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. Entry costs €4.50 per person with an online booking through SIMplifica.
- Status
- OpenOpen. IFCN table dated 14 September 2026 · checked by islandmadeira.com 24 September 2026 at 21:19, 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
- 2hOne way, as printed on the panel at the start.
- 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
- €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 plus one companion. All of them still need a booking.
- 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
- 26.0 °C at Monte, 550 m
18.8 °C at Pico do Areeiro, 1,818 mThe two IPMA stations we show for this route, the nearest one and the island’s mountain station, observed 24 September 2026 at 20:00, 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.
Booking your entry slot
Register on SIMplifica to book online. You can't book or pay at IFCN offices. A guide is optional on PR 3.1.
Choose an entry slot with space available. Same-day and next-day bookings are possible while places remain. A full slot closes automatically. Allow about 15 minutes of leeway before or after your booked time.
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 550 m and Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 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.
Who gets free entry?
Children aged 12 or under enter free. Madeira residents qualify with their resident card and citizen card. People with a disability of 60% or more qualify with one companion. Everyone still needs registration and an online booking through SIMplifica.
Can a pass cover PR 3.1 and other routes?
Yes. For two or more routes the day fee is €9. Three days cost €22.50. Seven days cost €52.50. These fees never include PR 1. Its full-route fee is €10.50. Book each route separately. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.
Can I get a refund if it rains?
Rain alone doesn't qualify. Refunds or rescheduling apply only when IFCN closes or restricts the route. Email IFCN within 10 working days to request either. Changing your mind or illness means losing the fee. A missed flight does too.
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.
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.