PR 3 - Vereda do Burro

Starting near Pico do Areeiro at 1,805 meters, this 7.2 km descent takes just 2 hours 40 minutes to reach the Parque Ecológico do Funchal's reception center. The trail crosses high-altitude flora characteristic of Madeira's peaks, offering stunning views over Ribeira do Cidrão valley and the Paul da Serra plateau. A highlight is Poço da Neve, an igloo-shaped snow and ice reservoir built in 1813 that stored frozen precipitation from Madeira's rare high-altitude snowfall. This easy-to-moderate trail showcases the island's unique infrastructure built in harmony with its mountain environment and provides excellent opportunities to observe endemic high-elevation plants.