V-TERRABAPTISTA (Vereda da Terra Baptista) is a 3.6 km each way (7.3 km round trip), hard, community route. Cost: free. 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 coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 815m up here. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Go or wait today?
At 815m, Vereda da Terra Baptista makes its own weather. A coastal forecast will not tell you what today looks like up here. The pass reads the live conditions 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 Terra Baptista 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.Estimated hiking time
1h51
About Vereda da Terra Baptista
A steep vereda climbing out of Terra Baptista above Faial, on the northeast side where the island keeps its cloud and its green. It leaves the last houses on the Caminho da Terra Baptista at 254 metres and gains 561 through laurel woodland in three and a half kilometres, which is a sustained fifteen per cent and the reason this is a short walk that takes a long time. It tops out at the Levada do Furado, and that junction is worth more than the length: PR10 runs along it, and the Levada do Castelejo and the Levada da Referta both start within a couple of metres of the same point, so the climb doubles as the way into a much longer day. Walked on its own it is a there-and-back, because the far end has no road and no bus.
Vereda da Terra Baptista (V-TERRABAPTISTA) is a round trip route of about 7.3 km in Madeira.
How to walk it well
It shares its trailhead with L-CASTELEJO and L-REFERTA, so you can combine it with any of them from the same parking.
A real, mapped connector links it to PR10. See the Trail Chain option on the map for the walked distance.
What you'll see
The route takes in laurel forest (laurisilva), a levada water-channel path and panoramic viewpoints.
Landmarks on the route include Pedreiro.
The path runs between roughly 254 m and 815 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda da Terra Baptista rates as hard on our objective scale, based on 7.3 km round trip and 670 m of ascent.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 2h 30m 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.
Getting there and back
Starts at Terra Baptista, Faial. Ends at Levada do Furado junction (PR10). No car park is mapped at the start, so plan to leave the car on the road nearby.
What to bring
This trail passes through a tunnel, so bring a head torch.
Best time to walk it
Year-round; the north side stays wet, so expect mud after rain
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vereda da Terra Baptista 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 Terra Baptista, 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 Terra Baptista?
Vereda da Terra Baptista is about 7.3 km round trip.
How difficult is Vereda da Terra Baptista?
Vereda da Terra Baptista rates as hard based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
How long does Vereda da Terra Baptista take to walk?
Allow about 2h 30m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda da Terra Baptista?
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 Terra Baptista free to walk?
Yes. Vereda da Terra Baptista 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 Terra Baptista start and finish?
Vereda da Terra Baptista starts at Terra Baptista, Faial and finishes at Levada do Furado junction (PR10).
What will I see on Vereda da Terra Baptista?
Highlights include laurel forest (laurisilva), a levada water-channel path and panoramic viewpoints.
When is the best time to hike Vereda da Terra Baptista?
Year-round; the north side stays wet, so expect mud after rain
Are there tunnels on Vereda da Terra Baptista? Do I need a torch?
Yes, Vereda da Terra Baptista passes through a tunnel, so bring a head torch.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda da Terra Baptista?
Levadas scores Vereda da Terra Baptista from 0 to 100 using live weather along the path and the official status, refreshed every 20 minutes. You also see how busy it is. Open the trail in the app to see the live score and the best time to go today.