PR27 (Glaciar de Planalto) is a 4.6 km, hard, official IFCN route. Cost: free. 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 1585m up on this ridge. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Go or wait today?
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 Glaciar de Planalto is right now, then gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
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Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Glaciar de Planalto 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
1h14
About Glaciar de Planalto
PR27 is a mountain footpath across the open Paúl da Serra plateau that follows the traces of an ancient ice field, moving through a U-shaped glacial valley and over an eroded basaltic cinder cone at Fonte do Juncal. It is a geology-focused walk rather than a levada, passing a subglacial erosion basin, moraine fields of large basalt blocks, and the old stone shearing corrals at Sitio das Pedras. The clear highlight is the Miradouro das Rabacas, which looks out over the headwaters of the Ribeira da Ponta do Sol and the scattered moraine deposits below.
Glaciar de Planalto (PR27) is a one way route of about 4.6 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Along the way you'll find high mountain terrain, historic features, exposed, drop-side sections, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
The path runs between roughly 1,442 m and 1,585 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Glaciar de Planalto rates as hard on our objective scale, based on 4.6 km, 186 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 1h 14m.
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 Bica da Cana. Ends at ER 105. 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 25. The car park is about 340 m from the start.
Best time to walk it
Apr to Oct; avoid winter (cold, wind, fog and possible snow at ~1,500 m)
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.
Official trail status
According to IFCN, as of 20 Aug 2026, this trail is currently officially closed.
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 Glaciar de Planalto worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Glaciar de Planalto, 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 Glaciar de Planalto?
Glaciar de Planalto is about 4.6 km (one way).
How difficult is Glaciar de Planalto?
Glaciar de Planalto rates as hard based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Glaciar de Planalto safe?
Glaciar de Planalto is a high-exposure route: long unfenced stretches with a drop beside the path. It reaches 1,585 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 Glaciar de Planalto, 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 Glaciar de Planalto take to walk?
Allow about 1h 14m.
Can I download a GPX track for Glaciar de Planalto?
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.
Is Glaciar de Planalto free to walk?
Yes. Glaciar de Planalto needs no reservation and has no fee. Only the regulated official PR trails require a paid SIMplifica booking; this one you simply walk.
Where does Glaciar de Planalto start and finish?
Glaciar de Planalto starts at Bica da Cana and finishes at ER 105.
What will I see on Glaciar de Planalto?
Highlights include high mountain terrain, historic features, exposed, drop-side sections, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
When is the best time to hike Glaciar de Planalto?
Apr to Oct; avoid winter (cold, wind, fog and possible snow at ~1,500 m)
Is Glaciar de Planalto open right now?
IFCN lists Glaciar de Planalto as officially closed. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Glaciar de Planalto?
Levadas scores Glaciar de Planalto 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.