Route: GR1 Madeira (Portugal)

The GR1 – Travessia da Madeira is Madeira's first official long-distance route crossing the entire island, linking Ribeira da Janela (Porto Moniz) on the wild north-west coast to Caniçal, on the arid eastern tip near Machico. Over roughly 90 km it climbs from sea level to the island's two highest peaks, Pico Ruivo and Pico do Areeiro, crosses the high Paul da Serra plateau, and descends through the ancient Laurissilva forest — a UNESCO World Heritage laurel forest found only in Macaronesia — before dropping back to the Atlantic. In one continuous line it compresses volcanic coastal cliffs, exposed alpine ridgelines, and primeval cloud forest: ecosystems that on most islands would take separate trips to see. Officially opened in 2026, it links several of Madeira's best-known PR trails into a single coast-to-coast crossing and is normally hiked in 4–6 days.

More info: https://hikingmadeira.com/blog/gr1-madeira-crossing-is-now-official/