PR14
Cedar trees and ancient water
Levada dos Cedros from the Fanal area: 7.2 km of UNESCO Laurisilva forest along an old water channel, with stands of Madeiran cedar (vinhático) that survived 500 years of forest clearance. Atmospheric and quiet.
Curated by
Filipe Pereira
Founder & Lead Curator
Issued 2026-05-16
Valid through June 2026
01 · At a glance
The vitals
What you need to know about Levada dos Cedros before you book or set out.
Distance
7.2 km
Duration
2.5-3 h
Elevation gain
150 m
Difficulty
Moderate
Exposure
1/5
Type
Levada Walk
Status, May 2026
Open
Open year-round 2026. No restrictions. Permit demand is light - PR14 is overshadowed by PR13 (free) and PR6 (famous), so the same Laurisilva experience here costs €4.50 but offers solitude.
Best season
Year-round - winter for atmosphere
Winter (December-March) brings full fog and the dramatic atmospheric photos. Spring (April-June) opens the bird activity. Summer the clearest but driest underfoot. Autumn is stable and quiet.
“If PR13 Fanal is the forest's poster trail, PR14 is the deep cut - same forest, longer walk, fewer people.”
02 · Getting to the trailhead
How to reach the start
Map placeholder
Start: Fanal area · End: Curral Falso
By car from Funchal
About 1 hour 15 minutes via VR1 west then ER209 through Paúl da Serra to the Fanal trailhead.
Parking
Free parking at the Fanal forest area - shared with PR13 trailhead.
Public transport
No bus to Fanal. Operator or taxi only.
Operator pickup
Less common as a standalone. Often paired with PR13 in west-Madeira full-day operator tours.
Taxi or transfer
Funchal to Fanal one-way is €50-60.
Tip from Filipe
PR14 is the natural pairing with PR13. Do PR13 (free, shorter) first thing for the iconic photos, then PR14 (longer, ticketed) for the deeper forest immersion. Same trailhead, same morning.
Driving yourself
Madeira rental from Funchal Airport, around €25-40/day in May
We use DiscoverCars to compare local agencies. Trailhead access on most PR routes is easier with a car.
https://www.discovercars.com/portugal/funchal?a_aid=Madeirahiking¤cy=eur&utm_source=Madeirahiking&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pdf-pr14
03 · Route walkthrough
Section by section
Distances, landmarks, and what to expect underfoot.
0.0 - 1.5 km
0:35
Fanal trailhead to the cedar grove
Trail starts on the levada channel path. Within 15 minutes you reach the first Madeiran cedar stand - tall straight trees with reddish bark, distinct from the gnarled laurels of PR13.
1.5 - 4.0 km
1:00
Deep Laurisilva immersion
The levada path winds through old-growth forest. Til trees with their broad leaves, laurel, the occasional Madeira holly. Small streams cross the path. Sound of running water constant.
4.0 - 6.0 km
0:50
Approach to Curral Falso
Forest thins gradually. The trail descends slightly toward the Curral Falso area - historic clearing with low stone walls visible. Connection point with PR15 (Ribeira da Janela vereda).
6.0 - 7.2 km
0:30
Final descent to Curral Falso
Trail ends at the Curral Falso clearing. Pickup point or PR15 trail starts here for a descent to the coast (different transport plan).
04 · Gear and safety
What to bring and when to bail
Required
- Waterproof hiking shoes
- Warm layer
- Light rain jacket
- Water: 1.5 L
- SIMplifica permit
Recommended
- Microfibre cloth for cameras
- Trekking pole on wet days
- Snacks for the Curral Falso stop
- Cash for Paúl da Serra cafes on return
Same fog patterns as PR13
The Fanal microclimate covers PR14. Bring rain gear. Visibility can drop in the dense forest sections.
Muddy in winter
The levada path stays wet for days after rain. Trekking pole and waterproof footwear are not optional in winter.
Levada edge awareness
The path runs alongside the water channel - shallow but slick to step into. Watch your feet on the photo stops.
Signal poor in the forest
Cell coverage drops to one bar inside the dense Laurisilva. Pre-download offline maps.
Emergency: 112
Coverage along this route is patchy. Walk-out points: back to the Fanal trailhead (km 0) or onward to Curral Falso (km 7.2) which connects to PR15 and has road access.
05 · Fees and booking
Two paths to the trailhead
Path A · DIY
Book on SIMplifica
€4.50
per person
- Open simplifica.madeira.gov.pt and log in.
- Search "Levada dos Cedros" or PR14.
- Pick your date. Same-day usually available.
- Pay €4.50/person by card.
- Save the confirmation.
Path B · Protocol operator
Skip the portal
€3.00
per person, fee included in tour
PR14 is often bundled with PR13 in west-Madeira protocol-operator tours. The combined morning gives both the iconic Fanal photos (PR13) and the deeper forest walk (PR14) - 4-5 hours of Laurisilva.
Protocol operators running this trail
Madeira Local Guide - Paulo Jesus
PT/EN · Private only · €66-114
+351 XXX XXX XXX
tripadvisor.com/madeira-local-guide
Up Mountain Madeira
PT/EN/DE · Max 8 people · €40-120
+351 925 964 335
upmountainmadeira.com
Explore Nature
PT/EN · Small groups · €27-80
+351 964 851 693
explorenature.pt
Path C · Marketplace listing
Browse Guided Madeira Hiking Tours
From €30 · Various · ⭐ 4.7
If you cannot reach a protocol partner, GetYourGuide aggregates tours from multiple operators with free 24h cancellation. Independent listing - not a preferred channel for this trail.
https://www.getyourguide.com/madeira-l67/hiking-tc71/?partner_id=2VCHGBU&utm_medium=online_publisher&cmp=pdf-pr14
06 · After the hike
What to do with the rest of the day
Pair it with
PR13 Vereda do Fanal
The free counterpart. Same start, shorter, different vegetation focus. Do both same morning.
PR15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela
Steep descent to the coast, starts where PR14 ends at Curral Falso. Different transport plan needed.
Porto Moniz natural pools
Down the north coast for an afternoon swim after a damp forest morning.
Common questions
Is PR14 better than PR13?
Different, not better. PR13 has the dramatic gnarled trees and is free. PR14 is longer, more immersive, with cedar groves. Do both if you have the day.
How much overlap between PR13 and PR14?
They share the trailhead and the first 200 m, then diverge. Different forest types after that.
Can I do PR14 in winter?
Yes - winter is the atmospheric peak. Bring proper waterproofs and accept the mud.
Live trail status
madeirahiking.org/trails/pr14
Conditions change. The live page is verified against ICNF announcements and re-checked on a rolling cadence. Refresh before you set out.
May 2026 edition · issued 2026-05-16 · MadeiraHiking.org · Curated by Filipe Pereira
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