Poço da Neve – Meteorology House – Chão da Lagoa – Ribeira das Cales (10 km)

Starting point: Pico do Areeiro Street, near the path that access Poço da Neve (like an igloo made to keep the snow)

Finishing point: Reception House of the Ecological Park of Funchal, in Ribeira das Cales, near the road that links Monte to Poiso

Advices on equipment: raincoat, sweater, boots/ comfortable shoes for the walk, water and some food

This tour is signalized and is inside the Ecological Park of Funchal. The first thing interesting to see is Poço da Neve, situated about 100 meters away from the road. The distance between this grey igloo and the meteorology House is almost 1km. When there are no clouds, one can admire the city and bay of Funchal, between the valley of Santa Luzia river.

Photo by Miguel Fagundes

The path to go is not difficult and the bush vegetation that involves Pico do Melros is another attraction worth to admire. The Tree Heath (Erica arborea) and the Madeira Bilberry (Vaccinium padifolium) are some of the endemic species of Madeira that grow on this site.

In the plain area, beyond the old meteorology house that nowadays is occupied by the forest guards, there is another house that lodges young people that participate in the environmental education projects held by the Ecological Park.

Photo by Catarina Fagundes

After a short descending way one arrives to Chão da Lagoa, a small plateau where the constructed facilities attracts many local people for picnics on weekends. Here one will find the signs that indicate Pedreira and Levada do Barreiro. From here towards Ribeira das Cales, one may choose to go along the road and take some old paths easily seen or cross the open field towards a river stream that will lead you to a levada that will then take you to Ribeira das Cales.

On the lower part of the Ecological Park of Funchal the Eucalyptus almost suffocate other species but to fight against this plague, this species is being cut down and endemic flora species are being planted.

This tour can be made all year around though we advise you to avoid raining and foggy days at Paul da Serra.