Caminho Real da Encumeada (PR 12)
Caminho Real da Encumeada follows an old royal footpath across part of Madeira's central mountains. The full route is 12.5 km from Boca da Corrida to Encumeada. Entry costs €4.50 per person with an online booking.
- Status
- Partly openPartly open: walkable from Boca da Corrida to km 3.5. IFCN table dated 2 October 2026 · checked by islandmadeira.com 13 October 2026 at 16:54, Madeira time.Fetch the current trail status from the IFCN page; one live request per 30 minutes for the whole site, otherwise the last check is shown.
- Length
- 12.5 kmIFCN table, Boca da Corrida to Encumeada.
- Time on the board
- 5hAs printed on the panel at the start. The IFCN table lists the return separately where a route is walked both ways.
- Highest and lowest point
- 1,323 m and 830 m
- Start and finish
- Miradouro da Boca da Corrida to EncumeadaFrom the route board at the start.
- Fee
- €4.50 per person, booked onlineBooking on the SIMplifica portal, fees as of 2 June 2026. Free for children aged 12 or under, for Madeira residents with their resident card and citizen card, and for anyone with a disability of 60% or more together with one legal guardian walking with them, on proof of the disability. All of them still need a booking.
- At the start
- information board, forest post, viewpoint, toilets, leisure area, parking at Miradouro da Boca da Corrida
- Coordinates
- Start 32.7111, -16.98723
Finish 32.7534, -17.02099From the IFCN route board, decimal degrees - Weather now
- 11.0 °C at Pico do Areeiro, 1,799 mThe IPMA station we show for this route, observed 13 October 2026 at 15:00, Madeira time
Warnings come from IPMA by zone, not by trail. A yellow warning for fog, wind or thunderstorms is a reason to check the route status and the sky before you set off, and the forest service closes paths on its own schedule. Station readings.
The full route to Encumeada
The IFCN table gives 12.5 km from Boca da Corrida to Encumeada. The route board gives the same distance from Miradouro da Boca da Corrida to Encumeada. It allows 5 hours one way.
The full route passes below Madeira's highest peaks. Its highest point is 1,323 m and its lowest is 830 m. Carry water with you, as the route board asks.
Along the old royal footpath
This was once a paved route used to travel across the island. Landowners rode horses along it. Their wives travelled in hammocks carried by men.
The full route overlooks Curral das Freiras in the valley below. It goes around Pico Grande before Serra d'Água and Encumeada come into view. Check which section you can walk before setting off.
Check access before you book
Look at the live status panel on this page for access restrictions. Read the section limits as well as the status label. If you're planning to reach Encumeada, I'd check those limits before booking.
The weather reading shown here comes from Pico do Areeiro at 1,799 m. A weather warning doesn't automatically close a route. IFCN's route status decides whether you can walk.
What the board marks at each end
At Miradouro da Boca da Corrida the board marks parking and toilets. It also marks a forest post and an information board. The remaining symbols show a viewpoint and a leisure area.
At Encumeada the board marks an information board. There are symbols for a bus stop and a restaurant too. These symbols don't establish opening hours or service availability.
Booking your entry slot
Register and book online through the SIMplifica portal. You can't book or pay at IFCN offices. Choose an entry slot with space available. Allow about 15 minutes of tolerance either side of your booked time.
Most classified routes cost €4.50 per person. The full PR 1 route costs €10.50, and the open section to the Pedra Rija viewpoint and back costs €4.50. Each route needs its own booking, including routes covered by a day or longer fee. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.
What the route board asks
- Carry water.
From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Taxis Est.º C. Lobos +351 291 945 229 Taxis Ribeira Brava +351 291 952 349.
Routes next door
Vereda da Encumeada PR 1.3
partly open11.2 km, Pico Ruivo to Encumeada
Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal PR 17
open15 km, Lombo do Mouro to Caramujo to Folhadal to Encumeada
Caminho do Norte PR 21
open3.2 km, Encumeada - Ribeira Grande
Status from the IFCN table, re-read at every build and again in your browser.
Questions before you go
How long does PR 12 take?
The route board allows 5 hours one way for the full 12.5 km from Miradouro da Boca da Corrida to Encumeada. Check the live access note before using that time to plan your day.
Can I book PR 12 on the day?
Yes, while places remain. Same-day and next-day bookings are available through SIMplifica. A slot closes automatically when it fills. Register before booking and choose an available entry time. Booking and payment are online only.
Who gets free entry?
Children aged 12 or under go free. Madeira residents need their resident card and citizen card for free entry. People with a disability of 60% or more also go free with one legal guardian walking with them, on proof of the disability. Everyone still needs to register and book through SIMplifica.
Does a day fee cover PR 12?
Yes. For two or more routes the day fee is €9. The three-day fee is €22.50. Seven days cost €52.50. These fees never include PR 1. Book each route separately within the period. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.
Do I need a guide?
No. A guide isn't compulsory on PR 12. You still need an entry booking through SIMplifica. Check the live status panel before leaving for Boca da Corrida and follow the access limits for the route.
Can I get a refund if it rains?
Rain alone doesn't qualify. Rescheduling or a refund is possible only when the competent authorities or IFCN close or restrict the route on your booked date. Email IFCN within 10 working days of the booked date. A change of mind or illness means losing the fee. The same applies to a missed flight.
Sources
- IFCN, table of classified routes: status and length. IFCN table dated · checked by islandmadeira.com ; re-read every few hours.
- IFCN, route board PR 12 at the start of the route: distance, time, heights, description and cautions, read 20 September 2026.
- IFCN, fees and bookings FAQ, updated 2 June 2026, read 14 September 2026.
- The fees in law: Portaria 801/2025 and Portaria 48/2026, read 24 September 2026.
Who checked this
Roman Antonov, editor. The status comes from the forest service table, the figures from the board at the start of the route and the fee rules from the IFCN FAQ, each with its date above. If something on the ground has changed, tell me.
Tour links go to Viator, where we may earn a commission at no cost to you. It does not change which walks are listed. How we earn.