📍: 10 km (round trip) hike

🚘: Free limited parking at the trailhead

📈: 300 m

🕒: 2 hours

This hike offers an incredible coastal experience, taking you along a cliff-side path on the eastern side of the island. This well-maintained trail allows you to admire the vast expanse of the ocean below, providing awe-inspiring views throughout your journey. This is not an official PR trail, so its condition isn’t monitored.

Vereda do Larano is a point-to-point trail connecting Machico and Porto da Cruz. You can start from either town, but this setup means that after finishing the trail, you'll need to return to your starting point, either by retracing your steps or using public or hired transportation. This might seem inconvenient, so we've prepared an alternative that saves time and effort while offering the best of Vereda do Larano.

We recommend starting your hike from Porto da Cruz. This way, you'll quickly reach the most impressive part of the trail, including the best viewpoint, Boca do Risco, where you'll be treated to magnificent ocean views. You can then return to your starting point, sparing your legs from a longer trek through less scenic farming fields.

Follow the directions from our guide to a coastal lookout point in Porto da Cruz, where you can park your car along the roadside. Since parking space is limited, it's best to arrive early. Be aware that the road is steep and narrow; if you're not comfortable driving uphill, park as far up as you can and continue on foot to the trailhead.

Once on the trail, you'll soon enter a forested area. After about a kilometre, the forest will open up to reveal the most spectacular section of Vereda do Larano.

For the next 3-4 kilometers, you'll be treated to stunning coastal views as you head towards Machico. This section of the trail is equipped with a simple handrail, ensuring safety for hikers. This stretch is undoubtedly the highlight of Vereda do Larano, offering the most breathtaking scenery along the route.

At some point, you'll reach Boca do Risco, an unmissable viewpoint on the Larano trail offering the best views over the cliffs. This spot is perfect for capturing memorable photographs. However, this is the pinnacle of the trail’s scenery.

As mentioned earlier, you can continue your hike towards Machico or even connect with the PR8 for a full day of adventure. Unfortunately, the trail leading to Machico for the next few kilometers is not very scenic, passing through a valley with farming fields and minimal views.