One of the waterfalls that surprised me the most in Portugal until today was Pedra Ferida Waterfall. Throughout this blog post, you will find all the necessary information to visit the Pedra Ferida Waterfall. From useful information about the trail you need to follow to get there, to accommodation.
Located in the Central region of Portugal, this is a waterfall you won’t want to miss. The name Pedra Ferida (which translates to ‘wounded stone’) is related to the fact that the rocks have a reddish colour resulting from a process of oxidation by contact with water.
How to get to Pedra Ferida waterfall?
The waterfall of Pedra Ferida is located in the municipality of Penela, district of Coimbra. For those coming from Porto, the accesses are simple and the trip takes 1h35 (155 km). From Lisbon, the journey is a bit longer – about 2 hours (195 km).
Visiting the Pedra Ferida Waterfall without a car will be a difficult mission, if not almost impossible. But it’s well worth it, I promise 🥰!
What is the best time of the year to visit Pedra Ferida Waterfall?
In summer, it is possible to go swimming at this waterfall and there are some picnic areas. However, this is also the busiest time.
Therefore, if you don’t have the desire to take a dip into the waterfall, I suggest a visit during spring or autumn. Nevertheless, I warn you not to visit on rainy days or when it has rained recently. The rocks get very slippery, so you should definitely have this in mind.
Information on the trail to the Pedra Ferida Waterfall
Although it is possible to get relatively close to the Pedra Ferida Waterfall by car, the final stretch is only accessible on foot. The trail is short (about 750 meters one way), but strenuous. However, as the distance is short, it doesn’t seem to be that difficult.
The trail starts next to the Ribeira da Azenha picnic park, where you can park. The road to get here is not in the best condition, but it is possible to drive in this road with a normal car.
💡 EXTRA TIP: It is also possible to start the trail in the village of Espinhal, but if this is your choice you will have a longer one-way stretch – 1.8 km. And quite honestly, the part of the trail between Espinhal and the picnic park adds very little in terms of beauty.
Along the trail, the vegetation is dense and green. We pass by some wooden bridges and old watermills, always accompanied by the sound of running water. It really is a trail that, despite its short distance, we immediately fall in love with.
There are some parts of the trail that are more demanding (the trail is classified with moderate difficulty). Just arriving at the waterfall, there is a stretch that even has a rope to help with the climb. But, even for those who don’t have much experience in more difficult trails, I think it’s doable.
We arrive at the waterfall and are welcomed by a 25-metre-high fall that forms a natural pool at its base.
Useful information on the trail to the Pedra Ferida waterfall
- Where to begin: Ribeira da Azenha Picnic Park (or Espinhal Village)
- Distance (roundtrip): 1,5 km if we start the trail in the picnic park or 3,5 km if we start in Espinhal village
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Linear trail
Accommodation near Pedra Ferida Waterfall
There is not much accommodation available near the Pedra Ferida Waterfall, so I will leave you with some other suggestions in nearby locations:
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