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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.

● Partially closed« entre a Boca das Torrinhas e a Encumeada, manter-se-á encerrado » — IFCN

The westward crossing of the central range: 11.2 km from the Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo (1,764 m) to Encumeada (1,009 m), moderate, 5 h. Two Natura 2000 ecosystems follow one another: the Maciço Montanhoso with its volcanic escarpments, then the ancient Laurissilva. The path passes several caves cut into the rock, such as Furna da Lapa da Cadela, which once sheltered the men who climbed here to cut heather — Erica platycodon subsp. maderincola and tree heath — for firewood, charcoal and hurdles. At Boca das Torrinhas it meets PR 2 (Vereda do Urzal) towards Curral das Freiras or Boaventura. In 2026 only the Pico Ruivo – Boca das Torrinhas section is open: the rest, down to Encumeada, remains closed with no reopening date announced, and the regional forestry institute's states that no east–west crossing of the island is currently possible on classified trails; from Boca das Torrinhas you therefore continue on PR 2. At Encumeada the trail links up with PR 17 and PR 21. Official length: 11.2 km; the route's trace measures 10.0 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

  • Central ridge
  • Boca das Torrinhas
  • Heather-cutters' caves
  • Laurissilva
  • Final section closed
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
11.2 km
Elevation gain
755 m
Duration
5 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.

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  • 🌿 Nature

    Parque Florestal do Chão dos Louros

    In the heart of the Laurissilva, a World Heritage site since December 1999, on the ER 104 that drops from Encumeada to São Vicente: laurels often bearing the "madre-de-louro" caused by a fungus, tils, rarer vinháticos, folhados, sanguinhos, faias-das-ilhas, heaths and uveiras whose berries go into jams; the endemic firecrest, chaffinch and trocaz pigeon. Tables and benches, fountains, fireplaces and lawns make it one of the forest leisure spots most sought after by Madeirans; the PR 22 Vereda do Chão dos Louros loop (1.9 km) goes round it, with a lookout over the São Vicente valley and a link to PR 21. Free parking, 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 da Encumeada

    The pass that separates — and links — the island's two sides: at 1,007 m on the crest of the central range, Boca da Encumeada shows at once the Ribeira Brava valley to the south and the São Vicente valley to the north, both carpeted with forest, and the peaks that often rise out of a sea of clouds. It is a junction of classified trails: PR 1.3 to Pico Ruivo (final section closed in 2026), PR 17 to Folhadal, PR 21 to Ribeira Grande, PR 22 at Chão dos Louros. Serra d'Água, below, completes the visit. By the ER 228; no fee shown.

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