PR12 (Caminho Real da Encumeada) is a 12.5 km, medium, 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 1323m 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 Caminho Real da Encumeada is right now, then gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
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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.
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 Caminho Real 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
3h37
Getting there by bus
The nearest public bus stop to the Caminho Real da Encumeada trailhead is CAM Lombo Chão 1A (CF55), 1.1 km away. That is a straight line on the map and not a walk: on this terrain the climb between the two can matter more than the distance.
The timetable we hold ran until July 30, 2026 and no newer one has been published, so departure times are not shown. The stop and the lines serving it (181) are unchanged.
Horários do Funchal is the only Madeira operator that publishes a machine-readable timetable. A trail without this block is one we hold no bus data for, not one no bus reaches.
About Caminho Real da Encumeada
Begins at the Miradouro da Boca da Corrida and runs between 1323 m and 830 m across the Central Mountain Massif near Madeira's highest peaks. A historic royal trade route ("Caminho Real"). Offers a viewpoint over the Curral das Freiras depression, contours Pico Grande, and reaches Serra d'Água and Encumeada.
Caminho Real da Encumeada (PR12) is a one way route of about 12.5 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
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.
Difficulty
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.
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 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.
What to bring
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.
Best time to walk it
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.
Booking
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.
Official trail status
According to IFCN, as of 20 Aug 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 (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 Caminho Real 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 Caminho Real 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 Caminho Real da Encumeada?
Caminho Real da Encumeada is about 12.5 km (one way).
How difficult is Caminho Real da Encumeada?
Caminho Real da Encumeada rates as medium based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Caminho Real da Encumeada safe?
Caminho Real da Encumeada is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. It reaches 1,323 m, and the weather up there is not the weather at the coast. Part of it runs underground, so without a head torch you are walking in the dark. 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 Caminho Real 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 Caminho Real da Encumeada take to walk?
Allow about 5h.
Can I download a GPX track for Caminho Real 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 Caminho Real da Encumeada?
Yes. Caminho Real 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.
Where does Caminho Real da Encumeada start and finish?
Caminho Real da Encumeada starts at Boca da Corrida and finishes at Encumeada.
What will I see on Caminho Real da Encumeada?
Highlights include waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, a mountain summit and laurel forest (laurisilva).
When is the best time to hike Caminho Real da Encumeada?
Late spring to autumn; this high massif crossing needs clear, dry weather, as winter cloud and wind hide the peak views.
Are there tunnels on Caminho Real da Encumeada? Do I need a torch?
Yes, Caminho Real da Encumeada passes through a tunnel, so bring a head torch.
Is Caminho Real da Encumeada open right now?
IFCN lists Caminho Real da Encumeada as open with conditions. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Caminho Real da Encumeada?
Levadas scores Caminho Real 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.