PR1.1 (Vereda da Ilha) is a 8.2 km, hard, official IFCN route that requires a SIMplifica booking. Cost: €4.50 per person. Whether it is worth hiking right now depends on live conditions and today's official status, re-checked every 20 minutes in the live app.
Madeira
A coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 1764m up on this ridge. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Is today the day?
The difference between a clear morning above the clouds and a wet, foggy drive is knowing before you go. Levadas reads the live weather, the safe-start window and how busy Vereda da Ilha is right now, then gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
Ten seconds, one tap, from €2.99 once. No subscription.
Advance booking required via SIMplifica
The slot is €4.50 per person, tied to the day and time you pick. Book it on the right day, the first time.
That is the fee for this trail on its own. A full PR1 ticket (€10.50, Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo) already covers it, so anyone coming off PR1 pays nothing more.
Book now on SIMplifica How to book this trail Which trails are freeDownload GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Vereda da Ilha as a free GPX file, no signup. Load it into Garmin, Komoot, AllTrails, Gaia GPS or OsmAnd and follow the route offline, even where there is no phone signal.
ⓘ Source & safety
Track and waypoints from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Planning aid, not a safety guarantee. Check the official trail status and conditions before you go.Estimated hiking time
1h42
About Vereda da Ilha
Starts at the Pico Ruivo shelter and, after climbing to the island's highest peak, descends along the Vereda do Pico Ruivo to the parish of Ilha (drop of 1274 m). Crosses the central mountain massif and the UNESCO-listed Laurisilva forest, with heather and endemic Erica species, ending at Queimadas Forest Park.
Vereda da Ilha (PR1.1) is a one way route of about 8.2 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Along the way you'll find panoramic viewpoints, endemic Madeiran flora, laurel forest (laurisilva), a mountain summit and walk-through tunnels.
Landmarks on the route include Alto, Cabeço do Resto and Ruivo.
The path runs between roughly 490 m and 1,764 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda da Ilha rates as hard on our objective scale, based on 8.2 km, 41 m of ascent and high exposure.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 3h 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.
Getting there and back
Starts at Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo. Ends at Ilha. 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.
What to bring
One drinking-water point is mapped on the route. Fill up if you pass it, but carry enough to finish without it.
Best time to walk it
May to Oct for the high ridge; start at dawn for clear summit views. Avoid winter, when ice and strong wind hit the exposed tops.
High trails are best early: clear summits and the chance of a sunrise above the clouds before the cloud builds.
Most of this route sits in shade, which keeps it walkable on days when open ground is punishing.
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.
Booking
Vereda da Ilha 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. A full PR1 ticket (€10.50, Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo) already covers this trail, so that fee applies only when it is walked on its own. Levadas does not sell tickets or make the reservation for you.
Official trail status
According to IFCN, as of 20 Aug 2026, this trail is currently officially open.
IFCN's own status page is dated 24 Jul 2026. The date above (20 Aug 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.
Fire and other live hazards near this trail are tracked on the Madeira trail alerts page
Frequently asked questions
Is Vereda da Ilha worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Vereda da Ilha, the safe-start window, how busy it is and the official IFCN status, then gives one honest go-or-wait score from 0 to 100, re-checked every 20 minutes. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance: an official IFCN closure always overrides the score, no matter how good the weather looks.
How long is Vereda da Ilha?
Vereda da Ilha is about 8.2 km (one way).
How difficult is Vereda da Ilha?
Vereda da Ilha rates as hard based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Vereda da Ilha safe?
Vereda da Ilha is a high-exposure route: long unfenced stretches with a drop beside the path. It reaches 1,764 m, and the weather up there is not the weather at the coast. None of that tells you about today, and this page does not try to. Conditions decide, which is why Levadas reads the current weather on Vereda da Ilha, the safe-start window and the official IFCN status, then gives one go-or-wait score from 0 to 100. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance, and an official IFCN closure overrides the score however good the weather looks.
How long does Vereda da Ilha take to walk?
Allow about 3h.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda da Ilha?
Yes. Tap Download GPX on this page: the first download on any device asks for an email so we can also send the free trail pack, then every later trail downloads instantly.
Do I need to book Vereda da Ilha?
Yes. Vereda da Ilha is a regulated trail with a daily cap, so you must reserve a timed slot through SIMplifica in advance. The official fee is around €4.50 per person. A full PR1 ticket (€10.50, Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo) already covers this trail, so that fee applies only when it is walked on its own.
Where does Vereda da Ilha start and finish?
Vereda da Ilha starts at Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo and finishes at Ilha.
What will I see on Vereda da Ilha?
Highlights include panoramic viewpoints, endemic Madeiran flora, laurel forest (laurisilva), a mountain summit and walk-through tunnels.
When is the best time to hike Vereda da Ilha?
May to Oct for the high ridge; start at dawn for clear summit views. Avoid winter, when ice and strong wind hit the exposed tops.
Is Vereda da Ilha open right now?
IFCN lists Vereda da Ilha as officially open. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda da Ilha?
Levadas scores Vereda da Ilha from 0 to 100 using live weather along the path and the official status, refreshed every 20 minutes. You also see how busy it is. Open the trail in the app to see the live score and the best time to go today.