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Tell me about the PR 3 Levada do Pico Castelo levada walk in Madeira
💭 Thinking
The user is asking about the PR 3 Levada do Pico Castelo hike in Madeira. Let me look up this trail using the find_hikestool.The search returned 0 results. Let me try again with a slightly different query - maybe just "Pico Castelo" or "PR3".The user asked about "PR 3 Levada do Pico Castelo" but the IFCN official trails database returned no results for this query. However, the AllTrails community catalogue returned "PR2 PS - Vereda do Pico Castelo" which is on Porto Santo (PS = Porto Santo). The user said "PR 3" but the trail is actually "PR2 PS" on Porto Santo, not on Madeira island. Let me check — the user asked about a "levada walk in Madeira" but Pico Castelo is actually on Porto Santo. The PR code "PR2 PS" indicates Porto Santo. Let me also note: the user said "PR 3" but this trail is officially "PR2 PS". There is no "PR 3" with "Pico Castelo" in its name in the official IFCN register. The Pico Castelo trail is PR2 PS on Porto Santo. I should inform the user that: 1. There's no official IFCN trail called "PR 3 Levada do Pico Castelo" 2. The Pico Castelo trail is actually **PR2 PS - Vereda do Pico Castelo** and it's on **Porto Santo**, not Madeira island 3. It's a community-mapped route on AllTrails (not an official IFCN PR trail, so no official open/closed status) Let me present this informationclearly.
How this was derived · 1 step
TrailsMap & photos
Official PR trail (IFCN) Community route (AllTrails — not official)
Photos: walkmeguide.com · green = official IFCN PR trail · amber = community route (AllTrails)
PR 2 PS — Vereda do Pico Castelo

There's no official IFCN trail called "PR 3 Levada do Pico Castelo" in the register. The Pico Castelo trail is officially PR 2 PS — Vereda do Pico Castelo, and it's on Porto Santo (the "PS" in the code), not on Madeira island itself.

⚠️ Community route — not an official IFCN-maintained PR trail

This route is mapped on AllTrails but is not part of Madeira's official PR (Percurso Recomendado) trail network managed by IFCN (the regional government's forests & nature-conservation authority). It therefore has no official open/closed status and no maintenance/signage guarantee — check access and conditions locally before going.

Trail details
NamePR 2 PS — Vereda do Pico Castelo
IslandPorto Santo
DifficultyHard
Length8.9 km
Route typeLoop
Estimated time3.5–4 hours
Start / TrailheadMoledo, next to the Regional Road
Community rating⭐ 4.6 from 43 hiker reviews on AllTrails
What to expect

The trail starts at Moledo, next to the Regional Road, and follows the Vereda do Pico do Castelo. It offers two alternatives for those climbing the forest path: the north side of Pico do Facho or the south side (the longest route on the island). At the base of the peak, crossing the island's central area, you can see the remains of the old agricultural area. The main highlight is the climb to Pico do Castelo — so called because a fort there once welcomed settlers seeking shelter from pirate raids.

Getting there

▶ Directions to trailhead ↗

Want me to check the weather forecast for Porto Santo for the day you're planning to go, or suggest official PR trails on Madeira island if you're looking for something there instead?

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