PR9: Is the Caldeirão Verde open today?

Book it. PR9 on SIMplifica

A long, green classic through tunnels to a 100-metre waterfall — and a busy one.

1. Book your €4.50 slot on SIMplifica in advance, in a 30-minute window. Under-12s free but on the booking.
2. Start early. It's a 5–6 hour day; an early slot gives you daylight, cooler tunnels and thinner crowds.
3. Parking at Queimadas is about €2.00/hour — bring change and factor it in for a full-day walk.

Getting there. Queimadas (Santana)

The walk starts at the Queimadas Forest Park, above Santana on the green north coast — about an hour from Funchal.

• Drive to the Queimadas car park and its pretty thatched houses; parking is paid (~€2.00/hour). The levada path begins here.
• It's a long, mostly level walk along an 18th-century levada through Laurissilva forest to the Caldeirão Verde — a green pool under a ~100 m cascade.
• Keen walkers continue on the full PR9 to Caldeirão do Inferno (about 8.7 km each way) — much longer; most turn around at the Caldeirão Verde waterfall.

Where to park for PR9?

Park at the IFCN car park in the Queimadas Forest Park, above Santana: €2 an hour, up to €10 a day, first 30 minutes free.

Sources: IFCN price list

PR9 by bus

Getting there. No bus goes up to Queimadas. Take a CAM bus to Santana, then a taxi up to the Queimadas forest park (ask the fare when you book). CAM's Santana-line buses, Funchal → Santana. Monday to Friday: 07:30 → 09:00, 08:10 → 10:00, 09:00 → 10:25, 10:00 → 11:25. Saturdays: 07:30 → 09:13, 10:00 → 11:20. Sundays and holidays: 07:30 → 09:18, 10:30 → 12:00.

Getting back. CAM's Santana-line buses, Santana → Funchal. Monday to Friday: 12:30 → 14:25, 17:25 → 19:00. Saturdays: 12:00 → 13:30, 13:15 → 14:20, 17:28 → 19:20. Sundays and holidays: 15:30 → 16:50, 17:28 → 19:20.

Times as printed on the operators' timetables published on SIGA, the Region's public transport site; times at intermediate stops are approximate. No buses on 25 December. Check before you travel.

Bring a torch. The tunnels & the drops

• Four tunnels are carved into the rock — some long, dark and dripping. A headtorch (or phone torch) is essential; it's genuinely dark inside.
• The levada edge is narrow with big drops in places, often with a handrail — not one for a strong fear of heights.
• Wear grippy shoes and expect wet feet; the north side is damp and the tunnels drip.

What's the weather at Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR9) now?

The status card above shows the latest measured reading from the IPMA Santana station, the regional weather station nearest the trail: temperature, wind and whether it is likely in cloud. Expect the mountains cooler and cloudier than Funchal.

Weather near the trail (IPMA Santana station, 09:10): 14 °C.

Official weather warnings for the Madeira mountains: IPMA.

Closed or full? Your options

• If IFCN closes PR9 on your date, email helpdesk.ifcn@madeira.gov.pt within 10 working days with your tickets and invoice, and ask for a new date within a year or a refund. Rain or a change of plans doesn't count, and the SIMplifica contact centre can't change bookings.
• Open alternatives: check the live board — 25 Fontes (PR6) and Balcões (PR11) are usually available and just as green.

Three things people find out too late

• It's a full day. 5–6 hours and ~13 km there and back — start early and carry water and food.
• The tunnels are dark and wet. No torch means feeling your way in the dark; bring one and grippy shoes.
• North and damp. It can be foggy, wet and cooler than the coast, and the ledges are narrow — go steady and mind the drops.

Questions people ask

PR9: Is the Caldeirão Verde open today?

Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR9) is OPEN on IFCN's official trail-warnings list. Access is €4.50 through the SIMplifica portal, plus about €2.00 per hour parking at Queimadas.

Do you need a torch for the Caldeirão Verde?

Yes. The trail passes through four tunnels carved into the rock, some long and dripping, so a headtorch or phone torch is essential. The levada edge is also narrow with big drops.

Do you need to book the Caldeirão Verde?

Yes. PR9 requires an advance booking and €4.50 payment through SIMplifica, in a 30-minute entry slot. Parking at Queimadas is about €2.00 per hour.

Where do you park for the Caldeirão Verde?

At the Queimadas Forest Park above Santana, on the north of the island — about an hour from Funchal. Parking costs roughly €2.00 per hour and the trail starts at the thatched Queimadas houses.