GR 1 — Madeira

The GR 1 Madeira crosses the island along its mountain spine: about 100 km in six stages, from Machico on the east coast to Ribeira da Janela in the northwest. It follows the corridor of the Grande Rota that Madeira's forestry institute (IFCN) has been developing since 2022, linking existing waymarked trails, veredas and levadas. The regional authorities do not yet classify the full crossing as a single official trail. The walk starts in Machico, where João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira landed in 1419, and climbs through laurel forest to Ribeiro Frio, with its trout nursery and the Balcões viewpoint. It then enters the central massif to reach Pico Ruivo, at about 1,860 m the highest point on the island, and follows the ridge down to the Encumeada pass, where both the north and south coasts come into view. The western half crosses the Paul da Serra plateau past Estanquinhos to Fanal, known for its centuries-old til trees in a small volcanic crater, before descending the long Ribeira da Janela valley to the sea. Much of the way runs through the Laurisilva of Madeira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and home to the endemic trocaz pigeon. Non-residents must book, and pay for, most classified trails in advance on the regional SIMplifica portal. Camping is allowed only at official campsites, with an IFCN licence. Sections can close after fires or storms, so check trail status before setting out.

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