PR21 (Caminho do Norte) is a 3.2 km, easy, 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 1000m 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 do Norte 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 do Norte 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
38min
About Caminho do Norte
Begins at Boca da Encumeada (1000 m) and ends at Ribeira Grande in São Vicente. Follows an old foot-path once used by the mountain population to reach the northern villages. Set in the heart of the Laurissilva forest, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since 1999 and a Natura 2000 site. Crossing the ER228 road, it passes a transition forest of exotic specimens. Ribeira Grande is known for its wicker craft.
Caminho do Norte (PR21) is a one way route of about 3.2 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Along the way you'll find endemic Madeiran flora, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
Landmarks on the route include Encumeada.
The path runs between roughly 320 m and 1,000 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Caminho do Norte rates as easy on our objective scale, based on 3.2 km, 0 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 1h 30m 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 Encumeada. Ends at Ribeira Grande. 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. The car park at the start has room for about 30.
What to bring
3 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
Spring to autumn; the long descent to São Vicente is best in dry weather, as winter rain makes the old mountain path slippery.
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
Caminho do Norte 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 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 Caminho do Norte worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Caminho do Norte, 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 do Norte?
Caminho do Norte is about 3.2 km (one way).
How difficult is Caminho do Norte?
Caminho do Norte rates as easy based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Caminho do Norte safe?
Caminho do Norte is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. It reaches 1,000 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 Caminho do Norte, 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 do Norte take to walk?
Allow about 1h 30m.
Can I download a GPX track for Caminho do Norte?
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 do Norte?
Yes. Caminho do Norte 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 do Norte start and finish?
Caminho do Norte starts at Encumeada and finishes at Ribeira Grande.
What will I see on Caminho do Norte?
Highlights include endemic Madeiran flora, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
When is the best time to hike Caminho do Norte?
Spring to autumn; the long descent to São Vicente is best in dry weather, as winter rain makes the old mountain path slippery.
Is Caminho do Norte open right now?
IFCN lists Caminho do Norte as officially open. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Caminho do Norte?
Levadas scores Caminho do Norte 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.