PR22
A picnic in old-growth laurel
Vereda dos Chão dos Louros: a gentle 1.9 km circular walk through forest park with picnic tables, barbecue stands, camping ground, and a viewpoint over São Vicente valley. The most family-friendly fee trail on the island.
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 dos Chão dos Louros before you book or set out.
Distance
1.9 km
Duration
0.5-1 h
Elevation gain
50 m
Difficulty
Easy
Exposure
1/5
Type
Vereda
Status, May 2026
Open
Open year-round 2026. No restrictions. The picnic facilities (tables, barbecues, water taps) were renovated in 2024. Camping permitted with separate ICNF authorisation.
Best season
Year-round - summer for picnics
Spring brings the forest at its lushest. Summer fills the picnic area with locals on weekends - especially Labour Day (May 1) and through August. Autumn is the quietest. Winter is wet but the forest stays beautiful.
“A trail that does not demand anything from you - just shows up with shade, water, and a place to grill.”
02 · Getting to the trailhead
How to reach the start
Map placeholder
Start: Chão dos Louros · End: Chão dos Louros (Circular)
By car from Funchal
About 50 minutes via VR1 then ER228 north to the Chão dos Louros area, just past Encumeada.
Parking
Free at the Chão dos Louros forest park.
Public transport
No direct bus. Operator or taxi only.
Operator pickup
Rarely a standalone operator product because of its low-effort nature. Sometimes bundled with PR12 or PR17 as a lunch stop.
Taxi or transfer
Funchal to Chão dos Louros one-way €40-50.
Tip from Filipe
Bring picnic food and grill supplies. The forest park has barbecue stands - the trail+picnic combination is the actual experience, not just the walk. Most locals come here for the eating and incidentally do the loop.
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-pr22
03 · Route walkthrough
Section by section
Distances, landmarks, and what to expect underfoot.
0.0 - 0.3 km
0:08
Parking to the picnic area
Trail leaves the parking past the toilets and the first picnic tables. Forest closes in immediately. Sound of running water - the levada that feeds the area.
0.3 - 1.0 km
0:25
Forest circuit and stream crossing
The loop circles through old-growth laurel. One stream crossing on stepping stones - low water in summer, splashable in winter. The east side of the loop has fewer markers; pay attention to blazes.
Stream crossing slippery. Use the stepping stones.
1.0 - 1.6 km
0:20
São Vicente valley viewpoint
A short detour at the loop's western point reaches a viewpoint over the São Vicente valley below. Sea visible on clear days.
1.6 - 1.9 km
0:08
Return to picnic area
Loop closes back at the picnic facilities. Time to grill.
04 · Gear and safety
What to bring and when to bail
Required
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Light rain jacket - this is high-altitude forest
- Water (or fill at the park's tap)
- SIMplifica permit
Recommended
- Picnic supplies + meat for the grill
- Sit pad for the picnic tables
- Sweater - cooler than expected at 1,000 m
- Camera
Stream crossing slippery
The stepping stones at the stream crossing become slick in any weather. Cross one at a time, no rushing.
Easy but with mud
The path stays damp - this is forest at 1,000 m. Waterproof shoes pay off; sneakers will get wet.
Forest stays cool
The canopy and altitude combine for a 10-12°C cooler experience than the coast. A sweater stays in the backpack until you need it.
Signal patchy
Coverage drops in the forest. Available at the picnic area.
Emergency: 112
Coverage along this route is patchy. Walk-out point: back to the picnic area and parking (km 0). No mid-loop exit.
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 "Chão dos Louros" or PR22.
- 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
PR22 is not really an operator product - too short, too low-effort. Operators bundle it with PR12 or PR17 as a lunch stop.
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-pr22
06 · After the hike
What to do with the rest of the day
Pair it with
São Vicente caves
Twenty minutes down the road. Volcanic tube system tour for an indoor option if weather turns wet.
PR12 Caminho Real da Encumeada
Same starting region. Longer, more demanding trail for the morning before a PR22 picnic afternoon.
PR17 Pináculo e Folhadal
Much harder loop from the same Encumeada area. Pair with PR22 only as recovery walk the day after.
Common questions
Is camping allowed?
Yes with separate ICNF permission. The camping ground is small (10-15 tents).
Can I bring my dog?
Yes on lead. Many local families bring dogs to the picnic area.
Are kids allowed?
Yes - this is the most kid-friendly fee trail. From age 3+.
Live trail status
madeirahiking.org/trails/pr22
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
Scan for live status