Trails
Vereda da Ribeira da Janela (PR15)
Down the villagers' old wood and wine path to Ribeira da Janela
The place
Vereda da Ribeira da Janela is the official PR15, a one-way route of 2.7 km from Curral Falso to the village of Ribeira da Janela, in Porto Moniz; both ends are on the regional road ER 209. IFCN gives it about 1 hour 30 minutes. Heights range from 820 m to 400 m, so walked from Curral Falso it is mostly downhill.
The route follows what is left of an old path the villagers relied on. They climbed it for wood from the forest, which they needed every day, and it was their way over the mountains to the south coast, mainly Calheta and Ponta do Sol: strong young men carried wine up it in barrels or goatskins called borrachos, to sell or barter. Around the village, terraces held up by stone walls are planted with sweet potato, potato, beans, maize and vines, and Ocean Trails mentions the chance of seeing the endemic Trocaz pigeon between farmland and forest. The village shares its name with the Ribeira da Janela, the longest and most abundant watercourse on Madeira. At Curral Falso the route links with PR13 Vereda do Fanal and PR14 Levada dos Cedros.
Highlights
- The path follows what is left of the villagers' old route for firewood and for carrying wine to the south coast.
- Around Ribeira da Janela, terraces held up by hand-built stone walls grow sweet potato, beans, maize and vines.
- Ocean Trails says you may see the endemic Trocaz pigeon between the farmland and the forest.
- A picnic area lies on the route near the Ribeira da Janela end.
When to come
Any dry day, as the ground can be wet, slippery and uneven. The walk is short, and Ocean Trails suggests linking it with PR13 or PR14 at Curral Falso.
Getting there
Start at Curral Falso, on the regional road ER 209 above Ribeira da Janela, where there is an information board and PR13 and PR14 can be reached. The route ends on the same road in the village, so arrange a lift or a taxi between the two ends: Táxis Porto Moniz, +351 291 852 243.
Worth knowing
- Booking and fee: pay through SIMplifica; €4.50 in 2026 for visitors over 12, with children 12 and under exempt.
- Distance and time: 2.7 km one way, about 1 hour 30 minutes, mostly downhill from Curral Falso.
- Heights: between 400 m and 820 m.
- Difficulty: moderate, as Visit Madeira rates it.
- Status: open on the IFCN list on 4 November 2026; check IFCN or SIMplifica before you go.
