Routes

Hiking trails in Madeira

Official recommended walks, including Pico Ruivo, Pico do Areeiro, and PR 8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço. Filter by type, status, or return logistics. The links work without JavaScript. Distances and open or closed lines follow the IFCN table of 2 October 2026. The hiking map lists every classified route. Walks that are not on that list are in unknown trails (128). Distances there reflect on-site GPS recordings and regional walking surveys.

Showing 5 of 24 routes. Show every route.

PR routes5

PR 11,818M → 1,862M

UV 10 EXTREME / +1,110M GAIN

Panoramic sunrise view over the volcanic ridge and jagged crags of Pico do Areeiro on PR 1

32.7356°N 16.9286°W

Caution

PARTIAL / CLOSED SECTOR

PR routePico do Areeiro – Pico Ruivo

Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo, Caution

PR 1 Vereda do Areeiro is 6.1 km on the IFCN table. Both directions are open as far as Pedra Rija. The west line to Pico Ruivo is one-way, and the east line is closed.

Distance: 6.1 km
Difficulty: Hard (Exposed Alpine Ridge)
Return: Return from Pedra Rija, or transfer from Pico Ruivo
Fee: €4.50 or €10.50

PR 1.31,862M → 1,007M

UV 10 EXTREME / +1,110M GAIN

High mountain pass panorama along PR 1.3 Vereda da Encumeada

32.7606°N 16.9427°W

Caution

PARTIAL / CLOSED SECTOR

PR routePico Ruivo – Encumeada

PR 1.3 Vereda da Encumeada, Caution

PR 1.3 Vereda da Encumeada is 11.2 km on the IFCN table. The 3.9 km alpine crest from Pico Ruivo to Boca das Torrinhas is open in both directions; Boca das Torrinhas to Encumeada remains closed.

Distance: 11.2 km
Difficulty: Hard (High Mountain Ridge)
Return: Returns to starting car park
Fee: €4.50 or €10.50

PR 68.6 KM → 3H00–3H30

95% SHADE / 800M TUNNEL

Fern-draped basalt amphitheatre and spring cascades at Lagoa das 25 Fontes in Rabaçal

32.7465°N 17.1325°W

Caution

PR routeRabaçal

PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes, Caution

Also known as: Levada Nova do Rabaçal · Levada do Furado Novo

PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes is 4.3 km each way. IFCN lists it open with one-way traffic: out on the levada, back on the bypass.

Distance: 4.3 km each way (8.6 km there and back)
Difficulty: Moderate
Return: Returns to starting car park
Fee: €4.50
Channel (Madre → Fim): Ribeira dos Cedros (972 m) → Câmara de Carga da Central Hidroelétrica da Calheta, Lombo do Doutor (966 m) [historic branch: Covinhas, Arco da Calheta (940 m) & Lombo da Igreja, Estreito da Calheta (900 m), 17 km] (4.8 km (active branch) / 17 km (historic branch))

PR 913.0 KM → 4H00–4H30

95% SHADE / HEADLAMP

Wide leaf-strewn forest promenade and mossy channel wall near Queimadas on PR 9

32.7835°N 16.9075°W

Caution

PR routeQueimadas

PR 9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde, Caution

Also known as: Levada da Serra de São Jorge · Levada das Queimadas

PR 9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde is open from Queimadas to the Caldeirão Verde waterfall (6.5 km). Waterfall plunge pool is cordoned off for rockfall safety. Extension to Caldeirão do Inferno is closed.

Distance: 6.5 km each way (13.0 km there and back)
Difficulty: Moderate
Return: Returns to starting car park
Fee: €4.50
Channel (Madre → Fim): Caldeirão do Inferno (1000 m) → Cova da Roda, Santana (600 m) (12.8 km)

PR 121,340M → 1,007M

UV 10 EXTREME / +1,110M GAIN

Historic cobbled royal path traversing the mountain crest on PR 12 Caminho Real da Encumeada

32.7175°N 16.9580°W

Caution

PARTIAL / CLOSED SECTOR

PR routeBoca da Corrida – Encumeada

PR 12 Caminho Real da Encumeada, Caution

PR 12 Caminho Real da Encumeada is 12.5 km on the table and only walkable from Boca da Corrida to kilometre 3.5.

Distance: 12.5 km
Difficulty: Moderate–Hard
Return: Returns to starting car park
Fee: €4.50

Planning a walk on Madeira’s classified PR network

Every route on this page belongs to Madeira’s official Percursos Recomendados (PR) network recorded on the IFCN table of 2 October 2026. Rather than treating each trail as a single pass/fail label, every route brief breaks the walk into its official named endpoints so you can see whether the entire line is open both ways, operating under a one-way traffic rule, or partially closed at a mid-route gate.

1. Check section status

Routes marked Partly open — including PR 1, PR 1.3, PR 6, PR 12, and PR 17 — have either a one-way rule or a closed section beyond an intermediate landmark.

2. Match return logistics

Use the Return to your car filter when driving a rental car without a pre-booked pickup. Routes marked One-way · transfer at finish end in a different valley or elevation and require a taxi, public bus, or early turnaround.

3. Book the right fee tier

Under the IFCN trail fee rules, non-residents over 12 pay €4.50 per classified route, or €10.50 for the full one-way PR 1 peak traverse covering PR 1, PR 1.1, PR 1.2, and PR 1.3.