Caminho Real do Monte (PR 3.1)
Caminho Real do Monte links Funchal Ecological Park with Monte's historic centre. The IFCN table gives 5.5 km from Ribeira das Cales to Monte. Câmara Municipal do Funchal manages it, so the IFCN fee and booking do not apply.
- Status
- OpenOpen. 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
- 5.5 kmIFCN table, Ribeira das Cales to Monte.The board at the start gives 4.2 km, Ribeira das Cales Receção Parque Ecológico do Funchal to Monte.
- Time on the board
- 2hAs 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
- 1,130 m and 550 m
- Start and finish
- Ribeira das Cales Receção Parque Ecológico do Funchal to MonteFrom the route board at the start.
- Fee
- No IFCN feeThe fee and booking system covers only the classified routes IFCN manages itself. This one is managed by Câmara Municipal do Funchal, so there is nothing to pay IFCN and nothing to book on SIMplifica. IFCN, fees and bookings FAQ, read 14 September 2026.
- At the start
- information board, toilets, parking, flora, fauna at Ribeira das Cales
- Coordinates
- Start 32.70131, -16.90311
Finish 32.67675, -16.90336From the IFCN route board, decimal degrees - Weather now
- 21.8 °C at Monte, 593 m
11.0 °C at Pico do Areeiro, 1,799 mThe two IPMA stations we show for this route, one near the coast and the island’s mountain station, 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.
Two distances for the walk to Monte
Use the table's 5.5 km from Ribeira das Cales to Monte when planning. The route board gives 4.2 km from the park's Welcome Centre at Ribeira das Cales to Monte. Its time estimate is 2 hours one way.
Keep that estimate with the board's shorter distance. I'd leave room beyond those 2 hours if planning around the table's length.
Through the park and along Caminho Real
Start at the Welcome Centre in Funchal Ecological Park. The walk crosses Ribeira das Cales and the Cales levada, dating from 1784. It passes the plant nursery and Pico Alto viewpoint. From there you look over the municipality of Funchal.
Between Arrebentão and Lajinhas you follow Caminho Real n.º 24. This once linked the mountains of Monte with Santana. At Terreiro da Luta you pass the quinta. The Nossa Senhora da Paz monument stands a short way off the route.
Steps and road crossings
Most of the ups and downs follow paths with steps. The 1,300 m section between the plant nursery and Arrebentão is narrow with an irregular surface. Keep that stretch in mind when deciding whether this walk suits you.
Stone paving becomes slippery when wet or covered by vegetation. The walk also crosses three roads carrying traffic. Take care at each crossing.
Who looks after PR 3.1
This walk belongs to Câmara Municipal do Funchal. The IFCN fee and the SIMplifica booking apply to routes IFCN manages, so neither applies on the way down to Monte.
The IFCN table still lists PR 3.1 with its status, because the table covers every classified route on the island. Check that line before you start, then plan how you get back from Monte.
Check status before setting off
Use the status panel on this page before leaving. Select ‘Check the status now’ for the latest available IFCN status. A weather warning doesn't automatically close a route. IFCN's route status decides.
The weather panel shows the Monte station at 593 m and Pico do Areeiro at 1,799 m. Check its observation time when reading the figures.
What the route board asks
- The walk is 4.2 km long and drops sharply in elevation by 640 metres.
- The walk crosses three roadways with car traffic. Walkers should take due care in crossing them.
- The section between the plant nursery and Arrebentão, 1300 metres long, is narrow and the surface is irregular.
- Paths paved with stones become slippery when wet or covered by vegetation.
- On this walk, most of the ups and downs are on paths with stairsteps.
From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Funchal taxis +351 291 764 476.
Routes next door
Vereda do Burro PR 3
open6.7 km, Pico do Areeiro to Ribeira das Cales
Levada do Moinho PR 7
closed10.5 km, Ribeira da Cruz to Lamaceiros
Vereda da Ribeira da Janela PR 15
open2.7 km, Curral Falso to Ribeira da Janela
Status from the IFCN table, re-read at every build and again in your browser.
Questions before you go
How long is Caminho Real do Monte?
The IFCN table gives 5.5 km from Ribeira das Cales to Monte. The board gives 4.2 km from the park's Welcome Centre at Ribeira das Cales to Monte. Its 2-hour estimate belongs to that board route.
Is PR 3.1 a steep walk?
Yes. The route board warns of a sharp descent. Most of the ups and downs use steps. Between the plant nursery and Arrebentão there's a narrow 1,300 m section with an irregular surface. Wet stone paving can be slippery.
Are toilets marked at the start and finish?
Yes. The board marks toilets at Ribeira das Cales and Monte. It also marks parking at Ribeira das Cales and a café at Monte. Treat these as marked facilities. The symbols don't establish opening hours.
Do I pay to walk PR 3.1?
No. The IFCN fee and the SIMplifica booking cover the routes IFCN manages, and PR 3.1 belongs to Câmara Municipal do Funchal. Nothing to pay, nothing to reserve. Its status still comes from the IFCN table.
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 3.1 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.
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.
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