PR9 Caldeirão Verde: current route and closure guide

The trail in three sentences

PR9’s official full record is 8.7km each way from Queimadas through Caldeirão Verde toward Caldeirão do Inferno, with an estimated duration of 6 hours 30 minutes and a moderate rating. On 14 August 2026, the official list said the section from Caldeirão Verde to Caldeirão do Inferno was closed. Check the live Visit Madeira hiking list for the exact accessible endpoint before reserving or leaving.

For the wider island context, start with our Madeira hiking guide.

Where it starts: Queimadas Forest Park

Queimadas sits above Santana on the north coast. Follow current signs and parking instructions at the forestry park. Cafe hours, parking capacity, price, and payment method can change.

Tunnels and equipment

The route includes unlit tunnels. Bring a charged headlamp and a backup, and check the current route description for the tunnels included before the accessible endpoint. Old tunnel counts, lengths, and maintenance details should not determine the plan.

The waterfall finale

Caldeirão Verde is the named point before the currently closed continuation. Water flow and viewing conditions vary; do not infer them from a month or recent-rain formula.

Do not continue toward Caldeirão do Inferno because an old article describes an extension. Check its separate official status, access, reservation, and return time; turn around when the legal open route ends.

Permits and cost

PR9 is subject to the 2026 IFCN reservation model when open. Check the live status and reserve an available entry slot through the official SIMplifica service. The permits guide records the current individual fee and exemptions.

Parking arrangements are separate and can change. Follow the current signs and payment instructions on arrival rather than relying on an old hourly price. Do not assume a same-day trailhead sale will be available.

After the hike

For food after the route, check current opening hours and menus in Santana or along the confirmed return rather than relying on a frozen venue recommendation.

When NOT to go

PR9 is less exposed than PR1, but some conditions still make it a poor choice.

Do not start when official warnings, heavy rain, poor visibility, route notices, or insufficient daylight make the route unsuitable. A village webcam, fixed waiting period, or universal start time is not a safety assessment.

For the seasonal big picture, use a current Madeira weather source and check the north-coast forecast for the day itself.

FAQ

How hard is PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde? The official full record is rated moderate, covers 8.7km each way, and has an estimate of 6 hours 30 minutes. The current accessible distance may be shorter because the continuation beyond Caldeirão Verde is closed; verify the exact endpoint rather than improvising a total.

Can kids do PR9? Age alone is not a safety rating. Compare the official distance, tunnels, drops, wet surface, weather, and the child’s sustained walking ability. Any alternative, including PR11 Vereda dos Balcões, still needs its own live status and accessibility check.

Can you swim at the Caldeirão Verde waterfall? Follow the current signs and ranger instructions. Do not enter the pool when bathing is prohibited, and never use an old temperature claim to judge cold-water risk.

Can I do PR9 without a torch? No. The long tunnels are dark and the floor can be uneven. Bring a proper charged headlamp and a backup; do not assume a trailhead business or accommodation will lend one.

How does PR9 compare to PR6? PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes is officially 4.3km each way with a 3-hour estimate. PR9’s full record is longer, but its current accessible endpoint is constrained by the closure after Caldeirão Verde. Compare live status, distance, tunnels, reservation, and transport rather than assuming one is wetter or quieter.

Is Caldeirão Verde or Caldeirão do Inferno harder? Treat Caldeirão do Inferno as a separate route decision. Check its own official status, access, reservation, distance, hazards, and return; do not extend PR9 from this article’s old measurements.

A longer hiking stay

A longer stay leaves room to revisit PR9 or choose another route when its status or conditions are unsuitable. Along the trail, ferns crowd the levada channel, laurels twist overhead, and small waterfalls run beside the path.

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 a shorter possibility, check PR11 Vereda dos Balcões and its live official record.