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PR 3.1 — Caminho Real do Monte

PR 3.1 — Caminho Real do Monte — the trail guide

The PR 3.1 — Caminho Real do Monte is a 4.0 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in 1 day, with 20 m of total ascent. It rates Easy on our published rubric (5 m of gain per km, topping out at 1145 m).

PR 3.1 follows a caminho real, one of the stone-paved royal roads that linked Funchal to Madeira's interior before the mountain roads were cut. It starts at Ribeira das Cales inside the Parque Ecológico do Funchal, around 1,100 m, and falls some 550 m over 4 km of cobbles, steps and forest path to Monte, passing Terreiro da Luta and the bed of the old Monte rack railway. Easy, walked one way downhill, and it finishes beside the cable car back to Funchal.

Quick facts

Distance4.0 km
Total ascent20 m
Typical duration1 day
Difficulty (computed)Easy
Steepness5 m gain per km
High point1145 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 573 m · high point 1145 m · 20 m total ascent over 4.0 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 1134 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
Jan11°97 mm
Feb11°91 mm
Mar12°94 mm
Apr13°70 mm
May15°48 mm
Jun17°11°72 mm
Jul19°12°17 mm
Aug21°13°22 mm
Sep19°12°49 mm
Oct17°12°99 mm
Nov14°104 mm
Dec13°117 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PR 3.1 — Caminho Real do Monte?

The PR 3.1 — Caminho Real do Monte is 4.0 km, and most hikers complete it in 1 day. Total elevation gain is 20 m.

How difficult is the PR 3.1 — Caminho Real do Monte?

It rates Easy on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 5 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1145 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 3.1 — Caminho Real do Monte 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 3.1 — Caminho Real do Monte?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.701, -16.903 — 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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