PR 6.3 – Lagoa do Vento
The Hidden Top of Risco
Distance
3.6 km (Round Trip)
Duration
2h
Difficulty
Moderate
Status
✅ OPEN
🕐 Best Time to Visit
💡 Pro Tip: This trail is significantly quieter than 25 Fontes or Risco. It’s the perfect escape when the main trails are overcrowded.
⚠️ Technical Difficulty Rating
Why Hike Lagoa do Vento?
The PR 6.3 takes you to a place few casual tourists see: the Lagoon of the Wind. This massive, dark blue pool sits at the very edge of a cliff.
It feeds the Risco Waterfall (PR 6.1). Standing here, you are literally standing at the top of the 100m drop that hikers below are looking up at. It is wild, rugged, and serene.
Trail Map
Loop possible via Levada do Alecrim or direct descent from Rabaçal House.
Step-by-Step Guide
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1
Levada do Alecrim (Start)
The easiest access is to start on PR 6.2 (Alecrim). After about 1.5km, look for a signpost on your right pointing down to “Lagoa do Vento”.
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2
The Descent
You leave the levada and descend through dense, tall heather bushes on a rugged dirt path. It can be slippery when wet.
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3
The Lagoon
You arrive at the massive lagoon. To the left is the water inlet; to the right, the water spills over the edge creating the Risco Waterfall.
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4
The Return
You can go back the way you came (easier) or take the steep path down to Casa do Rabaçal to join PR 6 (harder on knees).
📸 Best Photo Spots
Carefully photograph the water edge where the lagoon spills over the cliff. It looks like an infinity pool dropping into the abyss.
The area surrounding the lagoon has stark, white skeletons of heather bushes that contrast beautifully with the blue water.
Looking straight out from the lagoon edge, you see the terrifyingly deep Rabaçal valley stretching to the ocean.
Facilities & Amenities
How to Get There
Start at the Rabaçal Parking (ER 105). Walk onto the PR 6.2 Levada do Alecrim. The turnoff for Lagoa do Vento is clearly marked about 30 minutes in.
🛑 Safety Warning
The rocks around the lagoon edge are extremely slippery. Do NOT get too close to the drop-off. A fall here would be fatal (100m drop).
The Driver’s Perspective
🚘 Same as PR 6.2
Park high, hike low.
Our Rental Recommendation: You are accessing the same high plateau as the other Rabaçal hikes. A car with good visibility (clean windows, good wipers) is essential as the clouds roll in fast. This is Madeira Island ensures all cars are safety-checked.
Essential Gear
- Windbreaker: This lagoon is literally named “Wind Lagoon”. It gets cold and blustery here.
- Hiking Boots: The path down from Alecrim is rough dirt and roots, unlike the flat levadas.
- Snacks: There is no cafe nearby. The lagoon is a great picnic spot (if not too windy).
🍹 After the Hike: Where to Eat?
Hotel Jardim do Mar
After being up in the cold mountains, drive down to the sunny village of Jardim do Mar (20 mins). The hotel restaurant serves fresh fish right by the ocean. A perfect contrast to the mountain hike.
