Caminho Real do Paul do Mar (PR19) is CLOSED on IFCN's official trail-warnings list. It is a paid, booking-only PR trail; access is €4.50 through the SIMplifica portal. See all Madeira trails · PR1.
Is it open today?
Official IFCN list: CLOSED
Do I need a ticket?
How long and how hard?
1.8 km · 1:20 h · Moderate · Prazeres → Paul do Mar (Point-to-point)
How do I get there and back?
By bus: the times are in PR19 by bus below. It is one way: it ends at Paul do Mar, so plan how you get back.
Vertigo or tunnels?
Exposure / vertigo: High
Weather there now
Status: IFCN's official warnings list · weather: IPMA
Yes. PR19 is booking-only: once it shows open, book your €4.50 slot on SIMplifica in advance. Under-12s and residents are free but must still be named on the booking. PR19 is paid on its own separate booking and not included in the multi-day passes — check the live status above before you pay.
The Caminho Real do Paul do Mar runs from Prazeres to Paul do Mar. It's a point-to-point walk, so it doesn't finish where you parked — sort your return first (two cars, a pre-booked taxi, or a guided walk with transfers).
Getting there. Prazeres, where the walk starts, is a bus stop. Rodoeste line 142, Funchal → Prazeres. Every day: 08:05 → 11:15.
Getting back. The walk ends at Paul do Mar, which has a bus back to Funchal. Rodoeste line 142, Paul do Mar → Funchal. Monday to Friday: 14:15 → 16:55. Rodoeste line 80, Paul do Mar → Funchal. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 17:00 → 18:40. On weekdays that leaves about 3 hours between arriving at Prazeres and the bus back.
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.
The status card above shows the latest measured reading from the IPMA Rabaçal 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.
Official weather warnings for the Madeira mountains: IPMA.
If IFCN closes PR19 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. Can't get a slot? Check the live board for open alternatives.