This hike is wonderful and with 11.7 km out, you can enjoy ponchas and bolo do caco afterwards without feeling guilty. This was the route used by ancient madeirians to travel from the north to the south of the Island. We usually walk 6-8 km out and then return, but if you arrange transport you can be dropped off where it starts and picked up where it ends.

Our video from there:

https://youtu.be/_HrtCD2N0qA?t=360