Vereda da Terra Chã

This route starts at the site of Chão da Ribeira next to the main road ER 221. The first kilometre is along an uneven track that leads between haylofts and agricultural plots, surrounded by orchards and seasonal crops.
Due to the abandonment of some agricultural land, this area features some exotic plants such as banana plants, hydrangeas, abundance (abutilon?) and pines.
The start of the ascent is clearly marked with a sign indicating Sítio da Terra Chã – Paul da Serra. From here the path is immersed in Laurissilva vegetation, with species such as loureiro, vinhático, folhado and tree heather standing out.
Along the way you can enjoy fantastic views over the Chão da Ribeira valley, and the islets of the Ribeira da Janela and the Ilhéu Mole of Porto Moniz.
The climb demands a reasonable level of fitness from walkers, so you should moderate your pace. After recovering your strength, on the left there is a potable spring that can be useful to refill your water bottle.
At kilometre three you arrive at Terra Chã where you can find a cable that was used in the early 20th century to transport agricultural materials between the coastal and mountainous areas of Seixal. Enjoy the views over the parishes (freguesias) of Seixal and Porto Moniz.
The trail turns left and after a few metres of ascent you enter a vegetative transition zone, where species such as the mountain orchid, broom, starwort, carqueja and lettuce stand out, species that dominate the landscape almost to the end of the trail.
Upon reaching 1,300 metres altitude the vegetation practically disappears and it is possible to see the Paul da Serra and the Central Mountain Massif of Madeira, classified by Rede Natura 2000 as a heritage site of interest.
The end of the trail is marked by a junction beside a wide track where you should continue straight through the central area of Paul da Serra until the intersection with ER 209 in the direction of Fanal – Ribeira da Janela.