PR 13 - Vereda do Fanal

This 10.8 km moderate trail crosses the heart of the UNESCO-protected Laurissilva Forest from Paul da Serra plateau (Assobiadores) to Fanal Forestry Post. The 4-hour journey descends from 1,420m to 1,130m through vast patches of this millennia-old forest, ending at Fanal—a small volcanic crater designated as a Rest and Quiet Reserve by Madeira Natural Park. The unique destination features centenary Til (Ocotea foetens) woods, some predating the island's discovery, with distinctive unstructured trees creating mystical silhouettes in fog—a photographer's dream. Spring and autumn offer the most stable weather for this mountain walk through Madeira's most iconic ecosystem.