💭 Thinking
How this was derived · 3 steps
- Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal 4.7 Directions
I can't find an official Madeira hiking trail (PR route) called "Calheta to Ribeira Brava Cycling Route." This name actually refers to a road cycling route, not a hiking trail — it's the Day 6 stage of a self-guided cycling holiday, covering roughly 50 km on paved roads from Calheta along the south coast through Ribeira Brava and up to Cabo Girão before descending into Funchal. It's an asphalt road ride with very significant climbing (the stretch to Cabo Girão alone is ~580 m above sea level), not a levada or vereda footpath.
This route is not part of Madeira's official PR trail network managed by IFCN, and likely isn't suitable for hiking — it follows the main coastal road (ER-101) through tunnels and alongside traffic.
If you're looking for proper trails in this region, here are the nearest official and community routes:
Near Calheta (official PR trails):
| Trail | Difficulty | Distance | Duration | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR 19 — Caminho Real do Paul do Mar | Moderate | 1.8 km | ~1 h 20 min | €4.50 | |
| PR 20 — Vereda do Jardim do Mar | Easy | 1.9 km | ~1 h 30 min | €4.50 | |
| PR 6.1 — Levada do Risco | Easy | 3 km | ~2 h | €4.50 | 4.4★ (642 reviews on AllTrails) |
| PR 28 — Levada da Rocha Vermelha | — | 10.7 km | — | €4.50 |
Near Ribeira Brava (community routes on AllTrails — not official IFCN PR trails):
- Levada Nova – Levada do Moinho — 9.3 km loop, moderate, 4.7★ (6,103 reviews). A stunning circuit combining two levadas with waterfalls and a tunnel. Community route mapped on AllTrails — not part of Madeira's official PR trail network managed by IFCN, so it has no official open/closed status.
- Ribeira Brava – Levada Nova — 12.6 km loop, moderate, 4.4★ (123 reviews). Follows the Levada Nova with views over Ribeira Brava and Tábua. Same unofficial status.
The most popular option connecting the south-west coast to the interior is PR 17 — Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal (near Encumeada, between both areas): 15 km, difficult, ~6 h 30 min, 4.7★ on AllTrails — a dramatic ridge and levada traverse through Laurisilva forest.
Would you like me to show a video of one of these trails, or check the current trail status and mountain weather forecast for the day you're planning to hike?





