# Funchal Marathon

Plan Funchal Marathon's route, elevation, aid stations and start access, with four course intervals and sourced historical weather.

## Race facts

- Location: Funchal, Madeira, PT
- Primary distance: Marathon
- Organizer: Madeira Athletics Association
- Reviewed: 2026-10-02T18:13:15.531259+00:00

## Why this race belongs on a competitive runner's shortlist

A winter Madeira road marathon whose repeated western-city legs give way to a downhill transition and waterfront laps. The official signs make lap counting unusually important: the Casino returns recur at 1.6, 9.05, 16.4 and 23.8 km, with the turn toward downtown at 31 km. The current 2027 schedule and regulations both place the start at 07:00. It suits runners who want a winter island marathon and can manage repeated laps. The course includes Rua do Gorgulho and Estrada Monumental.

## Course overview

Repeated western out-and-back legs, a one-way descent into downtown after 31 km, then two additional waterfront laps before the third finish-area passage. The start is Rua do Gorgulho and the finish is Bus parking in front of Empresa de Eletricidade da Madeira / Casa da Luz. The route takes in Rua do Gorgulho, Estrada Monumental, Madeira Congress Center / Casino return, Assicom Roundabout, Avenida do Infante descent, Avenida de Arriaga, Praça da Autonomia, Avenida do Mar / Casa da Luz. Rolling western section generally about 35 to 65 m until 31 km; sharp descent toward the harbor by 33 km, then nearly level waterfront running.

## 0 to 10 km

The 0 to 10 km interval includes Rua do Gorgulho, Estrada Monumental, Madeira Congress Center / Casino return. Official altitude chart shows rolling terrain roughly 40 to 65 m, including a crest near km 5 to 6; heights are approximate visual readings. Official spacing is no more than 5 km, with water and isotonic drink plus bananas, dried fruit and energy bars; exact table positions not published. Count Casino returns at 1.6 and 9.05 km; avoid racing the repeated short climbs.

## 10 to 21.1 km

The 10 to 21.1 km interval includes Estrada Monumental, Avenida do Infante / Casino return. Official profile rolls near 40 to 60 m, with rises near km 13 to 14 and 20 to 21 rather than a continuously flat section. Stations remain at most 5 km apart; extra water every 2.5 km is conditional on weather, not guaranteed. Water/isotonic and solid foods are published but station-specific offerings are not. Use the 16.4 km Casino sign to confirm the lap and keep climbing effort repeatable.

## 21.1 to 32 km

The 21.1 to 32 km interval includes Assicom Roundabout, Casino return, Avenida do Infante descent. Profile dips near 35 m at 24 km, rises to about 60 m around 27 to 28 km, then drops sharply after 31 km toward the harbor. Official maximum gap remains 5 km. Carry any specific preferred fuel because the organizer lists food categories without assigning them to kilometers. The 23.8 km Casino return is not the exit; take the downtown direction at 31 km and descend without overstriding.

## 32 to 42.195 km

The 32 to 42.195 km interval includes Avenida de Arriaga, Praça da Autonomia, Almirante Reis Garden, Avenida do Mar, Casa da Luz. The official chart reaches roughly 5 to 10 m by 33 to 34 km and stays nearly level through the finish, unlike the western rolling section. Water and isotonic drink stations are at most 5 km apart, plus the finish; exact waterfront positions and product allocation are not published. First finish-area passage is 35.2 km, second 38.7 km; only the third passage ends the marathon. Build effort only when the lap count is secure.

## Elevation checkpoints and how to read them

Total ascent is 134 m. Race Index modeled total from a 667-point 42.3 km trace attributed to madeiramarathon.com, geometry fetched 2026-06-26, snapshot 47 fd 7 ce 55610. Method scoring-methodology-v 1.0 resamples every 10 m, applies 50 m rolling median and 20 m Gaussian smoothing, then 1 m gain/loss hysteresis. Not an organizer-published ascent; headline totals are rounded independently. Repeated western rolling legs precede the major Avenida do Infante descent at 31 to 33 km; final waterfront section is almost level.

## Aid stations and race-day logistics

Drink-station spacing is approximate. At most 5 km apart throughout; finish area: Water and isotonic drink; bananas, dried fruit and energy bars. Additional 2.5 km water points may be added depending on weather. The start is Rua do Gorgulho (course page); 07:00 start per 2027 schedule and regulations. 2027 regulations include free transport to start points on Horários do Funchal public buses; specific bus routes/timetable not supplied in inspected rules. Six-hour marathon cutoff. Check-in location and hours are due early January 2027; same-day check-in costs an additional€2.50. Included transport of bags from start to finish; organizer does not provide a bag, so bring your own.

## Practical pacing plan

Hold a sustainable effort. Count Casino returns at 1.6 and 9.05 km; avoid racing the repeated short climbs. Check effort at Rua do Gorgulho. Use the 16.4 km Casino sign to confirm the lap and keep climbing effort repeatable. The 23.8 km Casino return is not the exit; take the downtown direction at 31 km and descend without overstriding. First finish-area passage is 35.2 km, second 38.7 km; only the third passage ends the marathon. Build effort only when the lap count is secure. Push only while effort and form remain controlled. Use Casa da Luz as the closing landmark. Adjust pace for wind, rain and temperature on race day; the monthly historical sample is not a race-morning forecast.

## Historical weather pattern

January history for Funchal, Madeira gives a typical daily temperature range of 53.3 to 65.5 degrees Fahrenheit, daily maximum sustained winds of 5 to 13.3 mph, and at least 1 mm of rain on 28.4 percent of days. Historical conditions can change, so check the race-week forecast before travel and again on race morning.

## Edition history

- [2027, Marathon](https://www.madeiramarathon.com/schedule)

## Sources

1. [2027 Schedule](https://www.madeiramarathon.com/schedule)
2. [2027 Regulations](https://www.madeiramarathon.com/_files/ugd/a0eaa2_4dcf894ee8744fe6aa7ec82d2b534ad1.pdf)
3. [Course description (stale afternoon start time)](https://www.madeiramarathon.com/courses)
4. [Official course altitude graph](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a0eaa2_ca3beb7b760243de87f1b949c7c06c94~mv2.jpg)
5. [Refreshment stations](https://www.madeiramarathon.com/refreshment-stations)
6. [Course information signs](https://www.madeiramarathon.com/information-signs)
7. [Marathon Casino return sign](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a0eaa2_95da4f28914d48cb8b06ffc59578c0b4~mv2.png)
8. [Marathon finish-area passage sign](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a0eaa2_602dfcec89e848c5bfddb13d370324dd~mv2.png)
9. [Funchal marathon modeled course profile](https://raceindex.org/marathon/maratona-do-funchal-funchal-marathon)
10. [scoring-methodology-v 1.0: course profile normalization](https://raceindex.org/methodology)
11. [Funchal, Madeira historical daily ERA5 archive, 2016 to 2025](https://archive-api.open-meteo.com/v1/archive?latitude=32.665&longitude=-16.925&start_date=2016-01-01&end_date=2025-12-31&daily=temperature_2m_max,temperature_2m_min,precipitation_sum,wind_speed_10m_max&temperature_unit=fahrenheit&wind_speed_unit=mph&timezone=UTC&models=era5)

Canonical URL: https://www.yigri.com/races/funchal-marathon-funchal