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PR 27 — Glaciar de Planalto

PR 27 — Glaciar de Planalto — the trail guide

The PR 27 — Glaciar de Planalto is a 5.2 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in 2–3 hours, with 223 m of total ascent. It rates Easy on our published rubric (43 m of gain per km, topping out at 1591 m).

PR 27 runs south from the Bica da Cana viewpoint across Paúl da Serra, Madeira's high moorland plateau, to the ER 105 road — 4.6 km between roughly 1,450 and 1,590 m. It is the island's geology walk: signposted moraines, a U-shaped valley, the eroded cinder cone at Fonte do Juncal and a glacial cirque record the plateau icefield that peaked here around 25,000 years ago, and a short spur reaches the Rabaças viewpoint.

Quick facts

Distance5.2 km
Total ascent223 m
Typical duration2–3 hours
Difficulty (computed)Easy
Steepness43 m gain per km
High point1591 m
CountryPortugal
RegionPortugal

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Easy" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 1428 m · high point 1591 m · 223 m total ascent over 5.2 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 1546 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan92 mm
Feb94 mm
Mar10°110 mm
Apr11°85 mm
May12°49 mm
Jun14°75 mm
Jul17°10 mm
Aug18°10°16 mm
Sep16°45 mm
Oct15°109 mm
Nov12°103 mm
Dec10°112 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PR 27 — Glaciar de Planalto?

The PR 27 — Glaciar de Planalto is 5.2 km, and most hikers complete it in 2–3 hours. Total elevation gain is 223 m.

How difficult is the PR 27 — Glaciar de Planalto?

It rates Easy on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 43 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1591 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the PR 27 — Glaciar de Planalto is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the PR 27 — Glaciar de Planalto?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.757, -17.059 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

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