OpenMadeira
Tell me about the Rota da Banana (Banana Route) hike in Madeira
💭 Thinking
The user is asking about the "Rota da Banana" (Banana Route) hike in Madeira. Let me search for this trail in our hikes database to get official information about it.The user is asking about the Rota da Banana (Banana Route) hike in Madeira. The search returned no official IFCN PR trails matching this name — it only appears as community trails on AllTrails. Let me provide information about this trail, clearly noting it's not an official PR trail. There are two community trail entries that are essentially the same route (same location, same length), just different AllTrails listings. I'll focus on the higher-rated one with more reviews. Let me also find a video and check terrain/elevation for context.I have the information I need. The Rota da Banana is a community trail (not an official IFCN PR trail) located in Madalena do Mar. Let me compile the answer. Key details: - Located in Madalena do Mar, on the south coast - It's a community/unofficial trail — NOT part of the official PR network managed by IFCN - Two entries on AllTrails (essentially the same route): 1. "Rota da Banana in Madalena do Mar (Banana Route)" — 4.5★, 426 reviews 2. "Rota da Banana (Banana Route)" — 4.4★, 251 reviews - Difficulty: Easy - Length: 1.9 km (loop) - Estimated time: 0.5–1 hr - Route type: Loop - Elevation: ~12 m (very low, near sea level) - It's a shortened version of "RB1: Vereda da Ladeira" - Winding through banana groves with views of the sea, banana trees with bunches protected by sacks, exotic flowers like Strelitzia, and sugarcane bushes I should present this clearly, noting it's an unofficial/community trail, and provide useful info about gettingthere.
How this was derived · 3 steps
TrailsMap & photos
Official PR trail (IFCN) Community route (AllTrails — not official)
Photos: walkmeguide.com · green = official IFCN PR trail · amber = community route (AllTrails)
Rota da Banana (Banana Route) — Madalena do Mar

The Rota da Banana is a short, easy circular walk through the banana plantations of Madalena do Mar, a sunny coastal village on Madeira's south-west coast. It's a relaxed stroll — not a mountain levada — weaving through dense banana groves with sea views, where you can see banana bunches shielded in protective sacks, exotic Strelitzia flowers, and sugarcane plants along the way.

LocationMadalena do Mar (municipality of Ponta do Sol)
TypeLoop (circular)
Distance1.9 km
DifficultyEasy
Duration~30 min – 1 hr
Altitude~12 m (essentially at sea level)
Rating4.5★ from 426 hiker reviews on AllTrails

The trail is a shortened version of RB1: Vereda da Ladeira and is perfect for a relaxed walk — flat, scenic, and very accessible. It's one of the few routes on Madeira where agriculture, rather than levadas or mountain ridges, takes centre stage: you're literally strolling through working banana fields.

⚠️ Important note

This is a community route mapped on AllTrails — it is NOT part of Madeira's official PR (Percurso Recomendado) trail network managed by IFCN (the regional government's forests and nature-conservation authority). That means it has no official open/closed status and no guarantee of maintenance or signage — check access and conditions locally before heading out.

Getting there
  • Directions to the trailhead ↗ — opens Google Maps routing from your location.
  • By car, Madalena do Mar is roughly 30–35 minutes west of Funchal along the ER223 coastal road.
  • The village is also served by regional buses (Rodoeste/SIGA network).

Would you like me to check how to get there by bus from where you're staying, or see the closest official PR trails nearby?

OpenMadeira can make mistakes — check the sources.