Vereda da Encumeada (PR 1.3)
Vereda da Encumeada crosses Madeira's central mountain chain. The IFCN table gives 11.2 km from Pico Ruivo to Encumeada. Entry costs €4.50 per person, booked online through SIMplifica.
- Status
- Partly openOpen, except between Boca das Torrinhas and Encumeada, which stays closed. 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
- 11.2 kmIFCN table, Pico Ruivo 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
- 1,764 m and 1,009 m
- Start and finish
- Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo 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, leisure area, shelter, café, toilets at Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo
- Coordinates
- Start 32.76021, -16.94158From 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.
From Pico Ruivo to Encumeada
The route board gives 11.2 km from Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo to Encumeada. It allows 5 hours one way. The path follows the mountain chain that divides Madeira's northern and southern slopes.
You pass from high-altitude heath into Laurisilva forest. Near Encumeada there are views towards Serra d'Água and the São Vicente valley. At Boca das Torrinhas the path connects with PR 2 Vereda do Urzal. That route links Curral das Freiras with Boaventura.
Climbs and mountain weather
Expect frequent steep climbs and descents. The board calls for physical preparation for this mountain walk. Its highest point is 1,764 m and its lowest is 1,009 m. I'd give it a miss if steep climbs and descents don't suit you.
Take warm clothing for frequent weather changes. Wear non-slip footwear because the path may be slippery. Carry water. The weather panel here shows readings from Pico do Areeiro at 1,799 m.
Check access before setting off
Look at the live status panel on this page before you leave. Read the section details as well as the status label. Use the check button to request the latest IFCN status.
A weather warning doesn't automatically close a route. The status on the IFCN page decides access.
Booking your entry slot
Register on the SIMplifica portal to book online. You can't book or pay at IFCN offices. Same-day and next-day bookings are possible while spaces remain. Allow for your chosen entry time: there's about 15 minutes of tolerance either side.
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 go free with one legal guardian walking with them, on proof of the disability. Everyone still needs to register and book.
Facilities marked on the board
At Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo the board marks an information board and leisure area. The other symbols mark a shelter and café. Toilets are marked too.
At Encumeada it marks an information board and restaurant. There are also symbols for a bus stop, parking, toilets and a viewpoint. These symbols don't establish opening hours or availability.
What the route board asks
- As a mountain hike, with steep climbs and descents, hikers are required to have some physical preparation.
- Weather subject to frequent changes, take warm clothing.
- The path may be slippery so wear non-slip footwear and carry water.
From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Taxis Santana +351 291 572 540; Taxis R. Brava +351 291 952 349.
Routes next door
Vereda do Areeiro PR 1
open6.1 km, Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo
Vereda da Ilha PR 1.1
open8.2 km, Pico Ruivo to Ilha
Vereda do Pico Ruivo PR 1.2
open2.8 km (+ 2.8 km back), Achada do Teixeira to Pico Ruivo
Status from the IFCN table, re-read at every build and again in your browser.
Questions before you go
How long does PR 1.3 take?
The route board allows 5 hours one way for its 11.2 km from Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo to Encumeada. Check the live access details before planning around that full distance.
Is Vereda da Encumeada open?
Check the live status panel on this page for access along PR 1.3. Read the details of any section restrictions before setting off. If you plan to join another route, check that route's status too.
How much does PR 1.3 cost?
PR 1.3 costs €4.50 per person before exemptions. PR 1 has a separate full-route fee of €10.50, and the fee table lists PR 1.3 inside PR 1: that ticket covers this route too. Reserve your entry slot online on SIMplifica, including when you qualify for free entry.
Can I use a pass for several routes?
Yes. The day fee is €9 for two or more routes. Three days cost €22.50. Seven days cost €52.50. These fees never include PR 1. Each route needs its own booking. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.
Do I need a guide for PR 1.3?
A guide isn't compulsory on PR 1.3. You still need an entry booking through SIMplifica. Keep the board's physical preparation requirement in mind when deciding. This mountain route has frequent steep climbs and descents.
Can I get a refund if it rains?
Rain alone doesn't qualify for a refund. Refunds or rescheduling apply 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 to request either. A change of 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 1.3 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.