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Stage 6 of 6 · Western section

Stage 6: Fanal → Ribeira da Janela

The Levada dos Cedros through primeval forest, then a 1,200 m descent to the ocean at Ribeira da Janela.

10.4 km 6.5 mi110 m 361 ft ascent1,210 m 3,970 ft descent3h30 – 4hFanal 1,135 m 3,724 ftMoyenne
Madeira Crossing stage 6: Fanal – Ribeira da Janela
Photo: Rudolphu · CC BY-SA 4.0

Elevation profile

0 m250 m500 m750 m1,000 m1,250 m0 km2 km4 km6 km8 km10 kmFanal 1,135 m
Elevation profile: from 34 m to 1,136 m over 10.4 km.
WaypointAltitudeKm
Fanal1,135 m0 km
Curral Falso800 m5.9 km
Ribeira da Janela300 m8.8 km
Bord de mer26 m10.4 km

The route

A recent IFCN link path connects Fanal to the Levada dos Cedros (PR14), which winds through an almost untouched laurel forest above the Ribeira da Janela valley. It is the wildest and most peaceful part of the crossing.

At Curral Falso, the Vereda da Ribeira da Janela (PR15) plunges towards the village of Ribeira da Janela, then down to the sea, at the foot of the islets that gave the valley its name (the “window”, an islet with a hole through it). In total, the stage descends more than 1,100 m.

The Porto Moniz municipal campground, reopened in August 2026, is a stone's throw from the finish, at Ribeira da Janela; Porto Moniz, with its hotels and natural pools, is about 3 km away. To get back to Funchal, Rodoeste buses (routes 340/341 via São Vicente, 250 to São Vicente) serve Ribeira da Janela and Porto Moniz only a few times a day: check the schedules in advance or plan on a taxi.

Practical tips

  • Sensitive knees: poles recommended for the final descent of the PR15, which is steep and sometimes slippery.
  • Book the PR14 and PR15 on SIMplifica (€9 day rate for two or more PR trails).
  • Few buses to Funchal late in the day: book a taxi if you are catching an evening flight the same day.

Water points and tricky sections

4 water points listed on this stage. Springs can run dry in late summer: ask in the cafés along the route and treat the water if in doubt.

KmPointTypeAltitude
7.6 kmFontaineWater point572 m
8.3 kmRobinetWater point388 m
9.3 kmFontaineWater point201 m
10.2 kmRobinetWater point67 m

Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL), points less than 150 m from the trail. Fountains and springs are not tested: treat or filter the water.

Stage map

Where to stay on stage 6?

Accommodation along the stage, at the finish or on its variants, in walking order.

Seixal 4 places to stay

Innto be confirmed

Brisa Mar

Seixal, Sítio do Cais, Rua João Fernandes Correia 39 (near the harbor)

Small 2-star establishment with 12 rooms near Seixal harbor (called “Estalagem” or “Residencial” Brisa Mar depending…

  • 24 beds
B&Boff route

Casa das Videiras

Seixal, Sítio da Serra d'Água, Caminho Delfina F. Correia 6 (near the harbor)

Rural tourism house with 4 rooms in the village of Seixal, a stone's throw from the black sand beach and the small…

  • 8 beds
Gîteoff route

Madeira.Life

Seixal, Caminho do Farrobo (village center)

Small private youth hostel in the center of Seixal, with dorms and private rooms, a short walk from the beach and the…

    Innoff route

    Solmar (Residencial Solmar)

    Seixal, Sítio do Lombinho (village center)

    Restaurant with rooms (6 rooms) in the center of Seixal, a few hundred meters from the harbor beach. A simple…

    • 9 beds

    Fanal 3 places to stay

    Zona de acampamento do Fanal
    Campground

    1,135 m

    ©

    Zona de acampamento do Fanal

    Fanal, forest of centuries-old til trees (ER209 tarmac road) · Madeira Crossing km 79.5

    Clearing in the Fanal forest of centuries-old til trees, on the route, just before the descent via the PR14. It is the…

    • IFCN camping permit: €5 per tent…
    Campgroundoff route

    1,225 m

    Zona de acampamento da Fonte do Bispo

    Fonte do Bispo, high plateau above Fajã da Ovelha (access on foot)

    Equipped zone (water, WC, fire pit) about 3 km as the crow flies west of the route, above Fajã da Ovelha. Off the…

    • IFCN camping permit: €5 per tent…
    Campgroundoff route

    1,235 m

    Zona de acampamento das Cruzinhas

    Cruzinhas, high plateau above Fajã da Ovelha (dirt track)

    Zone next to Fonte do Bispo, about 3.5 km as the crow flies west of the route. Water, fire pit and parking lot…

    • IFCN camping permit: €5 per tent…

    Porto Moniz 7 places to stay

    Campgroundoff route

    655 m

    Zona de acampamento do Porto Moniz (zone forestière IFCN)

    Forest area above Porto Moniz, at about 655 m (tarmac road)

    IFCN forest camping zone above Porto Moniz town, about 3.3 km as the crow flies from the finish at Ribeira da Janela…

    • IFCN camping permit: €5 per tent…
    B&Boff route

    Casa do Ribeirinho

    Sítio do Ribeirinho, on the heights south-west of Porto Moniz town

    Century-old rural house up in the hills above Porto Moniz, surrounded by gardens and an orchard. It has 8 rooms and a…

      Gîteoff route

      Centro de Juventude do Porto Moniz

      Porto Moniz (town), Vereda da Cadeia, above the natural pools

      Public youth center (5 rooms, 22 beds according to the municipality) in Porto Moniz town, a few minutes' walk from the…

      • 22 beds
      • Dorm bed: €15 (under 30) or €23…
      Hoteloff route

      Aqua Natura Bay

      Porto Moniz (town), Rua do Forte de São João Baptista 7, seafront

      4-star hotel (formerly the Hotel Moniz Sol) with 45 sea-view rooms on the Porto Moniz seafront. Its wellness area…

        Hoteloff route

        Aqua Natura Madeira

        Porto Moniz (town), Rotunda da Piscina 3, just above the natural pools

        4-star hotel with 25 rooms, all with sea views, perched just above the famous natural pools and 500 m from the Aquário…

        • 47 beds
        Hoteloff route

        Hotel Euro Moniz

        Porto Moniz (town), Rua das Alfarrobeiras 4, about 200 m from the natural pools

        3-star hotel about 200 m from the natural pools, which presents itself as a base for hikers (levadas, PR13 Vereda do…

        • 66 beds
        Hoteloff route

        Hotel Salgueiro

        Porto Moniz (town), Rua do Lugar 34, opposite the natural pools

        Simple, central hotel opposite the Porto Moniz natural pools, with a sea-view restaurant and breakfast included. A…

        • 44 beds

        Ribeira da Janela 3 places to stay

        B&Boff route

        Caminho Real Room

        Ribeira da Janela (village), near the western end of the crossing · Madeira Crossing km 88.8

        Room in a private home, registered as Alojamento Local, in the village of Ribeira da Janela. The listing puts the…

          B&Boff route

          Casa da Zita

          Ribeira da Janela, beside the Estrada Regional 209 · Madeira Crossing km 88.8

          Small rental house (2 bedrooms, 3 people) in a quiet, isolated corner of Ribeira da Janela, about 15 minutes' walk…

          • 3 beds
          Campground

          20 m

          Parque de Campismo do Porto Moniz

          Ribeira da Janela, at the mouth of the valley near the old ER101, between the village and Porto Moniz · Madeira Crossing km 89.8

          Madeira's only proper campground, run by the municipality, at the bottom of the Ribeira da Janela valley, very close…

          • Official rate not found; about…