Vereda do Pico Fernandes (PR 6.5)
Vereda do Pico Fernandes runs 3.8 km from Paul da Serra to 25 Fontes in the IFCN table. It follows an old path before joining PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes. 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
- 3.8 kmIFCN table, Paul da Serra to 25 Fontes.
- Time on the board
- 1 h 30 mOne way, as printed on the panel at the start.
- Highest and lowest point
- 1,422 m and 990 m
- Start and finish
- Paul da Serra (ER 209) to 25 FontesFrom 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 Paul da Serra
- Coordinates
- Start 32.76246, -17.09946
Finish 32.76565, -17.12558From the IFCN route board, decimal degrees - Weather now
- 24.9 °C at Porto Moniz, 6 m
18.8 °C at Pico do Areeiro, 1,818 mThe two IPMA stations we show for this route, the nearest one and the island’s mountain station, 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 Paul da Serra
Start on the ER 209 at Paul da Serra. The route board gives 3.8 km to 25 Fontes and allows 1 h 30 m one way. The highest point is 1,422 m. The lowest is 990 m.
High-altitude heather grows along the way with Madeiran whortleberry. As you descend, the trees include lily-of-the-valley trees and laurel. The facility icon marks an information board at Paul da Serra.
The view and the lagoon
Pico Fernandes is also known as Rabaçal. In good visibility you get a 360° view of Paul da Serra. Look towards the Pico da Urze Dam. I'd leave time for this view if the weather is clear.
At 25 Fontes the water comes from a suspended aquifer. Its lasting supply helped prompt the construction of the levadas. Its scientific value earned it classification as the C01 25 Fontes geosite.
Weather and footing
Take warm clothing for weather that changes often. Fog is frequent here and can make it hard to find your way. Stay on the trail. Wear non-slip footwear because the path may be slippery.
The weather panel shows the Porto Moniz station at 6 m above sea level and Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 m. Keep that height in mind when planning for this route's higher ground. Check the live route status on this page before setting off.
Booking your entry
Register on SIMplifica and choose an entry slot online. Bookings and payments aren't available at IFCN offices. Same-day and next-day bookings are possible while places remain. There's about 15 minutes of tolerance either side of your slot.
Children aged 12 or under go free. Madeira residents go free with their resident card and citizen card. People with a disability of 60% or more also enter free with one companion. Everyone still needs a booking.
Returning from 25 Fontes
You can retrace the route to Paul da Serra. Another option follows PR 6 towards Rabaçal shelter. Check PR 6's live status and circulation instructions before choosing that onward route. Book each route you plan to walk.
PR 13 Vereda do Fanal also starts at Paul da Serra. It runs 10.8 km to Fanal. PR 13.1 Vereda da Palha Carga runs 1.8 km from Louro da Gota to 25 Fontes. Check their individual statuses when planning.
What the route board asks
- Weather is subject to frequent changes, take warm clothing;
- weather in this area is frequently foggy, which may cause disorientation problems, so do not leave the trail;
- 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 +351 291 822 129.
Routes next door
Levada das 25 Fontes PR 6
open4.3 km (+ 4.3 km back), Rabaçal to 25 Fontes
Vereda do Fanal PR 13
open10.8 km, Paul da Serra to Fanal
Vereda da Palha Carga PR 13.1
open1.8 km, Louro da Gota to 25 Fontes
Status from the IFCN table, re-read at every build and again in your browser.
Questions before you go
Is PR 6.5 open?
Look at the live status panel on this page before travelling. Use its check button for the latest IFCN status. Weather warnings don't automatically close a route. The status on the IFCN page decides whether you can walk.
Is the 1 h 30 m timing for a return walk?
No. The board allows 1 h 30 m one way from Paul da Serra on the ER 209 to 25 Fontes. That covers 3.8 km. Plan extra time for retracing your steps or continuing along PR 6.
Can I book several routes together?
The day fee is €9. Three days cost €22.50. Seven days cost €52.50. These cover two or more routes during that period. All exclude PR 1, which costs €10.50. Each route needs its own booking. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.
Do I need a guide?
A guide isn't compulsory on PR 6.5. You still need an entry booking through SIMplifica. Stay on the trail in fog. Take warm clothing for changing weather and wear non-slip footwear for sections that may be slippery.
Can I get a refund if it rains?
Rain alone doesn't 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 won't qualify. Neither will 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 6.5 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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