Eco trail Madeira

The start of the great competition will be at 6:00 a.m. on the October 19st, at Parque Santa Catarina, with the athletes running along some of the main streets of the city centre towards the eastern side, going past Jardins do Palheiro (Gardens) one of the most charismatic green spots of the city. Parque Ecológico do Funchal (Ecological Park) will be their first target, and soon after they will reach Pico do Areeiro, through trails and “levadas” the athletes will go uphill to the summit in one go. From there they go down to Serras de S.Roque (hills) and then up bordering Levada da Negra. From Terreiro do Freixo to Pico do Prado it will be quick, but to reach Pico do Cedro, technically the climb will be much more demanding. Paredão is the halfway down the descent, before taking Lombo da Estrela as far as Três Paus, a downward slope of about 1000 meters, which implies descending at break-neck speed. In the final stage the athletes go through the area of the hotels, with special highlight for the walkway by the sea and Levada dos Piornais, before they immerse triumphantly in the centre of the city, through Avenida do Infante.

The start of this race will be in the morning of the October 19st, at Parque Santa Catarina at 7:30 AM. The start and finish will be at Parque de Santa Catarina in the centre of Funchal. The race will take place in a single stage, at a free pace, with precise time barriers.

The start of this race is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on the October 19st in the highlands of Santo Antonio. Starting straight away uphill towards Pico do Prado, the athletes will almost literally break into Levada da Serra, one of the oldest irrigation channels, which is still of great importance today. Going up and downhill, always through areas where the reforestation carried out by different entities has started to bear fruit, the athletes will come to Pico do Buxo without much physical demand, and from there they will start going downwards towards the city centre. Ahead they will be faced with descents, the difficulty of which will be soothed by the fantastic views over Funchal. From Estrela to Praia Formosa, one of the iconic pebble beaches in Funchal, the run continues through paths and alleys that unveil the essence of an almost secluded city. Towards the end, it is a single stroll along the coastal area, passing briefly along Levada dos Piornais, another “levada”, which still has great significance for the agriculture and for the irrigation of the gardens in the outskirts of the city, followed by a triumphant descent to Avenida do Infante to the finish line at Avenida Arriaga

The shortest race of the Ecotrail Funchal – Madeira, starts at Pico dos Barcelos, at on October 19st. Departing from an altitude of about 355 meters, the athletes will take a route mostly downhill, going past Levada do Curral, Levada do Castelejo and Levada dos Piornais, without leaving behind the seafront of Funchal to the beautiful, terraced Gardens of Lido, and from there up to Levada dos Piornais. From this point the athletes can enjoy superb views over the area where most hotels are. To end this wonderful experience, nothing like the shade of the beautiful jacarandas at Avenida do Infante towards Avenida da Arriaga.

For this first year, children under 16 will have the opportunity to run two laps of approximately 940M, or nearly 1890M.