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Best Mountain Hikes in Madeira

There are 9 hikes in Madeira in our database that fit. They average 3.1 km and 68 m (223 ft) of ascent.

That is 12 percent of the 78 routes we map in Madeira. They are shorter than the local average, 3.1 km against 8.0 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 68 m (223 ft) against 175 m (574 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Mountain routes trade effort for scale. Expect sustained climbing, quick weather changes and views that make the numbers worth it. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area.

Trails

Easy

PR 1.2 - Vereda do Pico Ruivo

Madeira · Portugal

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
60 m
Typical duration
40 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
PR 2 - Vereda do Pico do Castelo (East)Madeira3.9 km86 m56 minEasyOctober to May
PR 2 - Vereda do Pico do Castelo (West)Madeira2.6 km57 m37 minEasyOctober to May
PR 3 - Levada do Pico do CasteloMadeira4.4 km96 m1 hr 3 minEasyOctober to May
PR 1.2 - Vereda do Pico RuivoMadeira2.7 km60 m40 minEasyOctober to May
PR 6.5 - Vereda do Pico FernandesMadeira3.3 km73 m48 minEasyOctober to May
PR1 - Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra ChãMadeira2.7 km59 m39 minEasyOctober to May
PR 3.1 - Caminho Real do MonteMadeira4.0 km88 m58 minEasyOctober to May
Estanquinhos - Pico Ruivo do PaulMadeira2.0 km45 m29 minEasyOctober to May
Levada do Poiso - Levada do Pico FurãoMadeira2.1 km46 m30 minEasyOctober to May

If you only have time for one, start with PR 2 - Vereda do Pico do Castelo (West), PR 3 - Levada do Pico do Castelo, PR 2 - Vereda do Pico do Castelo (East). Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

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