Trails · 1219 m above the sea
PR12 - Caminho Real da Encumeada
A cobbled royal road toward Pico Grande — but only the first 3.5km are open right now.
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The place
This paved historic route once carried landlords on horseback between the south coast and the interior; today it climbs from Boca da Corrida through Laurissilva forest with views back into the Curral das Freiras bowl, heading for Pico Grande (1654m) and, when fully open, on to Boca da Encumeada. Only the Boca da Corrida end is currently accessible.
When to come
Morning, before midday haze fills the valley below and blurs the views back toward Curral das Freiras.
Worth knowing
- Only open from Boca da Corrida to roughly km 3.5 — the continuation over Pico Grande to Encumeada is currently restricted; check SIMplifica/IFCN before setting off
- €4.50 fee, SIMplifica booking mandatory
- No facilities at the Boca da Corrida trailhead — narrow access road in
- Full point-to-point route (when open) is 12.5km, 5-7 hours — needs a car shuttle