Trails
Vereda Achada do Teixeira - Queimadas
From Achada do Teixeira down through the forest to Queimadas
The place
This vereda links Achada do Teixeira, a mountain settlement at about 1,600 m in the Santana municipality, with Queimadas, a forest park. It is about 3 km one way, a short walk compared with the routes that drop to the coast. The start is on the same high ground as the Pico Ruivo path, so the weather there applies to both.
Queimadas is also the starting point for the Caldeirão Verde levada, the official PR 9, which runs 8.7 km each way to the Caldeirão do Inferno. A shorter option, PR 9.1, is marked as a path for everyone and covers 1.9 km from Queimadas to Pico das Pedras. The park has its own reception centre, which makes the Queimadas end a practical place to start or finish.
Highlights
- The shorter PR 9.1 levada is marked as a path for everyone, so it suits a gentler outing from Queimadas.
- The longer PR 9 levada runs 8.7 km each way from Queimadas, passing the Caldeirão Verde on the way to the Caldeirão do Inferno.
- The start sits on the same high ground as the Pico Ruivo path (PR 1.2), so cloud there affects both walks.
When to come
Spring and autumn suit the walk best, because winter on the high ground can be cold, wet and at times snowy. Start early to stay ahead of the cloud, which can roll in over Achada do Teixeira.
Getting there
Drive up the regional road ER 218 to the visitor car park at Achada do Teixeira and walk from there to Queimadas, about 3 km one way. Queimadas is the forest park and reception centre at the far end.
Worth knowing
- The vereda is about 3 km one way, from Achada do Teixeira to Queimadas.
- Walking the PR 9 levada from Queimadas needs a SIMplifica booking, which costs EUR 4.50 for an individual trail in 2026; residents are exempt.
- PR 9 is open as of November 2026.
- Cloud can cover the high ground quickly, so carry an offline map or GPS track for the paths.
- Bring a warm layer and waterproofs for the start at about 1,600 m, even on a sunny morning.