⚠️ Important: This is a community route mapped on AllTrails — it 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 setting out.

Rating — 4.7★ from 168 hiker reviews on AllTrails

Difficulty — Hard

Distance — 14.6 km (loop)

Estimated time — 6–6.5 hours

Location — Madeira Natural Park, near Caniçal (municipality of Machico)

This trail starts near Caniçal and combines two stunning sections:

• Vereda Boca do Risco — Spectacular coastal path with breathtaking views over Madeira's rocky northeastern coastline and the vast Atlantic. You'll walk through agricultural terraces and patches of exotic local flora, with dramatic cliff-edge scenery that makes Boca do Risco one of the most beautiful natural viewpoints on the island's east side.

• Levada do Caniçal — After the vereda section, the trail follows the levada (an irrigation channel once used to carry water to Caniçal's farmland). This section offers clear views over Caniçal village and the surrounding valley, with the water channel guiding you along the hillside back towards the start.

The full loop is a demanding but rewarding hike that showcases some of Madeira's most dramatic coastal scenery — sheer cliffs, panoramic ocean views, and the transition from wild headland to cultivated terraces.

Directions to the trailhead ↗ — this will route you from your own location.

Since this isn't an official trail, here are the closest IFCN-recommended routes in the area:

Would you like me to check the mountain forecast and IPMA weather warnings for the day you're planning to hike, or look up how to get to Caniçal by bus?