One way, as printed on the panel at the start.
- Highest and lowest point
- 550 m and 16 m
- Start and finish
- Prazeres to Paul do MarFrom the route board at the start.
- Fee
- €4.50 per person, booked onlineBooking on the SIMplifica portal, fees as of 2 June 2026. Free for children aged 12 or under, for Madeira residents with their resident card and citizen card, and for anyone with a disability of 60% or more plus one companion. All of them still need a booking.
- At the start
- information board, restaurant, parking at Prazeres
- Coordinates
- Start 32.75243, -17.21701
Finish 32.75266, -17.22384From the IFCN route board, decimal degrees
Warnings come from IPMA by zone, not by trail. A yellow warning for fog, wind or thunderstorms is a reason to check the route status and the sky before you set off, and the forest service closes paths on its own schedule. Station readings.
From Prazeres to Paul do Mar
The IFCN table gives 1.8 km from Prazeres to Paul do Mar. The route board gives the same distance and endpoints. It allows 1 hour 20 minutes one way.
The path descends towards the shore. Look left towards Jardim do Mar and right towards Paul do Mar. Waterfalls feature along the route. Basalt veins alternate with ochre rock. Give this walk a miss if you get vertigo. The board warns of that risk.
The old path to the sea
The Caminho Real was a municipal path used by local people carrying heavy loads. It provided an alternative to travelling by sea. Sea travel cost too much for many people. Rough currents could make it impossible.
I'd leave time for the fishing port if you want to explore Paul do Mar after the walk.
What is marked at each end
At Prazeres the board marks parking and a restaurant. An information board is marked there too. The symbols don't tell you opening hours.
At Paul do Mar it marks an information board and parking. A restaurant and a beach area are marked too. The board also gives a contact for Calheta taxis: +351 291 827 486.
Booking PR 19
Register on the SIMplifica portal to book your entry online. You can't book or pay at IFCN offices. Choose an entry slot with places available. Same-day and next-day bookings are possible until the slot fills.
There's about 15 minutes of tolerance before or after your booked slot. A slot closes automatically once it reaches capacity. Free entry still requires registration and a booking.
Check access before you go
Check the live status panel on this page before setting off. A weather warning doesn't automatically close a route. IFCN's route status determines access.
PR 20 Vereda do Jardim do Mar also starts in Prazeres. Its table distance is 1.9 km to Jardim do Mar. Check its own status on the routes page before including it in your plans.
What the route board asks
- Danger of vertigo.
From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Calheta taxis +351 291 827 486.
Routes next door
Vereda do Pico Fernandes PR 6.5
open3.8 km, Paul da Serra to 25 Fontes
Vereda do Fanal PR 13
open10.8 km, Paul da Serra to Fanal
Vereda do Jardim do Mar PR 20
closed1.9 km, Prazeres to Jardim do Mar
Status from the IFCN table, re-read at every build and again in your browser.
Questions before you go
How long does PR 19 take?
The board allows 1 hour 20 minutes one way from Prazeres to Paul do Mar. Both the table and the board give 1.8 km between those endpoints. The timing is for one direction.
Is PR 19 suitable if I get vertigo?
Give this walk a miss if you get vertigo. The route board warns of that risk. It gives a highest point of 550 m and a lowest point of 16 m.
Who can walk PR 19 for free?
Children aged 12 or under enter free. Madeira residents qualify with their resident card and citizen card. People with a disability of 60% or more enter free with one companion. Everyone using free entry still needs to register and book online through SIMplifica.
Is there a fee for several routes?
Yes. Two or more routes cost €9 for one day. The three-day fee is €22.50. Seven days cost €52.50. These fees never include PR 1. Each route needs its own booking. SIMplifica automatically applies the cheapest option.
Do I need a guide for PR 19?
No. A guide isn't compulsory on classified routes. You still need an online SIMplifica booking for PR 19. Check the live status before you set off. Take the board's vertigo warning into account when choosing this walk.
Can I get a refund if it rains?
Rain alone doesn't qualify for a refund. Rescheduling or a refund is possible only when IFCN closes or restricts the route. Email IFCN within 10 working days. Illness or a missed flight means losing the fee. So does changing your mind.
Sources
- IFCN, table of classified routes: status and length. IFCN table dated · checked by islandmadeira.com ; re-read every few hours.
- IFCN, route board PR 19 at the start of the route: distance, time, heights, description and cautions, read 20 September 2026.
- IFCN, fees and bookings FAQ, updated 2 June 2026, read 14 September 2026.
Who checked this
Roman Antonov, editor. The status comes from the forest service table, the figures from the board at the start of the route and the fee rules from the IFCN FAQ, each with its date above. If something on the ground has changed, tell me.
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