21.7
PDI
8.9 mi
DISTANCE
3,431 ft
GAINED
7.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Helmuth Dekkers, Oisterwijk, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
INTRO
Eira do Serrado climbs 14.2 km (8.9 mi) from sea level in Funchal to the famous viewpoint above Curral das Freiras, gaining 1,045.8 m (3,431 ft) at a 7.1% average grade and finishing at 1,028.7 m (3,375 ft) on our route. The average hides some hard stretches: the steepest kilometer runs 12.2% and the steepest 5 km 9.7%.
The payoff is one of Madeira's most iconic views. The Eira do Serrado viewpoint looks roughly 600 m (1,969 ft) straight down into Curral das Freiras, the Nuns' Valley, a village tucked into a deep bowl of steep mountains, with Madeira's central peaks beyond.
The valley got its name in 1566, when nuns from Funchal's Santa Clara convent fled a French pirate raid and hid here. For centuries it could be reached only by narrow mountain trails, until a 2.4 km (1.5 mi) tunnel opened in 2004. Because the viewpoint is one of the island's best-known stops, expect company at the top.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Eira do Serrado gains 1,045.8 m (3,431 ft) in 14.2 km (8.9 mi), a 7.1% average, climbing from 27.1 m (89 ft) in Funchal to 1,028.7 m (3,375 ft) at the viewpoint.
The steepest 10 km average 8.7%, the steepest 5 km 9.7%, the steepest 2 km 11.4%, the steepest kilometer 12.2% and the steepest 500 m 12.6%. The steepest 0.4 km (0.25 mi) reaches 12.8%, and the steepest 91 m (100 yd) 15.1%.
Because you start at sea level, you finish more than 1,000 m (3,281 ft) higher than you began, so expect the air at the viewpoint to feel very different from the coast.
Roadway: The road is paved from Funchal all the way to the viewpoint. It begins in the city's built-up streets and turns into a mountain road as it climbs into the island's interior. Funchal's municipal council posts notices for road works on its hill roads, so check them before you ride.
Traffic: Moderate. Eira do Serrado is one of Madeira's best-known viewpoints, so expect cars, taxis and tour vehicles on the mountain road as well as city traffic on the lower section through Funchal. An early start keeps you ahead of most of it.
Parking: There is no dedicated cyclist parking at the start; the garages in central Funchal near Rua 5 de Outubro that we mention for our Pico Arieiro climbs work here too. At the top, the viewing platform is reached by a short footpath that begins beside the Estalagem Eira do Serrado, so bring shoes you can walk in and keep your bike where you can see it.
Gear: A compact chainring is worth having for the 12% pitches, and a light jacket or gilet is a good idea, since the interior can feel noticeably cooler and cloudier than Funchal's coast.
Provisions: Fill up your bottles in Funchal before starting. The hotel at the top has a restaurant and a bar terrace overlooking the valley, so you can plan your refuel there.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Curral das Freiras rewards a longer stay. The village is known for its chestnuts, which turn up in local soups, cakes and liqueurs, and it celebrates them with an annual chestnut festival. To see the village itself, the tunnel that opened in 2004 connects it to the road network, and a steep 2.6 km (1.6 mi) footpath, the Caminho das Voltas, links it with the viewpoint and has sections steeper than 30%.
For a second day on the bike, Pico Arieiro rises from the same part of Funchal - our Pico Arieiro pages cover the Poiso stop and the PR1 hike from the top. Conditions at 1,000 m in the interior can differ a lot from the coast, so check the forecast at the top with our Weather tool before you go.
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