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- Levada do Caldeirão Verde 4.6 Directions
- Short Trail on Levada do Cortado 4.2 Directions
The "Pico Cortado" trail — more commonly known as Levada do Cortado or the Ponta do Clérigo trail — is an unofficial community route near Santana, not part of Madeira's official PR trail network managed by IFCN (the regional forests & nature authority). That means it has no official open/closed status, no signage, and no maintenance guarantee — you'll need to navigate independently and check access locally before going.
There are actually two community routes on this levada:
This is the one most people mean by "Pico Cortado" — a coastal hike above Santana that leads to one of the island's most dramatic viewpoints.
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Distance | 6.6 km (out and back) |
| Duration | 4–4.5 hours |
| Rating | 4.6★ from 145 hiker reviews on AllTrails |
| Type | Out and back |
The route starts at altitude above Santana and descends towards the coast. You hike along the Levada do Cortado through a short 15-metre tunnel right at the start, then follow the levada path that gradually opens up to stunning views of the Atlantic and Madeira's northeastern coastline. It passes traditional Santana houses and the "Casa dos Trogloditas" (troglodyte houses) before reaching the Ponta do Clérigo viewpoint, which overlooks the whole coast from Santana to Fajã — on a clear day you can even spot Porto Santo.
The path can be muddy, steep in places, and is quite exposed to sun near the coast. Hiking poles are recommended for the descent. There's no water source along the way, so carry at least 1 L. A car is practically essential to reach the trailhead.
A gentler, shorter loop along just the upper section of the same levada — through Laurisilva forest without the steep coastal descent.
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Distance | 2.7 km (loop) |
| Duration | 1–1.5 hours |
| Rating | 4.2★ from 106 hiker reviews on AllTrails |
| Type | Loop |
This is a peaceful stroll through the UNESCO-listed Laurissilva forest, following the levada accompanied by the sound of rushing water. Ideal if you want a taste of the area without committing to the harder full route.
Both routes are community-mapped paths on AllTrails — not official IFCN-recommended PR trails. This means:
- No signage or waymarks on the ground
- No official open/closed status — check local conditions before you go
- No maintenance guarantee — paths can be overgrown or slippery
- No access fee or reservation required (unlike the official PR trails)
The nearest official PR trails are PR 9 (Levada do Caldeirão Verde) and PR 9.1 (Um Caminho para Todos), both starting from Queimadas near Santana — about a 7–10 minute drive from the Cortado trailhead.
Would you like me to check the mountain forecast and IPMA weather warnings for Santana before you go?





