PR12 Caminho Real da Encumeada

This old royal trade route, a Caminho Real, crosses the Central Mountain Massif for 12.5 kilometres, starting at the Miradouro da Boca da Corrida and finishing at Encumeada, and it takes most walkers around five hours. The path holds between 830 and 1,323 metres, well below the summits, but still close enough to Pico Grande and the island's highest peaks to give a real sense of scale. Early on there's a wide view down into the Curral das Freiras depression before the trail contours around the mountain and drops toward Serra de Água and the Encumeada pass. Parts of it are only partially open at times, so check current status before setting out. Best walked in late spring through autumn: in winter, cloud and wind hide the peak views this route is built around.

Caminho Real da Encumeada (PR12) is a one way route of about 12.5 km in Madeira.

It shares its trailhead with V-PICOGRANDE, so you can combine it with any of them from the same parking.

Along the way you'll find waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, a mountain summit and laurel forest (laurisilva).

Landmarks on the route include Boca da Corrida, Relvinha, Encumeada, Serradinho and Cavalo.

The path runs between roughly 830 m and 1,323 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.

Caminho Real da Encumeada rates as medium on our objective scale, based on 12.5 km, 670 m of ascent and low exposure.

This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.

Allow about 5h one way, a point-to-point route.

The app's live 0-100 score also flags the latest safe start time for the day. See it in the app.

Starts at Boca da Corrida. Ends at Encumeada. This is a one-way route, so you finish where your car is not: plan a second car, a taxi from the far end, or the walk back before you set off. There is a car park at the start, though its size is not recorded on the map.

This trail passes through a tunnel, so bring a head torch.

2 drinking-water points are mapped along the route. Fill up where you can, but carry enough to finish without them.

Late spring to autumn; this high massif crossing needs clear, dry weather, as winter cloud and wind hide the peak views.

High trails are best early: clear summits and the chance of a sunrise above the clouds before the cloud builds.

This route is mostly open to the sun, so it bites on a hot, clear day. Start early and carry more water than you think you need.

The sun and shade reading comes from the slope's aspect and steepness, so it describes terrain shading and not tree cover.

A live 0-100 score picks the best 30-minute window for the day. See today's window in the app.

Caminho Real da Encumeada is a regulated trail with a daily visitor cap, so you must reserve a timed slot in advance through SIMplifica before you go. The official fee is around €4.50 per person. Levadas does not sell tickets or make the reservation for you.

According to IFCN, as of 9 Sept 2026, this trail is currently open with conditions.

a passable route from Boca da Corrida to km 3.5.

IFCN reports this route walkable from Boca da Corrida, only as far as km 3.5.

IFCN's wording, in Portuguese: “desde a Boca da Corrida até ao km 3,5”

IFCN's own status page is dated 24 Jul 2026. The date above (9 Sept 2026) is ours: it records when we last read that page, not when IFCN wrote it.

Official status can change, so always check the latest before you go.

Fonte: IFCN

Fire and other live hazards near this trail are tracked on the Madeira trail alerts page