Trails · 535 m above the sea
Caminho Real do Paul do Mar (PR19)
A cobbled royal path plunging 500m in under 2km from Prazeres to the surf at Paul do Mar.
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The place
Before there was a road, this zig-zagging stone path was the only way down from the clifftop farms of Prazeres to the fishing harbor at Paul do Mar, dropping 500 vertical metres through terraced fields in under two kilometres. It's brutal on the knees either direction and best planned around low tide if you mean to walk any of the coast at the bottom.
When to come
Early morning, before the heat, and check tide tables if continuing along the shore.
Worth knowing
- Starts at a viewpoint above Prazeres, ends at Paul do Mar harbor
- Steep stone steps, can be slippery when wet
- Check tides before walking the coast at the bottom
- Return uphill is strenuous, allow extra time