Machico
PR5 Vereda das Funduras, the quiet one in the east
The short answer
PR5 Vereda das Funduras runs from the Portela viewpoint through the Funduras laurel forest and down to Maroços in Machico. It is one of the least crowded Classified Walking Routes on the island, and the reason for that is straightforward: the scenery is quieter than the famous trails.
Trail fee, per person over twelve
€4.50
Booked as a dated timeslot on the SIMplifica portal. Free for ages twelve and under, who still have to be on the booking.
IFCN, 2026 · check it · read August 26, 2026Total descent
438 m
The difference between the published high and low points.
Visit Madeira · check it · read August 26, 2026The facts
| Where | Machico |
|---|---|
| Type | Walks and levadas |
| How long | 3 hours |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Cost | €4.50 |
| Best season | Year round |
| Permit | Yes — book before you go |
The route
PR5 runs 8.7 km, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 from Miradouro da Portela down to Maroços, with 3 hours, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 given by the tourism board. It drops from 624 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 to 186 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026, a descent of 438 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026, most of it under forest.
The Funduras laurel forest is the eastern end of the laurisilva. It is less photographed than Fanal or Queimadas, and correspondingly emptier.
Booking and logistics
It is a Classified Walking Route managed by IFCN, so the fee is €4.50, source: IFCN, 2026, read August 26, 2026 with a dated timeslot on SIMplifica. It ends in a different place from where it starts, so the return needs a plan.
Portela is also the far end of PR10 Levada do Furado, which makes the two combinable for anyone willing to arrange transport once and use it twice.
What is not perfect about it
One of the least crowded classified routes on Madeira, and the trade is that the scenery is less dramatic than the trails everyone queues for. It is also point to point with a long descent, so it finishes well away from the car.
Questions people actually ask
Is PR5 busy?
It is one of the least crowded classified routes. That is a genuine advantage and it comes at the cost of less dramatic scenery.
How much descent is there?
438 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 between the Portela viewpoint and Maroços, across 8.7 km, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026.
Where this came from
- IFCN: Percursos Pedestres Classificados — taxas e reservas (FAQ). ifcn.madeira.gov.pt/pt/atividades-de-natureza/percursos-pedes Read August 26, 2026.
- Governo Regional da Madeira: SIMplifica — reserva de percursos pedestres classificados. simplifica.madeira.gov.pt/services/78-82-259 Read August 26, 2026.
- Visit Madeira: PR5 Vereda das Funduras. visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/nature-seekers/activities/h Read August 26, 2026.