Madeira Island Ultra-Trail

Rising dramatically from the deep Atlantic, Madeira is a runner's paradise of vertical terrain, lush subtropical vegetation and relentless single track. The Ultra-Trail course traverses the island's volcanic spine, following the famous levadas, centuries old water channels carved into mountainsides, that provide some of the most unique trail running on Earth. These narrow paths, often cut into sheer cliff faces with dizzying drops below, demand focus and reward courage with views that stretch to the horizon.

The course climbs to Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, Madeira's highest summits, where runners break through the cloud layer into brilliant sunshine above. Below, the UNESCO protected laurisilva forest, a relic of prehistoric vegetation, cloaks the mountainsides in emerald green. The contrast between the exposed volcanic ridgelines and the sheltered, mossy forest ravines gives this race an extraordinary variety of atmosphere and terrain.

Madeira's mild year round climate, its welcoming culture and the sheer beauty of its landscapes make the Ultra-Trail a destination race in the truest sense. Whether you come for the competition or the adventure, you leave with the memory of an island that feels like another world.