The Vereda do Pesqueiro hike is a hidden gem on Madeira Island. Located off the beaten path, this energizing trek will get your stamina moving and its scenic views will have your eyes swooning. This is your complete guide for the Vereda do Pesqueiro hike.
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How to get to Vereda do Pesqueiro?
Vereda do Pesqueiro is located in Ponta do Pargo, in the municipality of Calheta. This little coastal town is home to less than 1000 people, but it’s one of those places that you really shouldn’t miss while in Madeira.
Ponta do Pargo can easily be reached from Funchal in about 45 minutes by car.
You can park your car along the street R. do Centro Civico, in Ponta do Pargo. Check the map below for the exact location:
What is the Vereda do Pesqueiro hike?
Vereda do Pesqueiro is an old trail that’s connected to the coastal town of Ponta do Pargo, on the westernmost tip of Madeira, by the sea. Historically, it was used by locals and traders when roads didn’t yet exist on the island. This trek granted them access to the sea, from which they would continue on their journey and navigate to other settlements by boat. This is one of the few coastal Veredas in Madeira.
You can learn more about veredas and levadas with our Madeira Travel Guide: everything you need to know.
Vereda do Pesqueiro is not included in Madeira’s Percursos Pedestres Recomendados (PR) list, which is the official list of the recommended trails in Madeira. In fact, chances are you won’t find the Vereda do Pesqueiro even in your average “Mountain Walks in Madeira” book.
How did we find this place you might ask?
Thanks to our local guide Marcio, from Madeira Wonder Hikes, we got to learn about and explore this beautiful area. It was an incredibly pleasant unexpected find! Read more about Marcio and his company here.
This is a loop trek, meaning it’s a trail that leads you along a path that eventually brings you back to the starting point. It’s recommended that you hit this trek going clockwise from R. do Centro Civico and not backtrack because it can be very steep and dangerous to come at it from the other way – even for the most experienced trekker.
You don’t need to be a pro-athlete to hike Vereda do Pesqueiro, however, this trek is recommended for people that have some experience with hiking.
⛰️ TREK INFO
Distance: 6 km in a loop trip
Time: 2h30 min (account for 3h if you stop and take a swim)
Height difference: -450m / +450m
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult – difficulty mostrly comes from its steepness, overhangs and lack of protection.
The Vereda do Pesqueiro hike resembles the shape of a triangle and it is divided into three main parts: the pathway down, the pebble beach, and the pathway up. We recommend downloading Maps.Me to avoid getting lost.
Our Experience hiking Vereda do Pesqueiro
STARTING POINT
The trek begins in Rua do Centro Civico, where you can park your car on the side of the road. It is a very quiet area with not many people around.
As we mentioned earlier, it is very important to do this hike clockwise. From Rua do Centro Civico continue walking down the same paved road, which quickly becomes a dirt road.
After a couple of hundred meters, you’ll see the first sign indicating Vereda do Pesqueiro, and you’ll know you have arrived at the actual starting point of your hike!
THE WAY DOWN
The landscape is very green and lush, with cows roaming on the fields surrounding the path. The first part is a very easy, mostly flat and enjoyable walk. The wide dirt road soon narrows becoming a trail. You don’t have to wait long before being blessed by the stunning coastal views.
Once you reach the cliff, the path becomes steeper and it winds all the way down to the ocean, which is some 400 meters below.
📜 History Note: This winding trail is an old path that was used by locals to reach the beach when the road didn’t exist on the island of Madeira. From the beach, people would take a boat and travel to Funchal or to other settlements around the island. On their way back they would have to hike all the way up again to get home. This, together with the other way up that we talked about down below, are the only access points to the beach.
This is the sunniest and driest side of Madeira, and the vegetation reflects that.
Cactus, aloe vera and other succulent plants characterize this hike, making it very different from most of the other landscapes on the island. Also, the plants are huge here!
THE PEBBLE BEACH
Reaching the pebble beach marks the end of the descent. This is the best spot to have a break, especially if you do the Vereda do Pesqueiro hike during a hot summer day. The cliffs look even better from the beach, and depending on the day it may be possible to swim. Sadly the waves were massive when we went, and it would have been very unsafe to swim.
It’s good to remember that Ponta do Pargo is the westernmost point of Madeira Island, therefore here is where the northern ocean meets the southern one, creating strong currents and huge waves.
Walking on the pebble beach is fun and exhausting at the same time. If you’ve never walked on a pebble beach before, try to step only on the larger rocks as they are more stable, and don’t rush it if you don’t feel too confident. Twisting an ankle here wouldn’t be a great idea, as there is no way back up other than walking.
The pebble beach part takes about 45 minutes / 1 hour before you reach the other side, where the trail leading up the cliff begins.
THE WAY UP
Finding the path here isn’t particularly easy. We recommend using the app Maps.me and downloading the map for offline use. The app shows the trail and the position, even without data, is fairly accurate.
You’ll need to look for a path like the one shown below until you reach a small sign which says “Vereda”.
After the “Vereda” sign, the trail becomes even steeper than the winding section at the beginning of the hike. This is why it is not recommended to do it going downward.
Overall, the path is quite wide for the most part and not particularly slippery. However, it gets narrower in a few sections with huge drops on the side. Keep this in mind if you suffer from vertigo.
This section is the most challenging part of the whole hike as it’s quite steep, but it’s short and doesn’t last too long.
Once you make it to the top of the cliff – you’ll be rewarded! “O Fio” Tea House is a snack bar and a restaurant that is located just on top of the cliff. It’s super affordable and is so conveniently located after such an exhausting hike. A viewpoint, called “Miradouro do Fio”, is also located next to it.
Our Local Guide: Madeira Wonder Hikes
We discovered this hike thanks to Marcio and his expertise. It’s not your typical hike that you come across when on the island which is one of the reasons we were so glad we went with him to explore this trail. With his small company Madeira Wonder Hikes, Marcio takes travellers to the lesser-known paths of Madeira. And it’s worth going, as every corner of Madeira Island is beautiful and has its own unique landscape.
When it comes to hiking, his knowledge and expertise are unmatched on the island. He and his team share their passion and enthusiasm for the natural beauty and cultural history of Madeira. You can tell they truly enjoy showing people the hidden gems of the island and how to experience each hike to the fullest while always staying safe.
Get in contact with Marcio for more information and bookings:
Website: madeirawonderhikes.com
Instagram: @madeirawonderhikes
Phone: +351 964 492 963
Best Time to Do the Vereda Do Pesqueiro Hike
Season: Vereda do Pesqueiro is a hike that can be done all year round. If you visit Madeira in winter, this hike could be a great option whenever the weather turns for the worst on other sides of the island. Ponta do Pargo, as most of the other South-western towns, tends to see much less rain compared to the rest of the island.
Best time of the day: Heat may be a problem for some people here as the trail is always exposed and there is no shade. Avoid hiking during the hottest time of the day, and bring more water than you expect to need for a 3-hour hike. The hike is short, but it’s also quite demanding.
Since the toughest part of the hike is the way up, consider doing this hike in the late afternoon. It’s a good idea to hike down while it’s hot and hike back up during sunset, with milder temperatures.
Weather conditions: As for every hike in Madeira, but especially for coastal hikes with huge cliffs, think twice before hiking if the weather is bad. Landslides, strong winds and slippery trails are common in Madeira.
Best Tips for Vereda do Pesqueiro Hike
- Bring some water, as there are no water sources on the trail
- Don’t hike in the hottest hours: the hike is quite challenging and it’s fully exposed with no shady areas
- Do the hike clockwise
- Don’t rush it on the pebble beach
- Don’t swim in the ocean if you see big waves
- Bring a towel and some dry clothes if you plan on swimming in the ocean
Read also:
“Madeira Travel Guide: everything you need to know” for all the information about travelling to Madeira.
Looking for more places to visit? Check out our 50 Best Things to do in Madeira – Ultimate Bucket List
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