PR15
A 420 m descent to the coast
Vereda da Ribeira da Janela drops from Curral Falso 420 m in just 2.7 km to the Ribeira da Janela valley floor. Short, steep, knee-stressing, with sea views on the way down. Connects with PR14 for a forest-to-coast traverse.
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 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela before you book or set out.
Distance
2.7 km
Duration
1-1.5 h
Elevation gain
420 m
Difficulty
Moderate
Exposure
3/5
Type
Vereda (valley descent)
Status, May 2026
Open
Open year-round 2026. No restrictions. The path was re-stabilised in autumn 2025 with new stone retaining walls on the steepest sections.
Best season
Year-round - avoid after heavy rain
Spring and autumn are ideal. Avoid 48 hours after heavy rain - the cobbled descent becomes treacherous. Summer is hot on the exposed lower sections. Winter is the best for stable conditions if dry.
“Three kilometres that take your knees longer to forgive than your legs to forget.”
02 · Getting to the trailhead
How to reach the start
Map placeholder
Start: Curral Falso (Fanal) · End: Ribeira da Janela
By car from Funchal
About 1 hour 15 minutes via VR1 west then ER209 to the Fanal area, then continue to Curral Falso.
Parking
Free at Curral Falso. Limited space.
End-point pickup
Ribeira da Janela is the end - a coastal village with road access. Different transport plan needed unless going back up.
Operator pickup
Operators occasionally combine PR14 + PR15 as a forest-to-coast crossing. Logistics-managed.
Taxi or transfer
Funchal to Curral Falso one-way €55-65. Ribeira da Janela back to Funchal is similar.
Tip from Filipe
Pair PR15 with PR14 - PR14 ends at Curral Falso where PR15 begins. Combine for a longer day. Or do PR15 as a one-way descent with a pickup at Ribeira da Janela. Either way, avoid the reverse direction - 420 m of climbing in 2.7 km is brutal.
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-pr15
03 · Route walkthrough
Section by section
Distances, landmarks, and what to expect underfoot.
0.0 - 0.5 km
0:15
Curral Falso to the first drop
Trail leaves the Curral Falso clearing on a cobbled path. The first 500 m is gentle then the gradient steepens sharply. First sea-view opening at the second switchback.
0.5 - 1.5 km
0:30
Steep cobbled descent
The steepest section. Cobble switchbacks down a hillside. Some exposed sections; mostly stone walls protect the drop side. Knees take a beating - use the rebuilt stone retaining walls as handholds where they exist.
Steepest 1 km. Trekking pole strongly recommended.
1.5 - 2.2 km
0:25
Mid-valley terraces
Trail flattens into agricultural terraces - vines, vegetables, small stone farmhouses. Different feel; you have left the forest and entered cultivated north-coast Madeira.
2.2 - 2.7 km
0:15
Ribeira da Janela village
Final approach drops to the ER101 road and the village proper. Small cafe at the trail exit for the celebratory coffee.
04 · Gear and safety
What to bring and when to bail
Required
- Sturdy hiking boots with grip
- Trekking poles - mandatory for the descent
- Water: 1 L
- Light layer
- SIMplifica permit
Recommended
- Knee braces or supports if you have any history
- Sun hat - lower sections are exposed
- Cash for the village cafe
- A change of socks
Descent is the entire safety story
420 m drop in 2.7 km. Knees take more punishment than equivalent distance on level ground. Trekking poles transfer load to arms - use them.
Slick cobble after rain
The historic cobble becomes ice-rink slick when wet. Postpone if it has rained in the last 24 hours. The path itself is fine; your traction is not.
Weather differs top to bottom
Curral Falso at 700 m can be in cloud while Ribeira da Janela at coast is sunny. Layers off as you descend, then back on if returning.
Signal improves as you descend
Coverage is patchy at the top (Curral Falso) and strong at the bottom. The valley itself has weak signal in the steepest middle section.
Emergency: 112
Coverage along this route is patchy. Walk-out points: back to Curral Falso (steep climb back, not recommended) or onward to Ribeira da Janela village. The village has full services.
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 "Ribeira da Janela" or PR15.
- Pick your date.
- Pay €4.50/person by card.
- Save the confirmation.
Path B · Protocol operator
Skip the portal
€3.00
per person, fee included in tour
For PR15, the operator value is the one-way logistics - dropping you at Curral Falso, picking up at Ribeira da Janela. Solo hikers either need a complicated bus plan or a car shuttle.
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-pr15
06 · After the hike
What to do with the rest of the day
Pair it with
PR14 Levada dos Cedros
The forest walk that ends where PR15 begins. Combine for a 10 km forest-to-coast day.
Porto Moniz natural pools
Ten minutes east of Ribeira da Janela. Reward your knees with volcanic rock pool swimming.
Achadas da Cruz cable car
Ten minutes west. Steepest cable car in Europe down to a fishing cove. Dramatic short trip.
Common questions
Can I do PR15 uphill?
Technically yes. Practically: no. 420 m climb in 2.7 km will destroy you. Plan a one-way descent.
How bad is the descent really?
Hard on knees, easy on lungs. Most hikers complete it but need an hour before walking normally again. Trekking poles change everything.
Is the village worth lingering?
Small - 30 minutes covers it. The real reward is moving on to Porto Moniz pools for a proper swim.
Live trail status
madeirahiking.org/trails/pr15
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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