Vereda do Jardim do Mar (PR 20)
Vereda do Jardim do Mar connects Prazeres with Jardim do Mar in western Madeira. The IFCN table gives 1.9 km between the villages. Entry costs €4.50 per person with an online booking, subject to the exemptions below.
- Status
- ClosedClosed. 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
- 1.9 kmIFCN table, Prazeres to Jardim do Mar.
- Time on the board
- 1h 30One way, as printed on the panel at the start.
- Highest and lowest point
- 530 m and 35 m
- Start and finish
- Prazeres to Jardim 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 at Prazeres
- Coordinates
- Start 32.74836, -17.21011
Finish 32.73769, -17.21156From the IFCN route board, decimal degrees
The IFCN table lists this route as closed. What follows describes the walk and the booking rules for when it opens again.
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 Jardim do Mar
The route board also gives 1.9 km from Prazeres to Jardim do Mar. Allow 1 hour 30 minutes one way. This path was once one of the few ways for people in Prazeres to reach the coast.
Farming in Jardim do Mar used terraces supported by stone walls called poios. A water mill before the village once ground wheat from the parish and surrounding areas. The board records its restoration.
Take your time on the slope
The route spans roughly 500 m in height. Its highest point is 530 m above sea level. The lowest is 35 m. Take your time going down or coming up, as the route board advises.
There are views towards Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar. If you're planning around the distance alone, I'd allow for the height difference too. The path may be slippery. Wear footwear with non-slip soles.
What the facility symbols mark
At Prazeres the board marks an information board. At Jardim do Mar it marks parking and a café. It also marks a restaurant and a beach area, plus an information board.
The symbols don't give opening hours. Check locally before relying on a café or restaurant being open when you arrive.
Booking your entry
Register and book online through the SIMplifica portal. PR 20 costs €4.50 per person. IFCN offices cannot take bookings or payments. Free entry still requires registration and a booking.
Choose an entry slot with space available. Same-day and next-day bookings are possible until a slot fills. Aim for your booked time. There is about 15 minutes of tolerance on either side.
Check access before you set off
Look at the live status panel on this page before leaving. Use its status check button for the latest available IFCN information. Follow any closure or restriction shown there.
If you're considering another walk from Prazeres, look up PR 19 Caminho Real do Paul do Mar. The IFCN table gives 1.8 km from Prazeres to Paul do Mar. Check that route's own status before deciding.
What the route board asks
- The path may be slippery so wear non-slip footwear.
From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Calheta taxis +351 291 827 486.
Routes next door
Status from the IFCN table, re-read at every build and again in your browser.
Questions before you go
How long does PR 20 take?
Allow 1 hour 30 minutes one way according to the route board. Both the board and the IFCN table give 1.9 km from Prazeres to Jardim do Mar. That time is for the journey between the villages.
Is Vereda do Jardim do Mar open?
Check the live status panel on this page for the current answer. IFCN's route status decides whether you can walk. A weather warning does not automatically close a route. Use the status check button before setting off.
Do I need a guide for PR 20?
A guide is optional on classified routes, including PR 20. You still need an entry booking through SIMplifica. Check the live access status before making your plans. Follow any closure or restriction whether you have a guide or walk independently.
Who can walk PR 20 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 qualify with one companion. Everyone still needs to register and book through SIMplifica.
What if I book several classified routes?
For two or more routes the day fee is €9. The three-day fee is €22.50. Seven days cost €52.50. These fees never include PR 1, which costs €10.50. Each route needs its own booking. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.
Can I get a refund if it rains?
Rain alone does not qualify. Refunds or rescheduling apply only when IFCN closes or restricts the route. Email IFCN within 10 working days to request either. A change of mind or illness means losing the fee. So does a missed flight.
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 20 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.
Tour links go to Viator, where we may earn a commission at no cost to you. It does not change which walks are listed. How we earn.