MIUT 115 – Madeira Island Ultra-Trail Races

The MIUT 115 is the queen event of the Madeira Island Ultra-Trail event. It aims to cross the western island through the heart of the island and its highest peaks.
Like the other formats, its route follows technical and demanding paths strewn with endless steps. Its requirement and the beauty of its landscapes make it one of the most recognized races in the middle of the trail.

In race condition, the start is at midnight, so the first section on the western mountain range is therefore at night. The race starts from the pretty village of Porto Moniz. After only a few meters, the path rises sharply on a bump that leads to Ribeira da Janela. It is immediately followed by a new climb, through a very lush forest, which leads to the Fanal plateau. The descent to Seixal is one of the most demanding of the route: the frenzy of its steps seems endless and requires you to remain vigilant.

A new relatively steep climb begins in the direction of Estanquinhos before softening at the end when you reach the high plateau. The descent that follows is very pleasant from the moment you find denser vegetation. In a very playful way, the path meanders and slides in the bottom of the valley. You then have to go up to the Encuemeada pass to find a very pretty levada.

You then descend slightly into a new valley before climbing again at the cost of a long section to the Cerro pass. This passage offers the first unobstructed views of the island. A relatively demanding descent takes you to Curral des Freiras which marks approximately the middle of the route.

A long ascent guides you to the highest point of the island: Pico Ruivo. It begins in a beautiful eucalyptus forest which awakens your senses, before continuing on a more open ridge. From then on, a magnificent section is offered to you, without a doubt my favorite part of the course. You walk on a ridge as spectacular as it is vertiginous. The panoramas over the jagged peaks never cease to amaze. From Pico Ruivo to Pico Arieiro, it is quite simply the Holy Grail. The path crosses impressive cliff sides and takes several tunnels dug into the rock. As a true tightrope walker, you reach the Pico Arieiro which punctuates this enchanted parenthesis.

A large and long portion of descent then begins. Fortunately, it is not as demanding as the first ones and allows you to unroll without major difficulty. Along pleasant paths and levadas (irrigation canals), you come to Porto da Cruz which is at sea level.

A last short climb leads you to an extraordinary new path. It dominates the ocean by a few hundred meters, while caressing beautiful steep cliffs. As a highlight, the Machico Valley awaits you. A levada takes care of guiding you to the edge of the ocean. A final descent, short but steep, delivers you by offering the point of arrival.