On land and in the air
Trail running
From a vertical kilometre to a 50 km loop, on the island’s mountain paths
What it is like here
Trail running uses the same paths as the walkers, from forest tracks to narrow singletrack, with a lot of climbing over short distances. Madeira Ocean & Trails describes 23 routes, from the 3.18 km vertical kilometre at Câmara de Lobos, which climbs 1,000 m, to the 50 km Porto da Cruz Natura loop with 3,259 m of climbing. Three training routes of 4, 17 and 22 km start and finish on Machico beach.
Many routes follow the classified walking trails (PR), and runners on them follow the walkers’ rules: a booked time slot and the fee.
Before you go
- On the classified walking trails (PR) everyone, runners included, books an entry time slot on SIMplifica, even those who pay nothing. Source
- In 2026 visitors pay €4.50 per trail, €10.50 for the whole of PR1, or €9.00 for a day, €22.50 for 3 days and €52.50 for 7 days on all the trails but PR1. Source
- Residents of Madeira, children aged 12 and under, and people with a disability of 60% or more with one companion pay nothing but still book. Source
- PR1 is two-way only between Pico do Areeiro and the Pedra Rija viewpoint, and one-way from Pedra Rija to Pico Ruivo. Source
Where
- Chão dos Louros — 13.26 km, 886 m of climbing; from Boca da Corrida (Jardim da Serra) to Chão dos Louros (São Vicente); difficult
- Picos do Curral — 10.13 km, 1,019 m of climbing; loop from Fajã dos Cardos (Curral das Freiras); difficult
- Quilómetro Vertical de Câmara de Lobos — 3.18 km, 1,000 m of climbing; from Colmeal (Curral das Freiras) to Pico Grande; difficult
- Ribeira da Tabua — 12.96 km, 1,066 m of climbing; loop from Ribeira da Tabua (Tabua); difficult
- Lombada da Ponta do Sol — 7.8 km, 522 m of climbing; loop from Sítio da Lombada (Ponta do Sol); medium
- Do Jardim ao Paul — 16.94 km, 1,307 m of climbing; from Jardim do Mar to Paúl do Mar; difficult
- Galhano — 16.51 km, 867 m of climbing; from Galhano (Porto Moniz) to Lamaceiros (Porto Moniz); difficult
- Fanal - Estanquinhos — 13 km, 500 m of climbing; from Fanal (by the house) to Estanquinhos; easy
- Pináculo — 34.25 km, 995 m of climbing; from Rosário (São Vicente) to Bica da Cana (São Vicente); difficult
- Boaventura — 20.4 km, 1,800 m of climbing; loop from Boaventura (Centro); difficult
- Boca do Risco — 14.86 km, 1,057 m of climbing; from Ribeira Seca (Machico) to Machico; difficult
- Porto da Cruz Natura — 50 km, 3,259 m of climbing; loop from Praia Alagoa (Porto da Cruz); difficult
- Ponta de São Lourenço — 10 km, 200 m of climbing; loop from Ponta do Caniçal; easy
- Porto da Cruz - Machico — 15.5 km, 370 m of climbing; from Praia da Alagoa (Porto da Cruz) to Praia de Machico; medium
- Porto da Cruz Longo — 35 km, 1,700 m of climbing; loop from Praia da Alagoa (Porto da Cruz); difficult
- Parque Ecológico do Funchal — 18.83 km, 835 m of climbing; loop from Chão da Lagoa (Monte); difficult
- Pico Areeiro Pico Ruivo — 12.2 km, 1,000 m of climbing; loop from Pico do Areeiro; difficult
- Levada Vale Paraíso — 9 km, 0 m of climbing; from Rochão to Choupana; easy
- Picos do Porto Santo — 17.21 km, 835 m of climbing; loop from Portela (Porto Santo); difficult On Porto Santo, which the 3D island does not show yet.
- Pico Ana Ferreira — 13.08 km, 662 m of climbing; loop from Casinhas (Porto Santo); medium On Porto Santo, which the 3D island does not show yet.
- Machico Trail Médio — 17 km, 1,200 m of climbing; loop from Machico; easy
- Machico Trail Longo — 22 km, 1,200 m of climbing; loop from Machico; medium
- Machico Trail Curto — 4 km, 300 m of climbing; loop from Machico; easy
Who runs it
Members of the tourism board’s association, as Visit Madeira lists them. A list, not a recommendation.
Sources: Visit Madeira · Madeira Ocean & Trails · Checked November 3, 2026