Ultra Madeira

The concept of ULTRA MADEIRA is simple... Cross the Island, quickly, unifying both ends west and east, with mandatory passage at the mountain massifs, a challenge for anyone who loves the sport.

The start of the race will be at the most western point of Madeira, at Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse (290m) - Local heritage site - His light will guide the athletes to the long way up until the Forest Park of Fonte do Bispo, where the first checkpoint is located, at the beginning of the Paul da Serra plateau.

Then runners will follow in alternate ground between roads, single-tracks and dirt roads, along the plateau. The next checkpoint it’s on the other end of the plateau, at the Bica da Cana shelter house. From here runners get down towards Encumeada, in the middle of a luxurious laurel forest (UNESCO Heritage) along the PR17, part of the Nature 2000 Network. At the Rocha do Passinho runners will find 800 downhill steps, a trademark of this path!

After Encumeada checkpoint, we get inside the real mountain massif, alongside with the PR1.3, towards the highest peak of the island, Pico Ruivo (1861m). With good weather runners will find magnificent landscapes for both north and south of the island, specially to the Nun's Valley and Serra D'Água in the south, and the São Vicente valley to the north side. Along this trail it’s possible to look at caves dug by hand, used in the past for protection in case of bad weather (in the past this trail was used on a daily basis to connect the north to the south (São Vicente to Funchal).

After the Pico Ruivo checkpoint, we follow along the PR1 towards the 3rd highest peak of Madeira, Pico do Areeiro (1818m), one of the most challenge trail in the island and one of the most used by the visitors, with the mix of grounds that we find, from tunnels, "via ferrata" steps, rock steps, viewpoints, floating trails, endless climbs... well, a cocktail of views and emotions that runners will keep in their minds forever!

After getting to Pico Areeiro checkpoint, we get to the eastern mountain massif, mostly downhill part, passing by the "Poço da Neve", where in the past ice was kept, and then carried by men to Funchal, to use in the hospital and hotels, then crossing Chão da Lagoa, following to the next checkpoint, Poiso.

We took again the way down, with views to the north of Madeira (Porto da Cruz and Santana) and quickly get to the next checkpoint, Portela, before getting some beautiful dirt roads and single-tracks towards to Casa das Funduras shelter, the last checkpoint, where it’s possible to birdwatch along the magic forest surrounding at the Funduras forest.

Taking, again, another downhill section that will take us to Boca do Risco, we will fastly climb again to enter a section of multiple ups and downhills in direction to Pico das Roçadas, before taking a last downhill that will cross Levada do Caniçal, before entering Caniçal village to reach the finish line by the Old Church in the center of the village.