Santana
PR1.1 Vereda da Ilha, the long descent off Pico Ruivo
The short answer
PR1.1 Vereda da Ilha drops north from the Pico Ruivo shelter to the hamlet of Ilha, falling out of high mountain heath into the north-coast valleys. It is one of only two permitted exits from the summit after the one-way PR1, needs a booked IFCN timeslot, and ends far from any car park walkers used.
Trail fee, per person over twelve
€4.50
Booked as a dated timeslot on the SIMplifica portal. Free for ages twelve and under, who still have to be on the booking.
IFCN, 2026 · check it · read August 26, 2026PR1 full route ticket
€10.50
Covers PR1.1 as one of the two permitted exits.
IFCN, 2026 · check it · read August 26, 20261 more sourced figure on this page
Total descent
1,274 m
The difference between the published high and low points of the route.
Visit Madeira · check it · read August 26, 2026The facts
| Where | Santana |
|---|---|
| Type | Walks and levadas |
| How long | 3 hours |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Cost | €4.50 |
| Best season | Spring and autumn, because the descent is long and hot in high summer |
| Permit | Yes — book before you go |
What it does
PR1.1 runs 8.2 km, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 from the Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo down to Ilha, and the tourism board gives 3 hours, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026. It starts at 1,764 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 and finishes at 490 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026, so the whole route is a descent of 1,274 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026.
The vegetation changes completely on the way down, from high-altitude heath into the wooded valleys behind Santana. That transition is the reason to walk it rather than retrace PR1.2.
Why it exists
PR1 is one way beyond Pedra Rija. Once a walker is standing on Pico Ruivo there are exactly two legal ways off: PR1.2 to Achada do Teixeira, or this one down to Ilha. Both are covered by the €10.50, source: IFCN, 2026, read August 26, 2026 full PR1 ticket; bought on its own PR1.1 costs €4.50, source: IFCN, 2026, read August 26, 2026.
Ilha is a small settlement. Nothing about the end of this route resembles a car park with a cafe.
What is not perfect about it
A descent of more than a kilometre in vertical terms, almost all of it downhill, which is hard on knees and gives nothing back. It finishes in a hamlet nowhere near where anyone parks, so the pick-up has to be arranged before the walk starts.
Questions people actually ask
How much descent is there on PR1.1?
It falls 1,274 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 between the summit shelter and Ilha, across 8.2 km, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026. The tourism board grades it Moderate, which reflects the terrain rather than the effect on knees.
Is PR1.1 covered by the PR1 ticket?
Yes. The €10.50, source: IFCN, 2026, read August 26, 2026 full-route ticket includes it, along with PR1.2, and PR1.3 when that one reopens. On its own it is €4.50, source: IFCN, 2026, read August 26, 2026 booked as a timeslot on SIMplifica.
Is there transport from Ilha?
IFCN provides none, and states so directly. Any taxi, second car or transfer has to be arranged before setting out from Pico do Areeiro.
Where this came from
- IFCN: Percursos Pedestres Classificados — taxas e reservas (FAQ). ifcn.madeira.gov.pt/pt/atividades-de-natureza/percursos-pedes Read August 26, 2026.
- Governo Regional da Madeira: SIMplifica — reserva de percursos pedestres classificados. simplifica.madeira.gov.pt/services/78-82-259 Read August 26, 2026.
- Visit Madeira: PR1.1 Vereda da Ilha. visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/nature-seekers/activities/h Read August 26, 2026.