PR6.3 Vereda da Lagoa do Vento

PR6.3 covers about 3 kilometres from the Rabaçal car park, dropping through high heathland into laurel forest to reach the Lagoa do Vento, a pool fed by a tall waterfall spilling off the Ribeira do Lajeado. It's a vereda, a footpath, rather than a levada, and just over half its length runs along the same approach shared with PR6 and PR6.1 before it branches off toward the lagoon. The final stretch drops down a steep set of rock steps that get properly slick when wet, so the walk down is easy going but the climb back up is where the real effort sits. The lake takes its name from what the wind does here: it regularly catches the falling water and blows it sideways before it reaches the pool. Stick to April through October and avoid the trail after rain, when those rock steps are at their most treacherous.

Vereda da Lagoa do Vento (PR6.3) is a round trip route of about 6.1 km in Madeira.

Rabaçal semi-loop: Alecrim → Lagoa do Vento → Casa de Abrigo: One way only: out along the Levada do Alecrim (PR6.2), back via the Lagoa do Vento path (PR6.3). Walked the other way round, it's the steep climb everybody complains about. About 8.8 km on foot in total. See the map for the full route.

Full Rabaçal circuit: Alecrim → Lagoa do Vento → 25 Fontes & Risco: One way only: out along the Levada do Alecrim (PR6.2) to Lagoa do Vento, back along the Vereda da Lagoa do Vento (PR6.3) with a detour to Levada das 25 Fontes (PR6) and Levada do Risco (PR6.1) partway, then the paved road or van back to the parking. About 16.2 km on foot in total. See the map for the full route.

The route takes in endemic Madeiran flora, a deep valley, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, laurel forest (laurisilva) and a lagoon.

Landmarks on the route include Risco and Pico do Vento.

The path runs between roughly 1,051 m and 1,282 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.

Vereda da Lagoa do Vento rates as medium on our objective scale, based on 6.1 km round trip, 419 m of ascent and low exposure.

This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.

Allow about 2h 45m for the round trip (you return the same way).

The app's live 0-100 score also flags the latest safe start time for the day. See it in the app.

Starts at Rabaçal. Ends at Lagoa do Vento. The car park at the start has room for about 50.

One drinking-water point is mapped on the route. Fill up if you pass it, but carry enough to finish without it.

Apr to Oct; avoid wet/winter days (steep rock steps turn slippery)

Most of this route sits in shade, which keeps it walkable on days when open ground is punishing.

The sun and shade reading comes from the slope's aspect and steepness, so it describes terrain shading and not tree cover.

A live 0-100 score picks the best 30-minute window for the day. See today's window in the app.

Vereda da Lagoa do Vento is a regulated trail with a daily visitor cap, so you must reserve a timed slot in advance through SIMplifica before you go. The official fee is around €4.50 per person. Levadas does not sell tickets or make the reservation for you.

According to IFCN, as of 9 Sept 2026, this trail is currently officially open.

IFCN's own status page is dated 24 Jul 2026. The date above (9 Sept 2026) is ours: it records when we last read that page, not when IFCN wrote it.

Official status can change, so always check the latest before you go.

Fire and other live hazards near this trail are tracked on the Madeira trail alerts page