PR12
The royal cobbled path across the central spine
Caminho Real da Encumeada from Boca da Corrida traverses 12.5 km of historic cobbled mountain road built for royal travel. Currently partially open - the first 3.5 km from Boca da Corrida is the accessible portion.
Curated by
Filipe Pereira
Founder & Lead Curator
Issued 2026-05-16
Valid through June 2026
01 · At a glance
The vitals
What you need to know about Caminho Real da Encumeada before you book or set out.
Distance
12.5 km
Duration
4-5 h
Elevation gain
493 m
Difficulty
Moderate
Exposure
3/5
Type
Vereda (mountain traverse)
Status, May 2026
Partially Open
Partially open in 2026. The Boca da Corrida → km 3.5 segment is accessible. Beyond is restricted pending repair of two landslide-damaged sections. Check ICNF status before committing.
Best season
Spring to autumn
Clear weather essential for the central-peaks panorama. Spring (April-June) gives stable mornings. Summer is hot on exposed cobble. Avoid winter - fog at altitude makes the path slippery and the views invisible.
“Walking 18th-century cobblestone with 21st-century views - this is how Madeira used to move.”
02 · Getting to the trailhead
How to reach the start
Map placeholder
Start: Boca da Corrida Viewpoint · End: Encumeada (ER 228)
By car from Funchal
About 1 hour via VR1 then ER104 inland. Boca da Corrida viewpoint at 1,213 m. Mountain road, paved.
Parking
Free at the Boca da Corrida viewpoint car park.
Public transport
No direct bus to Boca da Corrida. Taxi from Câmara de Lobos (€20-25) for the final stretch.
Operator pickup
Few operators run PR12 today because of the partial opening. When fully open, it makes a striking 4-5 hour mountain day product.
Taxi or transfer
Funchal to Boca da Corrida one-way is €40-45.
Tip from Filipe
Treat the current partial PR12 as an out-and-back from Boca da Corrida to the km 3.5 turnaround. That covers the best of the historical cobble and the central peaks panorama without the closed-section drama.
Driving yourself
Madeira rental from Funchal Airport, around €25-40/day in May
We use DiscoverCars to compare local agencies. Trailhead access on most PR routes is easier with a car.
https://www.discovercars.com/portugal/funchal?a_aid=Madeirahiking¤cy=eur&utm_source=Madeirahiking&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pdf-pr12
03 · Route walkthrough
Section by section
Distances, landmarks, and what to expect underfoot.
0.0 - 1.0 km
0:25
Boca da Corrida to the first vista point
Trail leaves the viewpoint car park on original 18th-century cobblestone. Gentle climb. First panoramic break opens to the central peaks - Areeiro and Ruivo on the eastern horizon.
1.0 - 2.5 km
0:40
Cobbled traverse along the ridge
Path stays on the south-facing ridge. Some cobble sections are perfect, others have been restored. Wide open mountain views; no shade. The Sierra dos Casados peaks visible to the south.
No shade for 2 km. Sun protection in summer.
2.5 - 3.5 km
0:30
Approach to the partial-opening turnaround
Trail climbs gently to a saddle. The current turnaround point is around km 3.5, marked with ICNF signage. Take the time to look back at the cobbled stretch - the perspective from here is the trail's best.
Return
1:20
Same path back
Out-and-back. The descent is easier than the ascent - cobble is gentler downhill. Light changes through the day; afternoon shadows reveal more of the path texture.
04 · Gear and safety
What to bring and when to bail
Required
- Hiking boots - cobble is harder underfoot than it looks
- Sun hat
- Water: 2 L
- Layers - 1,200 m altitude shifts conditions
- SIMplifica permit
Recommended
- Trekking poles for the cobble
- Sunscreen
- Camera - the cobbled path is a subject
- Snacks for the turnaround
Mountain weather changes fast
Boca da Corrida sits at 1,213 m. The ridge runs higher. Visibility can drop in minutes. Turn back if cloud spills over the central peaks.
Partial-opening discipline
Do not push past the ICNF turnaround signs. The closed sections include unstable cobble and one stretch with a 15 m landslide drop. Rangers patrol on weekends.
Cobble is fatiguing
Original 18th-century cobblestone is uneven. Feet take more punishment than equivalent dirt path. Trekking pole helps.
Signal patchy at altitude
Cell coverage is sporadic above 1,000 m. Pre-download offline maps. 112 emergency works on fallback.
Emergency: 112
Coverage along this route is patchy. Walk-out point: back to Boca da Corrida viewpoint (km 0). No mid-route exit on the accessible segment.
05 · Fees and booking
Two paths to the trailhead
Path A · DIY
Book on SIMplifica
€4.50
per person
- Open simplifica.madeira.gov.pt and log in.
- Search "Encumeada" or PR12. Confirm partial-opening status.
- Pick your date.
- Pay €4.50/person by card.
- Save the confirmation. Screenshot the ICNF closure notice for current restrictions.
Path B · Protocol operator
Skip the portal
€3.00
per person, fee included in tour
Limited operator activity on PR12 until the full route reopens. When it does, expect operators to bundle it with PR1 ridge as a "central mountain massif" two-day product.
Protocol operators running this trail
Madeira Local Guide - Paulo Jesus
PT/EN · Private only · €66-114
+351 XXX XXX XXX
tripadvisor.com/madeira-local-guide
Up Mountain Madeira
PT/EN/DE · Max 8 people · €40-120
+351 925 964 335
upmountainmadeira.com
Explore Nature
PT/EN · Small groups · €27-80
+351 964 851 693
explorenature.pt
Path C · Marketplace listing
Browse Guided Madeira Hiking Tours
From €30 · Various · ⭐ 4.7
If you cannot reach a protocol partner, GetYourGuide aggregates tours from multiple operators with free 24h cancellation. Independent listing - not a preferred channel for this trail.
https://www.getyourguide.com/madeira-l67/hiking-tc71/?partner_id=2VCHGBU&utm_medium=online_publisher&cmp=pdf-pr12
06 · After the hike
What to do with the rest of the day
Pair it with
PR1 Pico ridge
Same central peaks viewed from PR12 - PR1 walks among them.
Câmara de Lobos
On the drive back to Funchal, the fishing village where Churchill painted. Esplanade lunch, poncha drinking, the traditional fishermen's houses.
Cabo Girão viewpoint
Glass-floor skywalk above Europe's second-highest sea cliff. Three minutes drive from the PR12 route back.
Common questions
When will PR12 fully reopen?
No public ICNF date as of May 2026. Check our trail-status page for updates.
Can I do the full Boca da Corrida to Encumeada now?
No - the partial-opening signs are official. Going past will get you turned around by rangers or worse.
Is the cobble original?
Most of it - sections from the 18th and 19th centuries. Restoration work has preserved the original layout.
Live trail status
madeirahiking.org/trails/pr12
Conditions change. The live page is verified against ICNF announcements and re-checked on a rolling cadence. Refresh before you set out.
May 2026 edition · issued 2026-05-16 · MadeiraHiking.org · Curated by Filipe Pereira
Scan for live status