PR14 Madeira: Levada dos Cedros route guide

PR14 Madeira, Levada dos Cedros, is a 7.2km linear trail from Fanal to Curral Falso on ER 209. The official page rates it moderate and estimates three hours. It was listed as open when checked on 14 August 2026, and a SIMplifica reservation is required.

The trail in three sentences

The official PR14 route page lists elevations from 1,090m to 840m. The trail follows one of Madeira’s oldest levadas through Laurissilva before reaching Curral Falso. Because the official route is linear, arrange the return before starting.

Where it starts

The official start is Fanal on ER 209. The finish is Curral Falso, also on ER 209. Use the official route map and current road signs for both points.

Download the map before leaving and keep the reservation confirmation offline. A third-party pin never overrides a current sign, barrier, or official closure.

For the linear return, arrange two authorised vehicles or a licensed transfer in advance. Confirm the pickup point and quote; do not rely on same-day taxi availability at Curral Falso. An out-and-back would double the official route distance and duration, so it should not be treated as the normal three-hour plan.

What you actually walk through

Visit Madeira says the levada was built in the seventeenth century, begins at water outcrops at about 1,000m, and is excavated into the hillside soil, with paving where the ground is more fragile.

The route passes indigenous Laurissilva and centuries-old til trees. The official page records trees between 30 and 40 metres high before the path crosses the steep right bank of Ribeira da Janela toward Curral Falso.

Keep to the signed path, give way where the walkway narrows, and never stand on the levada wall for a photograph. Carry water, a waterproof layer, and footwear with grip.

Combining with PR13

PR13 is a separate 10.8km linear route from Assobiadores to Fanal. It shares the wider forest area but needs its own status check, reservation, transport, and four-hour allowance.

Do not combine both routes automatically. Their published durations already total seven hours before transfers, breaks, and any delay.

After the hike

Curral Falso is on the ER-209 above Porto Moniz. Add the coast only after confirming the linear return, live navigation, road conditions, and daylight.

For food after the route, check current opening hours, payment methods, and recent menus in Porto Moniz or another stop along the return journey. A trail guide cannot verify today’s catch, prices, kitchen schedule, ownership, or card policy.

When to go

No calendar month guarantees suitable conditions or an open trail. Check IPMA warnings, the Fanal and north-coast forecast, live PR14 status, and daylight on the chosen date.

Cloud, wind, rain, heat, and wet surfaces can each change the plan. A webcam is useful context but not a safety clearance. Follow official warnings and conditions at the start.

FAQ

Do I need a permit for PR14? Check the current IFCN status, then use the official SIMplifica service. The hiking permits 2026 guide records the current individual-route fee, exemptions, and booking sequence.

A longer hiking stay

Banana House is a year-round, seven-room coliving in Ponta do Sol, normally designed around stays of one month or longer. Every room has a real desk and chair, and the house has 200+ Mbps fibre plus additional work areas. See the rooms and current monthly options.

For more routes, start with our Madeira hiking pillar.