PR 5 Vereda das Funduras

PR 5 Vereda das Funduras is on the IFCN classified-trail table updated on 2 October 2026 and read here on 12 October 2026. The official distance on that table is 8.7 km. The places named there are Portela and Maroços. The status on that table is: open. Route Summary: 8.7 km · 2 h 45 min – 3 h 15 min · +180 m / -580 m (600 m to 200 m) · Moderate · Point-to-point transfer required. Starting from the windy ridge saddle of Portela between Porto da Cruz and Machico, PR 5 traverses the forested southern and eastern slopes of the Funduras massif before descending through traditional terraced poios into the rural hamlet of Maroços in the Machico valley.

Point-to-point logistics between Portela and Maroços

Because PR 5 is an 8.7 km linear route starting at Portela (on the ER 102 / ER 110 junction) and finishing in Maroços (above Machico), hikers do not finish at their starting car park unless they walk out-and-back (17.4 km total):

• Getting back to a rental car at Portela: If you park at the Miradouro da Portela bays and walk the 8.7 km down to Maroços, the quickest return to your vehicle is a short taxi ride from Maroços or Machico back up to Portela.
• Public bus connections: Eastern interurban buses from Funchal and Machico serve both the Portela pass road and the Machico / Maroços valley, making PR 5 straightforward to plan as a one-way walk using Machico as a base.
• Linking with PR 10: Portela is also the eastern finish of PR 10 Levada do Furado (11 km from Ribeiro Frio to Portela, listed open). Strong walkers sometimes connect PR 10 and PR 5 into a 19.7 km traverse from Ribeiro Frio all the way down to Maroços, though on the IFCN table PR 10 and PR 5 are two separate classified routes.

Route highlights: Portela viewpoint, Casa das Funduras, and Maroços terraces

The 8.7 km walk unfolds across three distinct stages:

1. Miradouro da Portela to Casa das Funduras: From the Portela viewpoint — looking north toward the crag of Penha d'Águia and the surf at Porto da Cruz — a short road link and forest track lead into the Laurissilva woodland of the Funduras ridge past the forestry house at Casa das Funduras.
2. Miradouro do Larano cliff outlook: A signed spur along the Funduras track opens onto a dramatic lookout over the northern sea cliffs of Larano and the bay of Abra in the distance.
3. Descent into Maroços: The second half of PR 5 drops steeply down earthen and stone forest steps out of the laurel woods and finishes along the agricultural Levada dos Maroços amid terraced gardens of sweet potatoes, vines, and sugar cane.

Footwear, kit, and before you go

The forest track and descent steps through the Funduras woods hold clay mud after rain; wear hiking shoes with solid grip and carry trekking poles for the descent into Maroços. See What to carry on a levada. The IFCN fee FAQ lists €4.50 per person for one classified route other than PR 1. Residents of the region, children aged 12 or under, and covered disability cases do not pay the fee and still need a reservation; see PR trail fees and reservation rules on Madeira. This site does not publish a live forecast. Source: Percursos pedestres classificados, table updated 2 October 2026, read here on 12 October 2026. The fee figures are from the IFCN fee FAQ.