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Pico Alto and Monte’s Fountain: Down the Old Royal Road

Distance
5.2 km
Time
1 h 46 min
Elevation gain
148 m
Difficulty
Moderate
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Route description

The old royal road connects Funchal’s mountain side with Monte. From the Ecological Park Welcome Centre, the walk passes Levada das Cales and Pico Alto Viewpoint before descending towards urban stairways and the Nossa Senhora do Monte Fountain. It offers an appealing way to approach the historic suburb from woodland. This version includes short returns and branches, allowing a proper viewpoint pause without squeezing the day into the usual PR 3.1 timing.

Route status

Проверяем свежесть данных по треку и учитываем сообщения сообщества

Запретов на посещение и пожаров рядом нет

Проверяем спутниковые данные о пожарах и предупреждения по региону.

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Подробнее о состоянии маршрута No recent trail condition reports
Data source Information prepared

The description, logistics and points of interest were prepared using maps and open sources. Trail conditions may change.

Route data was imported from GPX and has not been field-verified.

Last updated 12.10.2026

Before travelling, check trail access, restrictions and the weather forecast.

Current conditions No recent trail condition reports

Conditions may have changed. Share a report after completing the route.

Community experience

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Elevation profile

gentle climb steep

Surface

Paving stones 30% · Artificial surface 27% · Dirt / grass 19% · Unknown 14%

Surface data covers 4.43 km of 5.15 km; the rest of the track is not yet classified.

Paving stones 30% · 1.53 km
Artificial surface 27% · 1.41 km
Dirt / grass 19% · 1.00 km
Dirt 8% · 0.39 km
Asphalt 2% · 0.10 km
Unknown 14% · 0.72 km

Before you go

Всё важное о маршруте

Route at a glance

Главное за минуту
Pico Alto lets you see Funchal from above before entering its streets. Farther down, the old paving and levada accompany the gradual change from mountain park to residential Monte. The fountain on the final section makes a natural pause before a separate church or garden visit.
Length
5.2 km
Elevation gain
148 m
Surface
Paving stones 30%

Route suitability

Кому будет комфортно
Without a car: Hard With children: With caution With a dog: No data By bike: No With a stroller: No Mobile signal: No data

Nearby

Nossa Senhora do Monte Church and Monte Palace garden require separate approaches and visiting time. Interiors, gardens and a traditional wicker-sledge ride are outside this walk’s automatic programme. The cable car also has separate operating conditions and tickets; check with its operator before selecting the return journey.

Getting there

Варианты и важные моменты Show on map
Without a car
SIGA publishes route 021 from Monte to central Funchal via Largo da Fonte. Monte-Lajinhas is beside the lower walking section; confirm boarding and the service for your date. For the Ecological Park departure, check connections towards Ribeira das Cales or arrange a transfer. A city service to Monte does not resolve the upper approach.
By car
Use the Ecological Park Welcome Centre beside Ribeira das Cales as the departure landmark. Follow the current road approach to that complex rather than another place named Pico Alto. The walk ends lower down at Monte, so arrange retrieval of your car beforehand. The final steps and walking passages cannot provide vehicle support.
Parking
Permitted parking at the departure welcome centre is not confirmed. Ask the park administration about vehicle storage and permitted hours before travelling. A drop-off at the complex does not establish an all-day parking entitlement. Allow for a separate return from Monte.

Электрички туда и обратно

Расписание на дату и время, до которого нужно выйти на маршрут

What to expect

Places
Levada das Cales the historic irrigation channel beside part of the royal road.
Pico Alto Viewpoint the platform above Funchal overlooking the bay in clear conditions.
Nossa Senhora do Monte Fountain the named fountain on the urban finishing section.

Difficult sections and safety

На что обратить внимание
Elevation gainСуммарный набор высоты — 148 м.
SurfacePaving stones 30%, Artificial surface 27%, Dirt / grass 19%, Unknown 14%.
Риски Protect your knees on the descent: paving and steps become slippery after rain. Check the selected viewpoint branch and watch for vehicles on local streets. Fog can obscure Pico Alto’s panorama and make navigation harder. Carry drinking water; the fountain’s drinking-water quality is not established.

How much time to allow

Оцените свой темп
Расчётное время в пути 1 h 46 min
С запасом на остановки + 30–60 мин
Allow roughly 3–4 hours for this version, including repeated passages, the viewpoint and urban pauses. This is an unhurried visiting estimate; keep Monte’s church and gardens as a separate part of the day. Check the last convenient service from Monte and the upper approach before starting. An extension towards Areeiro needs a new mountain plan.

Best time to go

Сезонность и рекомендации
Choose a day with good visibility above Funchal, which shapes the Pico Alto visit. After rain, steps and stone paving matter more than the city temperature. The park can be cooler and damper than the waterfront. Check municipal PR 3.1 restrictions before setting out.

What to bring

Базовый список для комфортного похода
Grippy footwear for steps
Water and a small snack
Light rain protection and a park layer
A map of Pico Alto branches
A phone with spare power
Monte service details and return-transfer arrangements

FAQ

Questions before the trip

Can I do this route without a car?

SIGA publishes route 021 from Monte to central Funchal via Largo da Fonte. Monte-Lajinhas is beside the lower walking section; confirm boarding and the service for your date. For the Ecological Park departure, check connections towards Ribeira das Cales or arrange a transfer. A city service to Monte does not resolve the upper approach

Is this route suitable for children?

Possible with caution: review the surface, difficult sections, and extra time for stops in advance.

Can I download GPX and KML?

Yes, GPX and KML are available on the route page. Open the map, download the file, and use it in a navigator before your trip; key route facts: 5.2 km, moderate.

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