Times from the operators' timetables on SIGA, the Region's public transport site. Each trail's page has the full list.
Getting there. Baía d'Abra, where the walk starts and ends, is a bus stop. CAM line 113 (new no. 702), Funchal → Baía d'Abra, first bus: Monday to Friday 07:30 → 08:50; Saturdays 07:30 → 08:45; Sundays and holidays 07:30 → 08:40.
Getting back. CAM line 113 (new no. 702), Baía d'Abra → Funchal, last bus: Monday to Friday 19:35 → 21:05; Saturdays 19:35 → 21:05; Sundays and holidays 18:15 → 19:45.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPENGetting there. Ribeiro Frio, where the walk starts and ends, is a bus stop. CAM's Santana-line buses, Funchal → Ribeiro Frio, first bus: Monday to Friday 08:10 → 08:50; Saturdays 07:30 → 08:12; Sundays and holidays 07:30 → 08:12.
Getting back. CAM's Santana-line buses, Ribeiro Frio → Funchal, last bus: Monday to Friday 18:12 → 19:00; Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 18:30 → 19:20.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPENGetting there. Prazeres, where the walk starts, is a bus stop. Rodoeste line 142, Funchal → Prazeres, bus: every day 08:05 → 11:15.
Getting back. The walk ends at Paul do Mar, which has a bus back to Funchal. Rodoeste line 142, Paul do Mar → Funchal, bus: Monday to Friday 14:15 → 16:55. Rodoeste line 80, Paul do Mar → Funchal, bus: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 17:00 → 18:40. On weekdays that leaves about 3 hours between arriving at Prazeres and the bus back.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPENGetting there. Prazeres, where the walk starts, is a bus stop. Rodoeste line 142, Funchal → Prazeres, bus: every day 08:05 → 11:15.
Getting back. The walk ends at Jardim do Mar, which has a bus back to Funchal. Rodoeste line 142, Jardim do Mar → Funchal, bus: Monday to Friday 14:20 → 16:55. Rodoeste line 80, Jardim do Mar → Funchal, bus: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 17:05 → 18:40. On weekdays that leaves about 3 hours between arriving at Prazeres and the bus back.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): CLOSEDGetting there. No bus goes up to Queimadas. Take a CAM bus to Santana, then a taxi up to the Queimadas forest park (ask the fare when you book). CAM's Santana-line buses, Funchal → Santana, first bus: Monday to Friday 07:30 → 09:00; Saturdays 07:30 → 09:13; Sundays and holidays 07:30 → 09:18.
Getting back. CAM's Santana-line buses, Santana → Funchal, last bus: Monday to Friday 17:25 → 19:00; Saturdays 17:28 → 19:20; Sundays and holidays 17:28 → 19:20.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPENGetting there. No bus goes up to Queimadas. Take a CAM bus to Santana, then a taxi up to the Queimadas forest park (ask the fare when you book). CAM's Santana-line buses, Funchal → Santana, first bus: Monday to Friday 07:30 → 09:00; Saturdays 07:30 → 09:13; Sundays and holidays 07:30 → 09:18.
Getting back. CAM's Santana-line buses, Santana → Funchal, last bus: Monday to Friday 17:25 → 19:00; Saturdays 17:28 → 19:20; Sundays and holidays 17:28 → 19:20.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPENGetting there. Curral das Freiras, where the walk starts, is a bus stop. Horários do Funchal line 81 (new no. 181), Funchal → Curral das Freiras, first bus: Monday to Friday 06:55; Saturdays 07:40; Sundays and holidays 06:40.
Getting back. We found no bus from Lombo do Urzal, where the walk ends: book a taxi or arrange a pick-up before you set off.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPENGetting there. Ribeiro Frio, where the walk starts, is a bus stop. CAM's Santana-line buses, Funchal → Ribeiro Frio, first bus: Monday to Friday 08:10 → 08:50; Saturdays 07:30 → 08:12; Sundays and holidays 07:30 → 08:12.
Getting back. Lines 53 and 78 (new no. 825) run via Portela, but their timetables print no time at Portela: ask CAM for the time it passes, or take a taxi.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPENGetting there. We found no bus to Ribeira das Cales, where the walk starts: you need a car, a taxi or a transfer.
Getting back. The walk ends at Monte, which has a bus back to Funchal. Horários do Funchal line 21, Monte → Funchal, last bus: Monday to Friday 19:05; Saturdays 18:05; Sundays and holidays 18:05.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPENGetting there. The walk starts at the Pico Ruivo shelter, which no bus or road reaches: you get there on foot by PR1 or PR1.2.
Getting back. The walk ends at Encumeada, which has a bus back to Funchal. Rodoeste line 6, Encumeada → Funchal, bus: every day 16:00 → 17:05. It is the only bus of the day from there, so don't miss it.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPENGetting there. We found no bus to Lombo do Mouro, where the walk starts: you need a car, a taxi or a transfer.
Getting back. The walk ends at Encumeada, which has a bus back to Funchal. Rodoeste line 6, Encumeada → Funchal, bus: every day 16:00 → 17:05. It is the only bus of the day from there, so don't miss it.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): PARTLY OPEN — Passable route between Encumeada and Bica da Cana.Getting there. Lines 53 and 78 (new no. 825) run via Portela, but their timetables print no time at Portela: ask CAM for the time it passes, or take a taxi.
Getting back. The walk ends at Maroços, which has a bus back to Funchal. CAM line 156 (new no. 704), Maroços → Funchal, last bus: Monday to Friday 21:10 → 22:20; Saturdays 22:35 → 23:45; Sundays and holidays 22:35 → 23:45.
Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPENNone of the bus lines published on SIGA serves these trailheads. You need a car, a taxi or a tour transfer.
Four trails have a public bus to the start and back from the end: PR8 São Lourenço (CAM line 113 to Baía d'Abra), PR11 Balcões (CAM's Santana buses to Ribeiro Frio), and PR19 and PR20 (Rodoeste line 142 to Prazeres in the morning, back from Paul do Mar or Jardim do Mar in the afternoon). Six more have a bus at one end only.
No. None of the bus lines published on SIGA serves Rabaçal, the Paul da Serra plateau or the Fanal, so PR6 25 Fontes, PR6.1 Risco, PR13 Fanal and the other trails up there need a car, a taxi or a transfer.
Yes. CAM line 113 (new no. 702) runs every day from Funchal to Baía d'Abra, where PR8 starts and ends. The first bus leaves Funchal at 07:30.
Partly. CAM buses run from Funchal to Santana, but none goes up to the Queimadas forest park where PR9 starts: take a taxi from Santana for the last stretch.
On SIGA (siga.madeira.gov.pt/horarios), the Region's public transport site, which publishes the operators' timetables. Check them before you travel: times can change.
Bus times: the operators' timetables (CAM, Rodoeste, Horários do Funchal) published on SIGA, checked 3 Oct 2026. Times at intermediate stops are approximate; no buses on 25 December; check before you travel. Trail status: IFCN trail warnings.