The 6 stages from Poço do Gil to Ribeira da Janela with profiles, water points and tunnels, 77 campsites and places to stay, and itineraries from 3 to 8 days. Checked on 9 November 2026.
Stages, campsites, itineraries, budget, bookings: every piece of information is checked, dated and sourced.
Around fifteen official trails linked together. And just as many bookings.
Paid trails since 2026, time slots to book, camping only in designated zones.
The Madeira Crossing is not something you improvise: plan it — and check it the day before.
Trail statusFrom Caniçal to Ribeira da Janela
Distances and ascent calculated on our route along the official PR trails and a 25 m terrain model.
1
Poço do Gil Chão das Feiteiras
2
Chão das Feiteiras Pico Ruivo
3
Pico Ruivo Encumeada
4
Encumeada Fontes Ruivas
5
Fontes Ruivas Fanal
6
Fanal Ribeira da Janela
The IFCN camping zones, to be booked on SIMplifica: €5 per tent per night.
1,230 m
Chão das Feiteiras, plateau north of Poiso (dirt track) · Madeira Crossing km 24.4
Grassy plateau surrounded by cedars, right by the route at the end of the climb from the Levada do Furado. It is the…
1,790 m
©Pico Ruivo, near the Casa de Abrigo (access on foot only) · Madeira Crossing km 38
Camping zone on the ridge, at the junction of the PR1, PR1.1, PR1.2 and PR1.3 trails, a stone's throw from the hut and…
805 m
©Parque Florestal do Chão dos Louros, on the ER228 below the Boca da Encumeada (north side) · Madeira Crossing km 47.8
Large forest park by the road, about 700 m as the crow flies from the Boca da Encumeada, on the São Vicente side. It…
1,255 m
Caramujo, on the PR17 (Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal), above the Levada do Norte · Madeira Crossing km 56.2
Small zone beside the PR17, about 8 km after Encumeada via the Levada do Norte and Folhadal. No water, WC or fire pit…
1,560 m
Bica da Cana, edge of the Paul da Serra (tarmac road), near the forest house · Madeira Crossing km 58.5
Equipped zone (water, WC, fire pits, bins) about 200 m from the route, at the end of the open part of the PR17 coming…
1,510 m
Fontes Ruivas, Paul da Serra plateau (access on foot) · Madeira Crossing km 62.4
Camping zone on the route, about 1.5 km after Estanquinhos. It is the overnight stop chosen after the Encumeada → Bica…
1,135 m
©Fanal, forest of centuries-old til trees (ER209 tarmac road) · Madeira Crossing km 79.5
Clearing in the Fanal forest of centuries-old til trees, on the route, just before the descent via the PR14. It is the…
20 m
Ribeira da Janela, at the mouth of the valley near the old ER101, between the village and Porto Moniz · Madeira Crossing km 89.8
Madeira's only proper campsite, run by the municipality, at the bottom of the Ribeira da Janela valley, very close to…
Day-by-day plans with the distance, the ascent and where to sleep each night.
Challenging · east → west
6days
90 km · 4,950 m ascent
Challenging · east → west
6days
76 km · 3,730 m ascent
Challenging · east → west
3days
42 km · 1,890 m ascent
Find where to sleep each night, from IFCN camping zones to the hotel on the pass.
