Funchal
The most buses and places to stay, and the Aerobus from the airport (about 50 minutes). Buses from Funchal reach Pico do Areeiro, Monte, Curral das Freiras, Ribeiro Frio, Baía d'Abra and Encumeada.
SIGA: bus timetablesMadeira: day walks and trail runs from one base
Levadas, laurel forest and the high peaks from one bed: real days out on the classified walks, from one to five of them joined, many with a bus at both ends.
16Day routes
1,848mHighest point
8Bus at both ends
Best season: All year on the coast; May to September on the peaks. The high walks are very wet from October to April (437 mm in January at the Pico do Areeiro station) and nights can freeze; the coastal walks stay mild. Choose each day's walk by the forecast and the official status. Weather by month
Loading topographic map…
Numbers mark each route's start, as in the list. Select a route for its line, profile and 3D flyover.
Real days out
The day routes
Each route is one of Madeira's classified walks, or several joined where they meet, each walked in a direction its rules allow. Times are our estimates at a steady pace: walking 4 km/h plus an hour per 400 m up and per 800 m down; running 7.5 km/h plus an hour per 700 m up.
| Route | Walks | Distance and climb | Walking / running | Start and end | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central peaks · A to B | PR 1 + PR 1.2 + PR 1.1 | 12.8 km+527 / −1,785 m | 7 h 07 / 2 h 28Good for running | Bus to Pico do AreeiroBus from Ilha | Partly open |
| Central peaks · A to B | PR 1 + PR 1.2 | 8.0 km+522 / −716 m | 4 h 26 / 1 h 49Partly runnable | Bus to Pico do AreeiroTaxi from Achada do Teixeira | Partly open |
| Central peaks · A to B | PR 1 + PR 1.2 + PR 1.3 + PR 2 | 13.8 km+601 / −1,686 m | 7 h 04 / 2 h 42Good for running | Bus to Pico do AreeiroBus from Curral das Freiras | Partly open |
| Central peaks · A to B | PR 2 + PR 1.3 + PR 1.2 + PR 1.1 | 16.0 km+1,259 / −1,432 m | 8 h 56 / 3 h 56Good for running | Bus to Curral das FreirasBus from Ilha | Open |
| Central peaks · A to B | PR 1.2 + PR 1.1 | 10.2 km+292 / −1,355 m | 5 h 10 / 1 h 47Good for running | Taxi to Achada do TeixeiraBus from Ilha | Open |
| Central peaks · A to B | PR 3.1 + PR 3 + PR 1 + PR 1.2 + PR 1.1 | 23.9 km+1,793 / −1,850 m | 13 h 25 / 5 h 45Good for running | Bus to MonteBus from Ilha | Partly open |
| Central peaks · A to B | PR 3.1 + PR 3 + PR 1 + PR 1.2 + PR 1.3 + PR 2 | 24.9 km+1,866 / −1,750 m | 13 h 05 / 5 h 59Good for running | Bus to MonteBus from Curral das Freiras | Partly open |
| Central peaks · A to B | PR 3 + PR 3.1 | 11.1 km+50 / −1,266 m | 4 h 45 / 1 h 33Good for running | Bus to Pico do AreeiroBus from Monte | Open |
| Central peaks · A to B | PR 2 | 9.5 km+800 / −1,033 m | 5 h 52 / 2 h 25Good for running | Bus to Curral das FreirasTaxi from Lombo do Urzal, above Boaventura | Open |
| Northern laurel forest · A to B | PR 10 | 10.4 km+138 / −369 m | 3 h 33 / 1 h 35Good for running | Bus to Ribeiro FrioBus from Portela | Open |
| Eastern peninsula · A to B | PR 10 + PR 5 | 18.7 km+261 / −938 m | 6 h 45 / 2 h 52Good for running | Bus to Ribeiro FrioBus from Maroços, Machico valley | Open |
| Eastern peninsula · There and back | PR 8 | 6.1 km+304 / −307 m | 3 h 09 / 1 h 15Good for running | Bus to Baía d'Abra | Open |
| Northern laurel forest · There and back | PR 9 | 16.6 km+1,236 / −1,238 m | 8 h 59 / 3 h 59Partly runnable | Taxi to Queimadas forest park | Open |
| Northern laurel forest · There and back | PR 18 | 9.8 km+294 / −295 m | 3 h 45 / 1 h 44Good for running | Taxi to São Jorge water treatment plant | Open |
| Western plateau · A to B | PR 13 + PR 14 + PR 15 | 19.6 km+250 / −1,187 m | 7 h 17 / 2 h 58Good for running | Taxi to Assobiadores, Paul da SerraBus from Ribeira da Janela | Open |
| Western plateau · Loop | PR 6.1 + PR 6 | 9.5 km+497 / −497 m | 5 h 31 / 1 h 59Partly runnable | Taxi to Rabaçal car park (ER 105) | Open |
Across the island
Can you cross Madeira on foot?
Not from east to west on classified walks: IFCN says a crossing between the central peaks and the Paul da Serra is not possible at the moment, and the western part of PR 1.3 to Encumeada is closed. There is no official long-distance route.
From south to north, yes, in a day and with a bus at the end:
- : 12.8 km, +527 / −1,785 m.
- : 16.0 km, +1,259 / −1,432 m.
- : 23.9 km, +1,793 / −1,850 m.
- : 9.5 km, +800 / −1,033 m.
The official list
All 39 classified walks on Madeira island
The walks on the regional government's legal list, with their status on IFCN's list of 14 September 2026. Times and difficulty as Visit Madeira states them.
| Walk | Official route | Length | Time and difficulty | Status | In the day routes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR 1 Vereda do Areeiro | Pico do Areeiro – Pico Ruivo | 6.1 km | 3 hours · Moderate | Partly openAreeiro–Pedra Rija open both ways; Pedra Rija–Pico Ruivo shown closed on the 14 Sep list (the notice limits the closure to 14–17 and 21–22 Sep 2026); eastern path via Pico das Torres closed | , , , , |
| PR 1.1 Vereda da Ilha | Pico Ruivo – Ilha | 8.2 km | 3 hours · Moderate | Open | , , , |
| PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo | Achada do Teixeira – Pico Ruivo | 2.8 km (+2.8 km back) | 1:30 hours (round trip) · Moderate | Open | , , , , , , |
| PR 1.3 Vereda da Encumeada | Pico Ruivo – Encumeada | 11.2 km | 5 hours · Moderate | Partly openPico Ruivo–Boca das Torrinhas (about 3.9 km) open since 18 June 2026; Boca das Torrinhas–Encumeada closed with no date | , , |
| PR 2 Vereda do Urzal | Curral das Freiras – Boaventura | 10.3 km | 4:30 hours · Moderate | Open | , , , |
| PR 3 Vereda do BurroCâmara Municipal do Funchal: no IFCN booking or fee | Pico do Areeiro – Ribeira das Cales | 6.7 km | 2:40 hours · Easy | Open | , , |
| PR 3.1 Caminho Real do MonteCâmara Municipal do Funchal: no IFCN booking or fee | Ribeira das Cales – Monte | 5.5 km | 2 hours · Moderate | Open | , , |
| PR 4 Levada do BarreiroCâmara Municipal do Funchal: no IFCN booking or fee | Poço da Neve – Casa do Barreiro | 6.7 km | 2:10 hours · Easy | Partly openrerouted: walkable Poço da Neve – Levada do Barreiro – Ribeira das Cales, signed both ways; Casa do Barreiro end not in the current version | – |
| PR 5 Vereda das Funduras | Portela – Maroços | 8.7 km | 3 hours · Moderate | Open | |
| PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes | Rabaçal – 25 Fontes | 4.3 km (+ 4.3 km back) | 3 hours · Moderate | Open | |
| PR 6.1 Levada do Risco | Rabaçal – Risco | 3 km (+ 3 km back) | 2 hours · Easy | Open | |
| PR 6.2 Levada do Alecrim | Rabaçal – Ribeira do Lajeado | 3.5 km (+ 3.5 km back) | 2:30 hours · Easy | Open | – |
| PR 6.3 Vereda da Lagoa do Vento | Casa do Rabaçal – Lagoa do Vento | 1.8 km (+ 1.8 km back) | 1:30 hours · Easy | Open | – |
| PR 6.4 Levada Velha do Rabaçal | Pico Gordo – Rabaçal | 5 Km | 2 hours | Open | – |
| PR 6.5 Vereda do Pico Fernandes | Paul da Serra – 25 Fontes | 3.8 km | 1h30 | Open | – |
| PR 6.6 Vereda do Túnel do Cavalo | Zona de lazer da Caldeira – Casa do Rabaçal | 2.3 km | 45 minutes | Open | – |
| PR 6.7 Vereda da Câmara de Carga do Rabaçal | Rabaçal – Túnel do Cavalo | 1.8 km | – | Open | – |
| PR 6.8 Levada do Paul II – Um Caminho para todos | Rabaçal – Estrada do Rochão | 1.2 km | 30 minutes | Open | – |
| PR 7 Levada do Moinho | Ribeira da Cruz – Lamaceiros | 10.5 km | 3:30 hours · Moderate | Closed | – |
| PR 8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço | Baía d'Abra – Cais do Sardinha | 4 km (+ 4 km back) | 2:30 hours · Moderate | Open | |
| PR 9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde | Queimadas – Caldeirão Verde – Caldeirão do Inferno | 8.7 km (+ 8.7 km back) | 6:30 hours · Moderate | Open | |
| PR 9.1 Levada do Caldeirão Verde – Um Caminho para todos | Queimadas – Pico das Pedras | 1.9 km | 45 minutes | Open | – |
| PR 10 Levada do Furado | Ribeiro Frio – Portela | 11 km | 5 hours · Moderate | Open | , |
| PR 11 Vereda dos Balcões | Ribeiro Frio – Balcões | 1.5 km (+ 1.5 km back) | 1:30 hours · Easy | Open | – |
| PR 12 Caminho Real da Encumeada | Boca da Corrida – Encumeada | 12.5 km | 5 hours · Moderate | Partly openonly Boca da Corrida to km 3.5 | – |
| PR 13 Vereda do Fanal | Assobiadores – Encumeada | 10.8 km | 4 hours · Moderate | Open | |
| PR 13.1 Vereda da Palha Carga | Louro da Gota – 25 Fontes | 1.8 km | 45 minutes | Open | – |
| PR 14 Levada dos Cedros | Fanal – Curral Falso | 7.2 km | 3 hours · Moderate | Open | |
| PR 15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela | Curral Falso – Ribeira da Janela | 2.7 km | 1:30 hours · Moderate | Open | |
| PR 16 Levada Fajã do Rodrigues | Fajã da Ama – Ribeira do Inferno | 3.9 km (+ 3.9 km back) | 3:30 hours · Moderate | Open | – |
| PR 17 Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal | Lombo do Mouro – Caramujo – Folhadal – Encumeada | 15 km | 6:30 hours · Difficult | Partly openonly Encumeada – Folhadal – Caramujo – Bica da Cana is passable | – |
| PR 18 Levada do Rei | Quebradas – Ribeiro Bonito | 5.3 km (+ 5.3 km back) | 3:30 hours · Moderate | Open | |
| PR 19 Caminho Real do Paul do Mar | Prazeres – Paul do Mar | 1.8 km | 1:20 hours · Moderate | Open | – |
| PR 20 Vereda do Jardim do Mar | Prazeres – Jardim do Mar | 1.9 km | 1:30 hours · Easy | Closed | – |
| PR 21 Caminho do Norte | Encumeada – Ribeira Grande | 3.2 km | 1:30 hours · Moderate | Open | – |
| PR 22 Vereda do Chão dos Louros | 1.9 km | 45 minutes · Easy | Open | – | |
| PR 23 Levada da AzenhaJunta de Freguesia do Caniço: no IFCN booking or fee | Azenha – Caminho Velho do Castelo | 1.3 km | 20 min | Open | – |
| PR 27 Glaciar de Planalto | Bica da Cana – ER 105 | 4.6 km | 1:30 hours | Closed | – |
| PR 28 Levada da Rocha Vermelha | Fanal – Lombo da Atouguia | 10.7 km | 4 hours | Closed | – |
Where to stay
Choose one base
Book one bed and leave your luggage there. Buses reach many of the routes' starts and ends; the rest are a taxi ride.
Machico
Next to the airport, and on line 113 (new number 702) to Caniçal and Baía d'Abra for PR8 São Lourenço.
SIGA: bus timetablesSantana
On the north coast, near Achada do Teixeira, Queimadas (Caldeirão Verde) and Ilha, with Santana network buses to Ribeiro Frio and Funchal. The mountain starts are a short taxi ride.
SIGA: bus timetablesBefore you go
Book, pay and follow the rules
Madeira's classified walks are booked, paid and sometimes one-way. Closed walks must not be entered.
Book each IFCN walk, even when it is free
Walks managed by IFCN need a booking on SIMplifica, in an entry slot (30-minute slots; about 15 minutes' tolerance), for visitors, residents and children alike. Same-day booking works if slots remain. PR 3, PR 3.1 and PR 4 (Funchal council) and PR 23 (Caniço parish) are outside IFCN's booking and fees.
SIMplifica: walk bookingFees since 1 January 2026
€4.50 per walk for visitors over 12. Two or more walks cost at most €9 a day, €22.50 for three days or €52.50 for seven days, excluding PR1 (€4.50 to Pedra Rija or €10.50 in full). The caps are prices, not passes: each walk still needs its own slot. Refunds only when IFCN closes or restricts the walk that day.
IFCN: fees and bookingsOne-way sections and closures
PR1 is one way from Pedra Rija to Pico Ruivo, and PR6 is a one-way loop. Closed walks and sections must not be entered: IFCN fines range from €250 to €2,500 for individuals. Weather warnings do not close every walk automatically; IFCN decides case by case and has closed all walks at once in strong winds.
IFCN: notices to walkersCrossing the island
All of Madeira's recommended walks are PR day walks, and IFCN does not validate long crossings. IFCN says an east–west crossing between the central peaks and the Paul da Serra is not possible on classified walks at the moment. South to north works in a day: PR 2 on its own, or Pico do Areeiro over Pico Ruivo to Ilha. The MIUT race route is a race, not a walking route.
IFCN: questions and answersClosures and notices last checked 19 September 2026: IFCN: notices to walkers · IFCN: status of the walks. Check them again before you set out.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (sea level) and high point (1,848 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on these walks: at the lowest point (sea level) and the highest point (1,848 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed |
| Walks rated good on typical weather | 1/11 | 1/11 | 2/11 | 7/11 | 11/11 | 11/11 | 10/11 | 10/11 | 10/11 | 0/11 | 1/11 | 1/11 |
| High point, day / night | 7°/2° | 7°/2° | 8°/2° | 8°/2° | 10°/4° | 13°/6° | 17°/10° | 17°/10° | 15°/8° | 12°/6° | 9°/4° | 7°/2° |
| Low point, day / night | 20°/15° | 20°/14° | 21°/15° | 21°/15° | 22°/17° | 24°/19° | 26°/20° | 27°/21° | 27°/21° | 26°/20° | 23°/17° | 21°/16° |
| Rain, mm | 437 | 372 | 302 | 211 | 117 | 70 | 13 | 34 | 170 | 307 | 449 | 447 |
| Snow at high point | Frost | Frost | – | Frost | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Daylight | 10 h 13 | 11 h | 11 h 55 | 12 h 57 | 13 h 49 | 14 h 18 | 14 h 07 | 13 h 24 | 12 h 25 | 11 h 25 | 10 h 30 | 10 h 01 |
Source: weather-station normals, not the climate grid. Averages, not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. Values come from the island's height profile between the Funchal (58 m, 1991–2020) and Pico do Areeiro (1,610 m, 1961–1990) weather stations, interpolated by height, because the grid runs warm and dry here. Northern slopes are wetter than this profile shows. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Getting there
Arrive by air, walk by bus or taxi
Madeira airport (FNC)
The Aerobus (line 500) links the airport with Funchal in about 50 minutes; some line 113 (702) trips run via the airport to Machico.
SIGA: AerobusIsland buses, then taxis
The bus network changed operators in 2024 and lines are being renumbered. Buses reach many starts and ends: Pico do Areeiro (Horários do Funchal's own service, €3 on board), Monte, Curral das Freiras, Ribeiro Frio, Portela, Ilha, Baía d'Abra, Ribeira da Janela and Encumeada. Achada do Teixeira, Queimadas, Rabaçal and the Paul da Serra need a taxi or a car.
SIGA: timetablesTake your routes with you
Offline maps
Download each day's GPX, or open it in the Planner and prepare it offline while you still have a connection.
Keep your route and maps on your phone for places without a signal. For multi-day trips, prepare them in the installed TrailSplits app.
- Open this trail in the app. Install TrailSplits, then open this trail there. On iPhone, downloads in a browser may not be available in the installed app.
- Choose and check each section. Use the map above and the official walking guide to check your route and connections. Confirm your section review, then choose Prepare offline. Wait for the route and maps to finish downloading.
- Try it before leaving coverage. Switch offline, close and reopen the app, then use My Hikes to start navigation. Repeat for every part you will need.
Saving a bookmark is not a map download. Storage can be cleared by your device; keep a backup map for remote trips.
Route & sources
About these maps
Each day route follows the OpenStreetMap relations of its classified walks, from the start and end points on IFCN's information panels, joined where the walks meet. On the mountain walks the mapped lengths come out shorter than IFCN's official figures (PR 1 5.3 against 6.1 km, PR 1.1 7.0 against 8.2 km, PR 3.1 4.0 against 5.5 km, PR 8 3.1 against 4 km), so each route shows both. Heights come from TrailSplits' elevation model. The walk pages keep each walk's own map.
Official facts read on 18 September 2026; bus times from the SIGA timetables and the Horários do Funchal data, compiled 18 September 2026. Map data is a route reference, not confirmation of today's path, weather or opening.
IFCN: status of the classified walks
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.