PR1.3 (Vereda da Encumeada) is a 11.2 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 Encumeada 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 Encumeada 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
3h10
About Vereda da Encumeada
Starts at the Pico Ruivo shelter and runs along the backbone of the island, crossing the central mountain chain (elevations 1764-1009 m) towards Encumeada. Crosses the central massif and the UNESCO-listed Laurisilva forest with endemic species, including the rare Madeiran orchid. Features caves (furnas) once used as shelters. At Boca das Torrinhas it connects to PR2 Vereda do Urzal, with views over Serra d'Agua and the S. Vicente valley.
Vereda da Encumeada (PR1.3) is a one way route of about 11.2 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
The route takes in panoramic viewpoints, endemic Madeiran flora, laurel forest (laurisilva) and a mountain summit.
Landmarks on the route include Lapa da Cadela, Eirinhas, Jorge, Lage, Tapeiro and Encumeada.
The path runs between roughly 1,008 m and 1,764 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda da Encumeada rates as hard on our objective scale, based on 11.2 km, 556 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 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.
Getting there and back
Starts at Pico Ruivo. 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.
What to bring
2 drinking-water points are mapped along the route. Fill up where you can, but carry enough to finish without them.
Best time to walk it
May to Oct; this exposed central backbone needs stable summer weather and clear mornings. Winter ice, wind and cloud make it hazardous.
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.
Booking
Vereda 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. 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 open with conditions.
IFCN reports the stretch between Boca das Torrinhas and Encumeada closed.
IFCN's wording, in Portuguese: “entre a Boca das Torrinhas e a Encumeada”
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 Encumeada 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 Encumeada, 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 Encumeada?
Vereda da Encumeada is about 11.2 km (one way).
How difficult is Vereda da Encumeada?
Vereda da Encumeada rates as hard based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Vereda da Encumeada safe?
Vereda da Encumeada 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 Encumeada, 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 Encumeada take to walk?
Allow about 5h.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda da Encumeada?
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 Encumeada?
Yes. Vereda da Encumeada 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 Encumeada start and finish?
Vereda da Encumeada starts at Pico Ruivo and finishes at Encumeada.
What will I see on Vereda da Encumeada?
Highlights include panoramic viewpoints, endemic Madeiran flora, laurel forest (laurisilva) and a mountain summit.
When is the best time to hike Vereda da Encumeada?
May to Oct; this exposed central backbone needs stable summer weather and clear mornings. Winter ice, wind and cloud make it hazardous.
Is Vereda da Encumeada open right now?
IFCN lists Vereda da Encumeada as open with conditions. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Vereda da Encumeada?
Levadas scores Vereda da Encumeada 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.