Vereda das Funduras (PR 5): Portela to Maroços
Vereda das Funduras is an 8.7 km walk from Portela to Maroços in the IFCN table. It follows a forest road before taking a footpath through Laurisilva forest. Entry costs €4.50 per person with an online booking through SIMplifica.
- 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
- 8.7 kmIFCN table, Portela to Maroços.
- Time on the board
- 3hOne way, as printed on the panel at the start.
- Highest and lowest point
- 624 m and 186 m
- Start and finish
- Miradouro da Portela to MaroçosFrom 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
- parking, restaurant, information board, bus stop at Portela
- Coordinates
- Start 32.74741, -16.82554
Finish 32.73755, -16.79791From the IFCN route board, decimal degrees - Weather now
- 24.7 °C at Santana, 380 mThe IPMA station we show for this route, observed 24 September 2026 at 20:00, Madeira time
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.
Walking from Portela to Maroços
Start at Miradouro da Portela. The view takes in Porto da Cruz and Faial with the ridge of Penha d’Águia. Follow the forest road through Serra das Funduras before joining the footpath in the forest. This area belongs to the Natura 2000 network of protected areas.
You'll pass Casa das Funduras. The building supports forestry work. From here the route descends towards Maroços and crosses traditional terraced fields before finishing in the hamlet.
What the board marks at each end
At Portela the board marks parking and a restaurant. It also marks an information board and a bus stop. These symbols identify facilities. Check availability before relying on them.
At Maroços the symbols mark an information board and a viewpoint. A bus stop is marked too. Keep the different start and finish in mind when planning your day.
Weather before you set off
Take warm clothing and water. Weather can change frequently here. That's the caution on the route board.
The weather panel on this page shows observations from Santana station at 380 m. The route board gives a highest point of 624 m and a lowest point of 186 m.
Booking your entry slot
Register on SIMplifica and choose an entry slot. Bookings and payments are online only. You can't make them at IFCN offices. Same-day and next-day bookings are possible while places remain.
A slot closes when it reaches capacity. Aim for your booked time. There's about 15 minutes of tolerance before or after it. Free entry still needs registration and a booking.
Walking other classified routes
Portela also gives access to PR 10 Levada do Furado. That route runs 11 km from Ribeiro Frio to Portela. I'd look at it if you want another walk with Portela as an endpoint.
Most classified routes cost €4.50 per person. PR 1 costs €10.50. For two or more routes the day fee is €9. Three days cost €22.50. Seven days cost €52.50. These passes exclude PR 1. Book each route separately. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.
What the route board asks
- Weather subject to frequent changes, take warm clothing and water.
From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Machico taxis +351 291 962 480.
Routes next door
Status from the IFCN table, re-read at every build and again in your browser.
Questions before you go
How long is Vereda das Funduras?
The IFCN table gives 8.7 km from Portela to Maroços. The route board gives 8.7 km from Miradouro da Portela to Maroços with a walking time of 3 hours one way. Allow for that one-way journey.
Do I need a guide for PR 5?
No. A guide isn't compulsory on classified routes. You can walk PR 5 independently with an entry booking through SIMplifica. Check the live status panel before setting off. Take warm clothing and water as the route board asks.
Who can walk PR 5 for free?
Children aged 12 or under go free. Madeira residents qualify with their resident card and citizen card. People with a disability of 60% or more also enter free with one companion. Everyone still needs registration and a booking through SIMplifica.
Is Vereda das Funduras open?
Look at the live status panel on this page before you leave. Use its status check button for the latest available IFCN information. A weather warning doesn't automatically close a route. The status on the IFCN page decides access.
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. Send your request to IFCN by email within 10 working days. A change of mind also means losing the fee.
Can I visit the Larano viewpoint from this walk?
You can walk to the Larano viewpoint from Casa das Funduras. It overlooks Machico and its bay. From Casa das Funduras you can also continue along PR 5 towards the hamlet of Maroços.
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 5 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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