OpenMadeira
OpenMadeira
Tell me about the São Jorge - Calhau São Jorge hike in Madeira
💭 Thinking
The user is asking about the "São Jorge - Calhau São Jorge" hike in Madeira. Let me look this up using the find_hikes tool.The search returned no results for "São Jorge - Calhau São Jorge". This might be a community trail or have a slightly different name in the official register. Let me try searching with different terms - maybe "Calhau" or just "São Jorge".The user is asking about the "São Jorge - Calhau São Jorge" hike. Looking at the results, there's no official IFCN PR trail with this exact name. However, there are two community (AllTrails) trails that match: 1. **Calhau de São Jorge - Caminho Real nº 23** — 9.2 km, hard, out and back, 4–4.5 hr, 4.5★ from 145 reviews 2. **Ponta de São Jorge via Ramal do Caminho Real 23** — 2.7 km, moderate, out and back, 1–1.5 hr, 4.1★ from 123 reviews And also: 3. **Santana - Ponta de São Jorge - Ramal do Caminho Real №23** — 6.9 km, hard, loop, 3–3.5 hr, 4.3★ from 66 reviews The user asked about "São Jorge - Calhau São Jorge" which most closely matches trail #1 "Calhau de São Jorge - Caminho Real nº 23" — this is the main trail that goes from São Jorge down to Calhau de São Jorge (the coastal settlement) via the Caminho Real (Royal Path) nº 23. Let me also check if there's a video available for this trail. Let me provide a comprehensive answer about this community trail, clearly noting it's not an official IFCN PR trail.The user asked about the "São Jorge - Calhau São Jorge" hike in Madeira. Looking at the results, there's no official PR trail with that exact name, but there are two closely matching community trails from AllTrails: 1. **Calhau de São Jorge - Caminho Real nº 23** — 9.2 km, out and back, hard, 4.5★ (145 reviews) 2. **Ponta de São Jorge via Ramal do Caminho Real 23** — 2.7 km, out and back, moderate, 4.1★ (123 reviews) 3. **Santana - Ponta de São Jorge - Ramal do Caminho Real №23** — 6.9 km, loop, hard, 4.3★ (66 reviews) These are community/unofficial trails, not part of the official IFCN PR network. I should present the main one that matches the user's query — "Calhau de São Jorge - Caminho Real nº 23" seems the closest match to "São Jorge - Calhau São Jorge". Let me provide the details with the appropriate caveats about it being an unofficialtrail.
How this was derived · 2 steps
Trails near São JorgeMap & photos
Levada do Rei6 photos
Levada do ReiLevada do ReiLevada do ReiLevada do ReiLevada do ReiLevada do Rei
Photos: walkmeguide.com ↗
Official PR trail (IFCN) Community route (AllTrails — not official)
Photos: walkmeguide.com · green = official IFCN PR trail · amber = community route (AllTrails)

The São Jorge – Calhau de São Jorge route you're asking about is a community-mapped trail on AllTrails — it's not part of Madeira's official PR (Percurso Recomendado) trail network managed by IFCN (the regional government's forests and nature-conservation authority). That means it has no official open/closed status and no guarantee of signage or maintenance.

Here's what I have on it:

Calhau de São Jorge – Caminho Real nº 23
DifficultyHard
Distance9.2 km (out and back)
Estimated time4–4.5 hours
Community rating4.5★ from 145 hiker reviews on AllTrails
AreaMadeira Natural Park, municipality of Santana

Route & highlights:
The trail follows coastal paths along the Caminho Real nº 23 — one of Madeira's old royal roads (caminhos reais), which connected villages to ports for the transport of people and goods. Several points of interest stand out along the way, including natural viewpoints, the typical thatched houses of Santana, and the Lagoa do Calhau de São Jorge (a coastal lagoon). The route is aimed at the ruins of São Jorge, though final access may be restricted or forbidden — it's essential to respect any signs or barriers.

⚠️ Caution: The trail has challenging and exposed sections, and attention is needed in areas of higher altitude. Some walkways have been reported as broken, and sections along the cliff edge can be dangerous.

Directions to trailhead ↗

Related unofficial trails nearby

There are two other community routes that overlap or branch from this area:

  • Ponta de São Jorge via Ramal do Caminho Real 23 — 2.7 km, moderate, out and back, 4.1★ (123 reviews). A shorter route along the same royal path to the tip of São Jorge, where an old lighthouse once watched over the coast. AllTrails ↗ · Directions ↗
  • Santana – Ponta de São Jorge – Ramal do Caminho Real №23 — 6.9 km, hard, loop, 4.3★ (66 reviews). A longer loop from Santana past the tip of São Jorge and its ruins, with a challenging cliff section clearly marked with a danger sign. AllTrails ↗ · Directions ↗
Nearby official PR trail

The closest official IFCN-recommended trail is Levada do Rei (PR 18) — just 2.5 km / ~7 min drive from São Jorge. It's a moderate 5.3 km (+ 5.3 km return) levada walk through the Laurissilva forest to Ribeiro Bonito, 4.5★ from 1,654 hiker reviews on AllTrails, and requires a €4.50 access fee (via the SIMplifica portal).

Important: Since the Calhau de São Jorge trail is not an official IFCN trail, there's no maintained status update or signage guarantee. Check access and conditions locally before setting out, and take the exposed cliff sections seriously.

Want me to check the weather and mountain forecast for the day you're planning to go, or show you the closest official trails to your accommodation?

OpenMadeira can make mistakes — check the sources.