Glaciar de Planalto
Bica da Cana to ER 105: Current Trail Access & Conditions
High plateau route; officially closed; confirm on the IFCN list before planning.
Trail Closed by Official Order: Do Not Enter
Official access is prohibited by IFCN order due to rockfall, unstable substrate, or gale winds. Respect barriers at all times.
Current Trail Conditions & Safety:
- The forestry service has closed this walk. Do not go in.
“ENCERRADO segundo lista oficial IFCN.”
Before You Leave: Timing & Departure Advice
Official trail closure or summit gale gusts exceed safety thresholds. Conditions will not clear sufficiently today.
Plan to be off exposed ridgelines or unlit levada channels at least 2 hours before dusk.
Hikers without supportive footwear. Uneven stones and mud can be slick.
Public bus
Not a live timetable. Colors match the map: bus, walk, taxi gap. Clocks appear only from a full PDF or from the Horários do Funchal feed. Where there is no bus: licensed taxi or private transfer. The taxi lines use the 2026 IMT meter on named road kilometres. This site does not book the ride.
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Hike
Hike between trailheads, about 2.5 hours. That figure is the trail estimate, not a bus time.
Classified PRs need a Simplifica booking, including RAM residents who pay nothing. A paid booking does not open a closed trail.
Camping only in IFCN zones, licence on Simplifica, €5 per tent per night. Wild camping and fires are not allowed.
Mountain Weather at Elevation
Temperatures on Madeira drop by roughly 6.5°C per 1,000 meters of elevation. High ridges are significantly colder and windier than the coast.
Elevation Profile & Mountain Cloud Ceiling
Cross-section of the route relative to the trade-wind cloud layer (Mar de Nuvens), tunnel sections, and exposed cliff edges.
PR27 rises from 1200m to 1560m over 4.6 km. Estimated cloud base is about 800m with tops near 1250m. High summits can sit above the cloud sea in dry sunshine (inversion).
Route Equipment & Permit Checklist
Official gear guidelines, tunnel safety requirements, and conservation fees for this specific route.
PR27 Warning / Closure: Recommended Open Alternatives
Do not hike past closed gates. These alternative Madeira walking routes avoid the summit cloud deck or storm front and are officially open in the IFCN register today.
Levada da Fajã do Rodrigues
Fajã da Ama to Ribeira do Inferno
Sunny area situated safely below the cloud ceiling.
Highest point is 600m (960m lower than Bica da Cana to ER 105). Situated well beneath the condensation cloud layer.
Levada do Rei
São Jorge to Ribeiro Bonito
Sunny area situated safely below the cloud ceiling.
Highest point is 540m (1020m lower than Bica da Cana to ER 105). Situated well beneath the condensation cloud layer.
Vereda das Funduras
Portela – Maroços
Sunny area situated safely below the cloud ceiling.
Highest point is 600m (960m lower than Bica da Cana to ER 105). Coastal sea-level sunshine and volcanic peninsula views.
Bica da Cana to ER 105: Sunrise, First Light & Departure
Astronomically calculated for 1560m elevation (1.16° geometric horizon dip). The sun crests 6 minutes earlier than sea level in Funchal.
Depart Funchal by 06:31 to secure trailhead parking before the lot fills (around 06:15) and reach the viewpoint ahead of first civil light (07:37).
Morning Light Progression
Frequently Asked Questions • PR27 Glaciar de Planalto
Is PR27 (Glaciar de Planalto) open or closed today in Madeira?
The official IFCN status for PR27 Glaciar de Planalto is currently CLOSED. Mountain trail access is updated by IFCN for rockfall, wet rock, or gale warnings. Physical trailhead barriers and ranger notices always override online statuses.
What are the current weather and cloud conditions at Glaciar de Planalto?
Mountain weather across Madeira differs drastically from Funchal. At PR27 (spanning 1200m to 1560m), trade winds often create a thick cloud layer between 1,000m and 1,400m while the highest peaks may sit in clear sunshine. Check the live mountain camera above before setting out.
Do I need to pay an entrance fee or permit for PR27?
No specific access fee is currently mandated for this trail, subject to standard regional environmental conservation rules.
What should I do if PR27 is closed?
Never bypass closed gates or warning tape. If the central peaks or northern levadas are closed by weather, the East Coast (PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço) or lower southern levadas typically provide dry, sunny fallback conditions.
How does parking and return transport work at Glaciar de Planalto?
This is a linear one-way traverse (4.6 km). Start and end points are in different valleys. Pre-book your taxi or private return shuttle, as remote mountain trailheads (e.g. Achada do Teixeira) have no regular bus service.