V-RIBNATAL (Vereda da Ribeira do Natal) is a 2.6 km, medium, community route. Whether it is worth hiking right now depends on live conditions and today's official status, re-checked every 20 minutes in the live app.
Madeira
A forecast for the nearest town is not a forecast for this path. That is what the live score is for.
Go or wait today?
You have already picked the walk. The pass answers the one question left, whether today is the morning worth the drive: it reads the live weather on the trail and gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
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Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Vereda da Ribeira do Natal as a free GPX file, no signup. Load it into Garmin, Komoot, AllTrails, Gaia GPS or OsmAnd and follow the route offline, even where there is no phone signal.
ⓘ Source & safety
Track and waypoints from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Planning aid, not a safety guarantee. Check the official trail status and conditions before you go.About Vereda da Ribeira do Natal
The Vereda da Ribeira do Natal is a short coastal path in the Machico/Caniçal area on irregular ground. It links the Ribeira do Natal valley toward the coast, with sea views along the way over the eastern tip of Madeira.
Vereda da Ribeira do Natal (V-RIBNATAL) is a one way route of about 2.6 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Along the way you'll find coastal cliffs and ocean views, panoramic viewpoints and a mountain summit.
Landmarks on the route include Pico do Facho, Facho and Cabeço da Portela.
The path runs between roughly 44 m and 317 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda da Ribeira do Natal is officially graded medium by IFCN, based on 2.6 km, 169 m of ascent and low exposure.
How long it takes
Allow about 1h 30m one way, a point-to-point route.
The app's live 0-100 score also flags the latest safe start time for the day. See it in the app.
Getting there and back
Starts at Machico / Caniçal. This is a one-way route, so you finish where your car is not: plan a second car, a taxi from the far end, or the walk back before you set off. A car park is mapped for this route, though its size is not recorded. The car park is about 410 m from the start.
Best time to walk it
High trails are best early: clear summits and the chance of a sunrise above the clouds before the cloud builds.
A live 0-100 score picks the best 30-minute window for the day. See today's window in the app.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vereda da Ribeira do Natal worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Vereda da Ribeira do Natal, the safe-start window, how busy it is and the official IFCN status, then gives one honest go-or-wait score from 0 to 100, re-checked every 20 minutes. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance: an official IFCN closure always overrides the score, no matter how good the weather looks.
How long is Vereda da Ribeira do Natal?
Vereda da Ribeira do Natal is about 2.6 km (one way).
How difficult is Vereda da Ribeira do Natal?
Vereda da Ribeira do Natal is officially graded medium by IFCN.
How long does Vereda da Ribeira do Natal take to walk?
Allow about 1h 30m.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda da Ribeira do Natal?
Yes. Tap Download GPX on this page: the first download on any device asks for an email so we can also send the free trail pack, then every later trail downloads instantly.
Is Vereda da Ribeira do Natal free to walk?
Yes. Vereda da Ribeira do Natal needs no reservation and has no fee. Only the regulated official PR trails require a paid SIMplifica booking; this one you simply walk.
Where does Vereda da Ribeira do Natal start and finish?
Vereda da Ribeira do Natal starts at Machico / Caniçal.
What will I see on Vereda da Ribeira do Natal?
Highlights include coastal cliffs and ocean views, panoramic viewpoints and a mountain summit.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda da Ribeira do Natal?
Levadas scores Vereda da Ribeira do Natal from 0 to 100 using live weather, official status and crowd signals, refreshed every 20 minutes. Open the trail in the app to see the live score and the best time to go today.