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Madeira Coast to Coast — Porto Moniz to Machico

Madeira Coast to Coast — Porto Moniz to Machico — the trail guide

The Madeira Coast to Coast — Porto Moniz to Machico is a 82.5 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in 5-6 days, with 5902 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (72 m of gain per km, topping out at 1830 m).

Madeira's full coast-to-coast traverse links the Atlantic at Porto Moniz in the north-west with Machico in the east, about 100 km and 7,350 m of climbing over five to six days. It threads the island's official PR network end to end: up the Ribeira da Janela valley, through the mist-hung laurisilva of Fanal, across the Paul da Serra plateau past Bica da Cana, over the Encumeada pass and the volcanic spine to Pico Ruivo (1,862 m) and Pico do Areeiro, then down the eastern levadas through Ribeiro Frio to the Funduras woods above Machico. It is the walk that shows you every Madeira there is — ocean, laurel forest, high moor and knife-edge ridge — and it strings together nine separately-permitted PR trails.

Quick facts

Distance82.5 km
Total ascent5902 m
Typical duration5-6 days
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness72 m gain per km
High point1830 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 "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 28 m · high point 1830 m · 5902 m total ascent over 82.5 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 40 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
Jan18°14°77 mm
Feb18°14°83 mm
Mar18°14°105 mm
Apr19°15°84 mm
May21°16°40 mm
Jun22°18°56 mm
Jul25°20°7 mm
Aug27°21°11 mm
Sep25°20°34 mm
Oct24°19°92 mm
Nov21°17°88 mm
Dec20°16°96 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Madeira Coast to Coast — Porto Moniz to Machico?

The Madeira Coast to Coast — Porto Moniz to Machico is 82.5 km, and most hikers complete it in 5-6 days. Total elevation gain is 5902 m.

How difficult is the Madeira Coast to Coast — Porto Moniz to Machico?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 72 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1830 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 Madeira Coast to Coast — Porto Moniz to Machico 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 Madeira Coast to Coast — Porto Moniz to Machico?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.867, -17.172 — 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.

More treks in Madeira

See all Madeira treks →