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📡 Today's status

The IFCN's official status, read every day. Green only when the IFCN writes « aberto » with no reserve.

● Open · ABERTO

The descent from Curral Falso to the village of Ribeira da Janela along an old footpath: 2.7 km, about 1:30, moderate, from 820 to 400 m — almost all downhill in the official direction. The path, which leaves the ER 209 in the forest area above the village, was once used to gather the wood essential to daily life and to reach the southern villages of Calheta or Ponta do Sol carrying wine barrels on the back. Below, agricultural terraces held by stone walls: vines, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans and maize. The houses are scattered on the slope between the river mouth and 400 m, along the Ribeira da Janela, the island's longest watercourse. PR 15 is the natural continuation of the Levada dos Cedros (PR 14); the climb back is steep if you have to return to the car. Official length: 2.7 km; the route's trace measures 2.4 km on the map.

Highlights

  • Descent to the village
  • Terraces and vines
  • Longest river on the island
  • Wine path
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
2.7 km
Elevation gain
420 m
Duration
1:30
Price
€4.50 (over 12) · SIMplifica booking · free for residents and under-13s
Municipality
Porto Moniz
🎟️ Book on SIMplifica🗺️ See the route on the map📍 Start🏁 End

Track for guidance only.

Places within 2 km of the route

  • 🌿 Nature

    Foz da Ribeira da Janela (Monumento Natural)

    At the mouth of the Ribeira da Janela, the island's longest watercourse, big rocks stand in the ocean; one of them is pierced by a window-shaped opening ("janela") that gave its name to the river and the village. The "Escoada da Foz da Ribeira da Janela" — the lava flow at the mouth — is among the Region's fifteen Natural Monuments created in 2021, witnesses to the archipelago's volcanic history born of two hotspots. A rocky beach with free access, toilets and showers 9:00–19:00 according to Porto Moniz municipality; seen from the Porto de Abrigo viewpoint and the Ribeira da Janela lookout.

    🗺️ See it on the map
  • 🔭 Viewpoint

    Miradouro da Ribeira da Janela

    At the top of the parish of Ribeira da Janela, at Eira da Achada, this lookout opened in 2009 is one of the best equipped on the island: toilets, children's areas, picnic areas and a car park. The view runs along the north coast to Seixal, São Vicente and Ponta Delgada, with the rocky relief typical of this shore. Below, at the river mouth, the big islets standing in the ocean: one of them is pierced by a window-shaped opening ("janela") that gave its name to the river and the village.

    🗺️ See it on the map
  • 🔭 Viewpoint

    Miradouro do Parque de Merendas dos Lamaceiros

    At Lamaceiros, in the parish of Porto Moniz, the picnic park offers a lookout over the whole parish of Ribeira da Janela and part of the north coast, in direct contact with the Laurissilva. Full facilities: three covered barbecues, tables and benches, water points, toilets suitable for people with reduced mobility, green areas. The Levada da Ribeira da Janela starts next to the park — a good starting point for walking or mountain biking.

    🗺️ See it on the map