Madeira Hiking Trails: The Complete Ranked List
Every named PR (Pequena Rota) hiking trail in Madeira, ranked. Includes the PR1 ridge, São Lourenço, the laurisilva levadas and the high-mountain veredas — with difficulty, length, elevation and live closure status.
Selection: All official named hiking trails on Madeira and Porto Santo — veredas (mountain trails), levadas (irrigation-channel walks) and coastal paths in the PR network.
Madeira has more than 40 named hiking trails, most carrying a PR (Pequena Rota) number maintained by IFCN. The headline routes are the PR1 ridge from Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo (the island's signature high-mountain walk, 7 km one-way, exposed), the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço (8 km return across the volcanic east cape) and the Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR 9, a flat 13 km into a green amphitheatre). For shorter outings: Levada das 25 Fontes (PR 6), Vereda do Fanal (PR 14) through the laurel forest, and Levada dos Balcões (1.5 km, panoramic).
Trails split into three families. Veredas are mountain footpaths — steeper, exposed, often above the cloud line. Levadas follow irrigation channels at a constant contour — flat, sometimes vertiginous, often with unlit tunnels. Coastal paths (São Lourenço, Larano) cross open cliff terrain. All three are on this list, ranked by what's actually worth doing rather than what's easiest to reach.
Each entry below has live trail-closure status from the IFCN feed, a free GPX download, and the practical detail — parking, transit, where to refuel — that the official trail signs leave out.
The list (30)
1.Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo
TrailsMadeira's most iconic ridge hike, connecting the island's second and highest peaks across exposed ridges, stairs and tunnels.
7 km590 m gain~4 hhard2.Levada do Caldeirão Verde
TrailsLaurel-forest levada from Queimadas to a waterfall amphitheatre. Flat, tunnels — bring a headlamp.
13 km150 m gain~5 hmoderate3.Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
TrailsThe arid eastern peninsula. Volcanic colours, dramatic sea cliffs, almost no shade. A complete contrast to the green interior.
8 km320 m gain~3 hmoderate4.Levada das 25 Fontes
TrailsWalk through Rabaçal's laurisilva to a lagoon fed by 25 springs. One of the most popular routes — go early.
11 km250 m gain~4 hmoderate5.Vereda do Fanal
TrailsShort walk through the otherworldly Fanal laurel forest — best in fog. Often photographed for its ancient til trees.
10.8 km200 m gain~4 heasy6.Vereda do Larano
TrailsCoastal cliff walk from Porto da Cruz toward Larano with sweeping Atlantic views, narrow ledges and a long tunnel near the end.
11 km350 m gain~4 hmoderate7.Levada do Rei
TrailsQuiet laurel-forest walk from São Jorge to the spring of Ribeiro Bonito. Less crowded than 25 Fontes and equally green.
10.4 km200 m gain~4 hmoderate8.Pico Grande
TrailsSteep ridge ascent to one of Madeira's most striking peaks, with 360° views over Curral das Freiras.
13 km900 m gain~6 hhard9.Levada da Ribeira da Janela
TrailsLong, wild levada through dense laurisilva on the north-west plateau. Multiple tunnels — headlamp required.
17 km300 m gain~6 hhard10.Vereda do Pico Ruivo (Achada do Teixeira)
TrailsShortest route to Madeira's highest summit (1862 m) starting from Achada do Teixeira — paved path, accessible to most fit walkers.
5.6 km290 m gain~3 heasy11.Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova
TrailsTwo-levada loop above Ponta do Sol linking Levada Nova and Levada do Moinho — banana terraces, two waterfalls you can walk under, and a short head-torch tunnel. Mostly flat concrete edge-path with steep drops; easy underfoot but exposed.
11.5 km loop320 m gain~4 hmoderate12.Ponta de São Lourenço Extended
TrailsExtended version of PR8 including the descent to Casa do Sardinha — extra 2 km of dramatic cliff exposure.
11 km450 m gain~4 hmoderate13.Caminho das Cascatas da Levada Nova
TrailsShort waterfall walk above Ponta do Sol following the Levada Nova past several cascades — including the iconic shower-through-the-waterfall section.
6.9 km loop250 m gain~2.5 heasy14.Levada do Furado
TrailsClassic point-to-point levada from Ribeiro Frio to Portela through dense laurisilva — one of Madeira's most popular all-day walks.
11 km300 m gain~4 hmoderate15.Levada do Caldeirão do Inferno
TrailsExtension of Caldeirão Verde reaching a wilder, deeper amphitheatre — long, exposed sections, several tunnels.
18 km300 m gain~7 hhard16.Levada do Risco
TrailsShort, easy walk from Rabaçal to the Risco waterfall through laurel forest. Often combined with PR6 25 Fontes.
3 km80 m gain~1.5 heasy17.Vereda dos Balcões
TrailsShort, mostly flat levada walk from Ribeiro Frio to the Balcões viewpoint — panoramic balcony over the central massif.
3 km50 m gain~1.5 heasy18.Vereda das Funduras
TrailsForest loop above Machico through the Funduras protected area — quiet, easy and rarely busy.
9.4 km loop350 m gain~3.5 hmoderate19.Levada do Barreiro
TrailsQuiet high-altitude levada walk on the southern slopes of the central massif, with views over Funchal.
12 km200 m gain~4 hmoderate20.Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal
TrailsWild north-facing levada from Encumeada through tunnels to a hidden laurel forest — one of the lushest walks on the island.
11 km250 m gain~4 hmoderate21.Caminho Real da Encumeada
TrailsHistoric royal road across the central mountain pass linking Boca da Corrida to Encumeada, with views into Curral das Freiras.
13 km700 m gain~5 hhard22.Levada dos Cedros
TrailsAtmospheric levada from Fanal to Curral Falso through ancient laurel forest, often shrouded in mist.
7.2 km180 m gain~3 hmoderate23.Levada dos Cedros + Vereda do Fanal
TrailsLoop link-up combining PR14 Levada dos Cedros and PR13 Vereda do Fanal — a full circuit through the ancient Fanal laurel forest, often wrapped in mist.
10.4 km loop1043 m gain~5 hhard24.Levada Fajã do Rodrigues
TrailsShort, dramatic levada from Ginjas (São Vicente) ending at a cliff-pierced tunnel above a green ravine.
5 km loop884 m gain~3 hhard25.Levada da Serra do Faial
TrailsLong, gently sloping levada around the eastern flank of the central massif. Many entry points — good for half-day walks.
18 km200 m gain~5 hmoderate26.Vereda da Boca do Risco
TrailsCliff-edge coastal walk from Maroços above the north coast to Porto da Cruz — windy, panoramic, exposed.
6 km300 m gain~2.5 hmoderate27.Vereda do Chão da Ribeira
TrailsForested valley walk through Seixal's Chão da Ribeira — known for chestnut groves and the January 'Cozido nas Caldeiras' festival.
6.5 km250 m gain~2.5 hmoderate28.Pico das Torres
TrailsOff-trail scramble to Madeira's second-highest peak — only for experienced mountaineers; no marked path.
5 km500 m gain~4 hhard29.Vereda do Pico Castelo (Porto Santo)
TrailsForested loop up Porto Santo's iconic conical hill — easy, family-friendly, with island-wide views.
4 km loop200 m gain~1.5 heasy30.Vereda da Encumeada
TrailsLong, demanding traverse from Encumeada to Pico Ruivo — exposed ridges, no shelter, requires good weather.
11.4 km1050 m gain~6 hhard
Practical notes
- Check the IFCN trail-status list the day before — closures after rockfalls are weekly events.
- Headlamp + spare batteries for any levada walk — at least a dozen routes have tunnels of 200 m or more.
- PR1 (Areeiro–Ruivo) is exposed and not for vertigo sufferers; the alternative PR1.2 from Achada do Teixeira is gentler.
- Start before 09:00 in summer — Rabaçal (25 Fontes / Risco) and Pico do Areeiro car parks both fill by mid-morning.
- Sea-level temperatures and mountain temperatures can differ by 15 °C; pack a windproof layer even in July.
Frequently asked
- What is the most famous hiking trail in Madeira?
- The PR1 ridge from Pico do Areeiro (1,818 m) to Pico Ruivo (1,862 m) — 7 km one-way across the island's volcanic spine, with tunnels and exposed sections. It's the signature Madeira hike and the one most often pictured.
- How many hiking trails does Madeira have?
- More than 40 official PR (Pequena Rota) trails are maintained by IFCN across Madeira and Porto Santo, plus dozens of unofficial routes. This page ranks the named PR network.
- Do I need a guide to hike in Madeira?
- No for the marked PR trails — signposting is good and the network is well documented. A guide is worth it for the harder ridge routes (PR1, PR1.2, Pico Grande) when weather is uncertain, or for off-trail laurisilva exploration.
- When is the best time to hike in Madeira?
- April–June and September–October. Temperatures are mild, the laurisilva is green, and the high ridge is more often clear of cloud than in winter. Summer hikes need an early start; winter is fine at low altitude but the high peaks can be snow-dusted.
- Are Madeira hiking trails free?
- Yes — all PR trails are free to walk. Achada do Teixeira charges a small parking fee; everywhere else parking is free. The only paid hikes are guided tours.