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📡 Today's status

The IFCN's official status, read every day. Green only when the IFCN writes « aberto » with no reserve.

● Open · ABERTO

The long descent from Pico Ruivo to the north coast: 8.2 km from the Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo (1,764 m at the trailhead) down to the village of Ilha at 490 m, in the municipality of Santana, in about 3 h, moderate — close to 1,300 m of descent to be taken calmly, with knees and poles in mind. It is one of the two official exits of the one-way PR 1 crossing (the regional forestry institute's provides no transport back to Pico do Areeiro). You cross two Natura 2000 ecosystems: first the Maciço Montanhoso with its herbaceous and shrubby vegetation adapted to wide temperature swings, rain and strong winds, found from the summits down to 1,200 m; then the Laurissilva, the cloud forest between 400 and 1,200 m, where fog condenses on the leaves and feeds springs and streams — the very mechanism that keeps the levadas alive. Frequent birds: the Madeira firecrest and the chaffinch. Official altitudes 490 – 1,764 m. Official length: 8.2 km; the route's trace measures 7.0 km on the map. Access 2026: €4.50 per visitor over 12 (booking exclusively on SIMplifica), or included in the €10.50 "full PR 1" ticket; free for residents and children up to 12, registration compulsory even when exempt; 1/3/7-day passes available for two or more trails, PR 1 excluded. Closures are official — check the status of the day before you set out; refunds only for an official closure (10 working days). Safety advice: never walk alone, tell someone your plan, finish before dark, carry spare water and food, and give up in heavy rain, wind or hail.

Highlights

  • 1,274 m descent
  • Exit route of PR 1
  • Laurissilva
  • Madeira firecrest
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
8.2 km
Elevation gain
1274 m
Duration
3 h
Price
€4.50 alone, or included in the full PR 1 ticket (€10.50) · free for residents and under-13s
Municipality
Santana
🎟️ Book on SIMplifica🗺️ See the route on the map📍 Start🏁 End

Track for guidance only.

Places within 2 km of the route

  • 🌿 Nature

    Maciço Montanhoso Central

    The whole central range above 1,400 m, about 8,200 hectares classified a Natural Monument. Two blocks make it up: to the east the island's highest peaks, Pico Ruivo (1,862 m) and Pico do Areeiro (1,818 m); to the west the high points of Paul da Serra, Pico Ruivo do Paul (1,640 m) and Bica da Cana (1,620 m). The ragged relief comes from the differential erosion of water on pyroclastic rock. It is also a geological and high-altitude vegetation reserve, and the only known nesting place of Zino's petrel.

    🗺️ See it on the map
  • 🌿 Nature

    Parque Florestal das Queimadas

    Above Santana, one of the island's most visited forest parks, by visitors and residents alike, for its scenery and biodiversity: tils, pau-branco, centuries-old heaths, folhados and uveiras of the Laurissilva, mixed with Madeira cedars, cryptomerias and copper beeches; the endemic chaffinch, firecrest and trocaz pigeon, grey wagtail and buzzard. The Casa de Abrigo das Queimadas, with the thatched roof of Santana's houses, has become the "Casa das Tradições Madeirenses". Start of PR 9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde and of the accessible PR 9.1 to Pico das Pedras; picnic area, restaurant-café, shop, bird hide, paid parking and toilets.

    Park free · paid parking (€2/h) · paid toilets
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  • 🔭 Viewpoint

    Miradouro do Pico Ruivo

    The highest point of the archipelago, 1,862 m, Portugal's third-highest summit, and the island's widest panorama: the Curral das Freiras valley and Câmara de Lobos, the villages of Santana, the Ribeira Grande and Ribeira de São Jorge valleys, Ponta de São Lourenço, Paul da Serra and, with good visibility, Porto Santo and the Desertas. It is reached only on foot, by PR 1 from Pico do Areeiro (one-way from Pedra Rija, €10.50 ticket) or by PR 1.2 from Achada do Teixeira (2.8 km, €4.50) — SIMplifica booking compulsory in both cases. High-altitude heath and monumental rock formations that often pierce the cloud layer; it is also the nesting ground of Zino's petrel. The lookout itself has no fee.

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  • 🔭 Viewpoint

    Miradouro das Empenas

    On the road climbing to Achada do Teixeira, just past Picarouto, at the forks of the Santana mountains. The view runs along much of the east coast, from the parish of São Jorge to Ponta de São Lourenço, the island's eastern tip; on clear days Porto Santo shows up to the north-east. The access road is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

    🗺️ See it on the map