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PR 3 — Vereda do Burro

PR 3 — Vereda do Burro — the trail guide

The PR 3 — Vereda do Burro is a 7.2 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in Half day, with 76 m of total ascent. It rates Easy on our published rubric (11 m of gain per km, topping out at 1805 m).

PR 3 is the old donkey track that links Madeira's high mountains to the back door of Funchal, running 7.2 km from the Pico do Areeiro car park at 1,805 m down to the Ecological Park welcome centre at Ribeira das Cales at 1,130 m. Book the permit online and arrange a lift up: it is strictly one-way.

Quick facts

Distance7.2 km
Total ascent76 m
Typical durationHalf day
Difficulty (computed)Easy
Steepness11 m gain per km
High point1805 m
CountryPortugal
RegionPortugal

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Easy" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 1145 m · high point 1805 m · 76 m total ascent over 7.2 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 1785 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan97 mm
Feb91 mm
Mar94 mm
Apr70 mm
May11°48 mm
Jun12°72 mm
Jul15°17 mm
Aug17°22 mm
Sep14°49 mm
Oct13°99 mm
Nov10°104 mm
Dec117 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PR 3 — Vereda do Burro?

The PR 3 — Vereda do Burro is 7.2 km, and most hikers complete it in Half day. Total elevation gain is 76 m.

How difficult is the PR 3 — Vereda do Burro?

It rates Easy on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 11 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1805 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the PR 3 — Vereda do Burro is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the PR 3 — Vereda do Burro?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.735, -16.928 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

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