How many kilometres is the Madeira Crossing?
Our route, reconstructed from the trails mapped in OpenStreetMap, is about 90 km long from Poço do Gil (Caniçal tunnel) to Ribeira da Janela, with about 4,900 m of ascent. The reference track of the Grande Rota is 88.5 km; the project presented in 2022 announced 93 km. See the stages.
Is Madeira's “GR1” an official trail?
Not yet. The Grande Rota is an official IFCN project, with works carried out in 2024–2025, but as of 9 November 2026 no legal act classifies any “GR”: the official list only includes short trails (PR). The crossing links official PR trails. The full story.
How many days does the Madeira Crossing take?
Allow 6 days sleeping in the IFCN camping zones, with stages of 10 to 25 km. Fast walkers do it in 4 or 5 days; you can also split it into two 3-day halves, either side of Pico Ruivo. See our itineraries.
Which direction should you walk the crossing?
East to west. The PR1, between Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo, is one-way towards Pico Ruivo after the Miradouro da Pedra Rija: that is what sets the direction. So you start from Poço do Gil, near the Caniçal tunnel, and finish at Ribeira da Janela.
Is the crossing open at the moment?
Not entirely. As of 9 November 2026, two sections are closed: the PR10 Levada do Furado (stage 1) and the PR1.3 between Boca das Torrinhas and Encumeada (stage 3). There is no official detour. Check the trail status before you set off.
Do you have to pay to hike in Madeira?
Yes, since 1 January 2026, for non-residents over 12: €4.50 per PR trail, €10.50 for the full PR1, or €9 per day for two or more PR trails (excluding the PR1). Booking is by 30-minute time slot on the SIMplifica portal. How it works.
Where do you sleep on the crossing?
Mostly in a tent, in the camping zones designated by the IFCN (€5 per tent per night, camping permit on SIMplifica): Chão das Feiteiras, Pico Ruivo, Chão dos Louros, Fontes Ruivas, Fanal… A few stages offer a bed: Achada do Teixeira (near Pico Ruivo), Encumeada, and Porto Moniz at the finish; a municipal campsite also awaits hikers in Ribeira da Janela. See the campsites and all accommodation.
Is wild camping allowed in Madeira?
No. You may only camp in the designated zones, with an IFCN camping permit. Wild camping in forests and natural areas is prohibited and policed by the forest police.
Are there mountain huts on the crossing?
Very few. The Pico Ruivo hut (Casa de Abrigo) sells drinks and snacks during the day. For a long time it offered a few beds, but its official website now only mentions the bar and the shop: call before counting on sleeping there. There is no network of staffed huts like in the Alps or Corsica.
When is the best time to go?
No official source sets it. Hikers often recommend late spring (late April to June) and September–October. At altitude, the climate stays cool, damp and windy all year round: 2,500 mm of rain fell on Pico do Areeiro in 2025. Climate and seasons.
Is the crossing difficult?
Yes. It requires strong legs (nearly 5,000 m of ascent), a head for heights (Larano cliff path, PR1 ridge, levadas along sheer drops) and a head torch for the tunnels. The ground is often wet and slippery.
What is the highest point of the crossing?
The route passes Pico do Areeiro (1,818 m) and the Pico Ruivo hut (about 1,790 m), a few minutes from the summit of Pico Ruivo (1,862 m), Madeira's highest point.
How do you get to the start and back from the finish?
Bus route 702 (Funchal – Caniçal) passes near the start. At the finish, Rodoeste buses 340/341 and 250 serve Ribeira da Janela and Porto Moniz only a few times a day. Access points in the mountains are reached by taxi. All transport options.
What are the emergency numbers?
112, and Madeira's Civil Protection service on +351 291 700 112. The Prociv Madeira app broadcasts weather and fire alerts.
Do you need a GPX track?
It is strongly recommended: fog is frequent on the Paul da Serra, and some links between PR trails are recent and poorly signposted. Our GPX track is free, with elevation data.