We’ve been fortunate to do some pretty incredible hikes on the island of Madeira. Incredible coastal hikes, Levada trails, and mountain hikes – but if there’s one hike that takes the cake, it’s Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. On a clear and sunny day, you’ll have some of the best views on the island including from the top of Pico Arieiro and the famous Pico Ruivo which is the tallest peak on the island.

On this hike, you get to cross some of Madeira’s most beautiful mountains while hiking up to the tallest peaks on the island. This makes Pico do Arieiro the most famous and popular hike in Madeira. You really can’t beat the views.

The Pico do Arieiro trail (or PR1 Madeira as it’s also called) will bring you along ridgelines, through dark tunnels, and up to the highest peaks on the island.

One of the best sunset and sunrise spots in Madeira is even along this hike! *Hint hint* it’s at the top of Pico Ruivo!

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What to expect when hiking Pico do Arieiro (PR1 Madeira)

When you plan to do this hike, you can expect to do a bit of planning before you go. Pico do Arieiro is a one-way trail so before you go, you have to figure out how you’ll get to the trailhead and how you get back once you finish the hike. We’re here to help so in this post, you can find all the different ways to do it in this post!

On this trail, you can expect a lot of people and guided tours as well. PR 1 Pico do Arieiro is the most famous hiking trail in Madeira so, of course, lots of people do this hike daily. Thankfully it’s mostly one-way traffic as most people do the hike from Pico Arieiro towards Pico Ruivo but you will also meet people doing it in the opposite direction.

Another thing to take into consideration before you go is that weather plays a big part in the Pico do Arieiro hike. We were lucky and had one of the clearest days (words from our guide) but we also had friends do the hike on a cloudy day and they barely got to see anything. It is pretty common for it to be quite cloudy up in the Madeira mountains.

Look at the weather forecast for Pico do Arieiro here and you can also check out the live webcam for Pico do Aireiro here. If the weather is looking a little crappy you can always do one of the many other amazing hikes on the island. We have a few recommendations! 😉

Practical information about hiking the Pico do Arieiro trail

Official trail name: PR1 – Pico do Arieiro – Pico Ruivo
Distance: 13.2 km one way / 8.2 miles one way
Elevation: Roughly 1180 m / 3871 ft. elevation gain
Type: One-way trail
Length: 5-6 hours total (with breaks, hiking to Pico Ruivo, and to the last car park)
Difficulty: Hard (lots of ascents and descent)
Rating: 5/5 

Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Pico do Arieiro trail.  

Here’s a picture of the beginning of the Pico do Arieiro hike:

Starting at the PR1 Pico do Arieiro parking lot

The Pico do Arieiro parking lot is the most common starting point for this hike. It’s on the Funchal side of the island and that’s where most guided tours, private shuttles, taxis, and people with their own car start the hike from.

Next to the parking lot, you’ll find a big building where you can buy snacks, use the toilet, and check out the view from Pico do Arieiro. You basically start the hike at the top of one of the three peaks!

Pico do Arieiro is a crazy 1818 meters above sea level which makes it the third tallest peak on the entire island. You can imagine how far up you’ve come already if you’re staying in Funchal which is basically at sea level. 

This section of the hike is also the craziest and most touristy since a lot of people do drive up just to see Pico do Arieiro and don’t actually do the trail. So don’t worry, the trail will (hopefully) thin out soon enough!

We found the beginning of the hike to be the coldest and windiest as you’re completely exposed and in the open with no shelter from any other mountains. You’ll be walking along the ridge between mountains completely exposed on both sides!

Pro tip: Before you start the hike, make sure you use the toilet in the building (it costs €0.50). This will be your only option for a few hours as there are no toilets on the trail and there is no coverage 😉

Continuing towards the second peak, Pico das Torres

Expect some ascents and descents throughout the hike! You might be thinking the hike is going to be quite easy since the beginning of the trail starts so high up. But the trail is anything from flat the whole way. 

During this section towards Pico das Torres you’ll have quite a few staircases (see the first picture above) where you hike down a bunch, then a few minutes after you will run into another staircase where you have to hike back up. This is why it is a really good idea to bring hiking poles.

Thankfully there are a few viewpoints along the way where you can relax and rest. From one of them, you can even see Porto Santo in the distance on a clear day.

As you continue, you’ll hike through a few dark tunnels! If you’ve done Levada 25 Fontes before you’ll kinda know what to expect. The only difference here is that the tunnels are much shorter on Pico do Arieiro but there are 6 of them! The length varies between 80 and 300 meters.

You won’t actually hike up to the top of Pico das Torres but you will walk by and see it. This part is super tough and is basically just a ton of staircases you have to walk up. The good news is that once you make it past Pico das Torres the hardest part of the hike is out of the way!

This also means you’re one step closer to Pico Ruivo and to an awesome lunch spot.

Continuing towards Casa de Abrigo for lunch

Walking amongst dead trees before getting to Casa de Abrigo

This is the last stretch before Casa de Abrigo where you can stop, relax, and have a nice lunch break in the sun (hopefully)! The part from Pico das Torres to Casa de Abrigo is mostly uphill but it isn’t too challenging. You’ve got the hardest part of the hike out of the way and this stretch will feel like a breeze compared to what you’ve already done.

You’ll have a bit of a descent that wraps around a mountain and then one final push up to Casa de Abrigo. Along the trail, you’ll notice how the flora and trees change. This section has a bunch of burnt/dead trees that have turned completely white. It’s quite fascinating, especially with all the crazy mountains and valleys in the background. You’re never short of spectacular views throughout this hike.

Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo

At last, you’ll see Casa de Abrigo which is the perfect spot to have a nice lunch break. Here you can buy drinks, cake, and little snacks inside. It is slightly pricier than the rest of the island but it’s because the workers have to carry the food 2.6 km from the Achada do Teixeira parking lot to the cabin on their shoulders multiple times a day every single day! 

There are tables, chairs, and toilets so you can have a full-on break and enjoy some food before the last stretch to the top of Pico Ruivo.

Fun fact: You can actually stay in Casa de Abrigo overnight. This is totally worth doing because from there you can catch the most beautiful sunrise in all of Madeira.

The last stretch to the top of Pico Ruivo

We actually went straight to the top of Pico Ruivo. We knew if we ended up sitting down and eating lunch first we’d get tired and cold and it would make it a lot harder to make it to the top. Thankfully, the summit of Pico Ruivo is only a 15-minute hike from Casa de Abrigo so we went for it.

As you head up, just follow the signs and stay left. At some part, the trail splits in two. If you head right you end up on a +10km hike away from the peak, so make sure you stay left!

Once you’re at the top you can finally say you’ve made it to the highest peak in Madeira. Pico Ruivo is the highest peak and stands at 1861 meters. Not bad, especially thinking you were at sea level only a few hours ago. 

View of Nuns Valley from Pico Ruivo

From Pico Ruivo, you’ll get an epic panoramic view of the whole island. You’ll see the Nuns Valley on one side and Santana on the other on a clear day. You might even be able to see Porto Santo island on a clear day.

The top of Pico Ruivo is also the best sunrise spot in Madeira. As we mentioned, you can stay at Casa de Abrigo and hike up in the morning for sunrise. It’s hands down one of the coolest (literally and figuratively) things we’ve done in Madeira. If you get the chance to do it you definitely should!

When you’re done admiring the views, head back down to Casa de Abrigo.

Down to the Pico Ruivo parking lot (Achada do Teixeira)

If you do the hike with a guided tour, shuttle service, or take a taxi then you’ll finish at the Pico Ruivo parking lot. It’s about a 40-minute walk from Casa de Abrigo down to the car park. It’s mostly downhill and an easy trail back down.

This last section of the hike is actually one of our favourite parts of the whole hike. Every time you look back for a second you look back at these stunning mountains that are so dramatic and extreme. 

You can look back and see a portion of the trail you already hiked and how much distance you’ve covered in a small amount of time. It’s crazy thinking that back in the day, Madeiran people would use the Pico do Arieiro trail to go from one side of the mountain to the other. 

Slowly but steadily, you’ll keep descending and descending and then after the last bend, the car park will come to view and you’ll be finished this epic hike! It’s really one for the books. This hike is a must-do and on a clear sunny day, you’ll see all of Madeira. If you only have time to do one hike while you’re in Madeira it should be Pico do Arieiro.

What to bring on the PR1 Madeira trail

One of the most important things to bring on Pico do Arieiro is proper clothing. We did the hike on a very sunny day in March and even though it was warm, a lot of the hike was in the shade and quite chilly. 

Also, the beginning of the hike near Pico do Arieiro can get quite windy and cold. Then at the end of the hike near Pico Ruivo, you can be totally exposed to the sun and feel like you’re burning. A few layers of clothes that you can easily take on and off is your best bet for this hike. 

It is quite a challenging hike so bring enough water and food. If you by chance forget to pack enough you can always grab something at the shop at the beginning of the hike or at Casa de Abrigo.

So bring:

  • ​​Water! We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before hikes and even during them when we can. Make sure to fill it up beforehand. You might be able to refill it at Casa de Abrigo.
  • Multiple layers of clothing and a hat to protect you from the sun.
  • Sunscreen is highly recommended when hiking in Madeira. The second half of the hike is quite exposed to the sun. Even after a few minutes you really start to feel it.
  • A power bank is always nice to have on a hike! You don’t want a dead phone halfway through a hike.
  • Bring some lunch for a nice picnic. We had lunch at Casa de Abrigo and it was great. We also bought a coffee and some cake there too! 🙂
  • If you have weak knees, you might want to bring hiking poles! The ascents and descents on Pico do Arieiro is brutal and a set of hiking poles will definitely make it a lot easier!
  • Proper hiking shoes. The tunnels get wet and muddy and some of the staircases can be a little slippery as well.

You can check out this great list of hiking gear to get some more inspiration!

Before you hike Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo

Check the weather

No matter where you hike, you should always check the weather before you go. Madeira has a micro-climate so the weather is always changing and can be very different even a few kilometers away. 

The whole hike you’re going to be around the highest points of Madeira so you’re definitely going to be exposed to sections of the hike. Check out the weather near Pico do Arieiro here and the live webcam for Pico do Aireiro here to get an idea of what to pack and expect on your day hike.

Wear hiking shoes

If there’s a hike in Madeira that you’d want proper hiking shoes on, then it’s this one. We wear them on most hikes but especially on this one, it’s nice to have proper footwear.

This isn’t your typical walk-in-the-park Levada trail that you find all over the island. Pico do Arieiro is a real hike and hiking shoes are absolutely recommended for this hike. It’s long, challenging, muddy in parts. Wearing hiking boots will make your day a lot more enjoyable!

Book your transportation beforehand

If you’re planning to rent a car then do that beforehand. You can go to 7M downtown Funchal and hopefully Bruno will be working and he can help you out or you can rent one through Discover Cars if you want to compare prices and get the best deal. If you do rent a car you’ll also need to book a taxi to take you back to the start of the hike where you parked your car.

There’s also the option of hiking back to your car and doing the hike as an “in-and-out” trail. Just keep in mind that this will add an extra 10 km to the hike. But it will save you the money of taking a taxi back to Pico do Arieiro. 

Another option, which we did, was to go on a guided tour. If you want someone to pick you up beforehand in Funchal, drop you off, do the hike with you, and pick you up after the hike then this is the perfect option. We did it this way and it worked out very well! (More on this below).

Figuring out how you want to do the hike is the most important part of the whole trip. Especially since there are a few ways to do it. It’s just about what way works best for you.

How to get to Pico do Arieiro

So unfortunately there is no bus that brings you directly to the trailhead. You can take a bus that will drop you off a few kilometres from the trail but there are other and better options to get to this hike.

Go on a guided tour 

Going on a guided tour is one of the best ways to experience Pico do Aireiro!

We’ve done two guided tours on the island with Lido Tours and they’ve been exceptional. The first time was on Levada 25 Fontes and then on this hike – and we’ve loved both! The guides are great and we’ve actually met some really nice people on both of the tours as well which is always fun.

For the price (€37) and what you get out of it, it’s totally worth it. The convenience of not having to arrange rides for the hike just makes the whole day more enjoyable.

There are plenty of hikes in Madeira that are easily accessible that you can plan yourself, but Pico do Arieiro is one that’s nice to do on a guided tour!

Getting to Pico do Arieiro by car

One thing to take into consideration if you take your own car is that you will need to take a taxi or a Bolt / Uber back to the trailhead. This can cost you around 40 Euro. OR you will walk back again making the hike twice as long.

Another option which we would probably do if we had rented a car would be to do the majority of the hike. Hike from Pico do Arieiro and up to Pico Ruivo and instead of hiking to the Pico Ruivo parking lot (although this part was beautiful) just turn around there making the hike an in-and-out trail.

It would add an extra few hours to the hike since you’d just have to hike the exact distance you’ve already done. This way you get to enjoy the mountains and not have to worry and pay for a ride back to your car!

Below you can find the distances and time frames between Funchal and Pico do Arieiro as well as Ponta do Sol to Pico do Arieiro.

From Funchal to start of Vereda do Pico do Arieiro:

From Ponta do Sol to Vereda do Fanal trail: 

Renting a car in Madeira

If you do book a car it’s best to book it in advance (if you can) and pick up the car at the Madeira airport if you’re keeping the car for a while. This is definitely the cheapest option. You can look on Discover Cars to find the best deals and compare prices.

However, If you’re already in Funchal we’d recommend 7M in downtown Funchal and, hopefully, Bruno will be there to help you out. He’s super friendly and will do his best to hook you up with the best deal.

Prices do change all the time based on supply and demand so if you really know you’ll be driving a lot and exploring the island it’s best to book your car in advance.

Picture of a car rental from Madeira Airport in Portugal.

Pico Transfer shared shuttle

Pico do Arieiro is so popular that there are companies that run shuttles up and down every day. If you want to do the hike by yourself and want the cheapest and most convenient way to get to the trailhead AND get picked up later in the day then go with Pico Transfer.

They have a few pickup spots in Funchal and then they drop you back off in Funchal later in the day for the total price of ​​€29-31. This is a great way to actually be able to do the hike by yourself without having to worry about transport.

We haven’t actually used the shuttle service since we did the hike with Lido Tours but Pico Transfers is a reliable company on the island and plenty of hikers have used them before.

Taking the bus near Pico do Arieiro

This is by far the cheapest and most affordable way to get anywhere near Pico do Arieiro but we only recommend it if you are in really good shape and want to save money. You can take the N56 bus to Poiso which is about 2 km from the beginning of the hike. 

If you are lucky, you can probably hitchhike on that road since everyone is going to Pico do Arieiro – or maybe a taxi that drives by will pick you up and it will only be a few Euros.

It’s a bit of a hassle and you have to make sure to make it to the bus, then get to the trailhead and do the full hike (return) but if you’re up for the adventure and want to save some money it is doable! It will definitely save you a bunch of money doing it this way!

You can then either do the hike as an in-and-out trail and get a solid 24 km in your legs or you can do it one way and then try to get a ride to Santana from the Pico Ruivo parking lot (​​Achada do Teixeira).

Best time to hike Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo 

If you’re already in Madeira, we recommend you try and go on a weekday as it will be a lot less busy. If you aren’t in Madeira just yet and are planning to go, we highly recommend visiting Madeira and doing this hike during one of the shoulder seasons (spring or late fall).

Pico do Arieiro is PR1 (meaning recommended trail 1) and one of the busiest hikes on the whole island. It makes sense since this hike is absolutely incredible but sometimes you get families, guided tours, walking groups, and influencers all at the same time. So you can imagine the trail can get crowded quite quickly. Especially since there are certain sections of the hike that you can’t really pass on.

So if you get the chance try and plan to go in the middle of the week during shoulder season and you’ll see the trail to be a lot quieter. 

Another thing to take into consideration when planning to hike Pico do Arieiro is that weather can play a big part in the hike. Try to do the hike on a warm sunny day with little wind. Up in the mountains, it can get windy and cloudy and then a lot of the incredible views will be hidden! (Although sometimes this also results in cloud inversion)!

Our tour guide actually said May is a great month for hiking in Madeira. It’s not too crowded with tourists and the weather is quite good for the most part!

There is also a Saturday in April every year that is quite fun to do the hike on although it will be very crowded. This is the day of the Madeira Ultra Run (Madeira Island Ultra-Trail) where thousands of people run 115 km in one stretch in the Madeiran mountains. As a part of the trail, they go from Pico Ruivo to Pico do Aireiro so you will get to cheer them on along the way. It’s absolutely crazy and supposedly a very cool thing to see!

Questions related to Pico do Arieiro

How long does it take to hike Pico do Arieiro?

To hike the whole PR 1 Pico do Arieiro trail we would say roughly 5-6 hours. The PR 1 is just over 13kms long, so with a few breaks it should be doable in 5-6 hours.

If your’e looking at just getting to the top of Pico do Arieiro then it’s about 10 seconds! The parking lot is right next to the viewpoint and you don’t have to walk far at all to get amazing views. It’s quite common for tourists to just drive up, get out, take in the views, and go back down.

If you’re a hiker or just

Where does Pico do Arieiro hike start?

The actual PR1 Pico do Arieiro hike starts from the actual peak of Arieiro. Unlike most hikes where you start at the bottom and have to hike to the peak the PR1 you start at the top and then hike across mountains to Pico Ruivo before hiking down to the Pico Ruivo parking lot.

You’ll see a big sign with “PR1 Pico Ruivo” at the parking lot and that’s where the hike starts! It’s quite cool to start a hike already so far up in the mountains.

How hard is Pico Arieiro?

The Pico Ruivo hike is definitely no walk in the park. Unlike most levada trails on the island of Madeira that are pretty flat, Pico Arieiro has a ton of elevation gain. Even though you start at Pico Ruivo there’s a ton of descents and ascents so it really isn’t just a flat walk across mountains.

There are tons of staircases you have to hike up and down. You add all that over a stretch of 13kms and the Madeira heat and you got yourself a fairly challenging hike.

With all that being said Pico Arieiro is an extremely fun hike even though it’s a little challenging. Pico Ruivo can also be hard for people who are afraid of heights though because of the drops on both sides of the trail. We’re not trying to scare you but more prepare you for it that’s all. You’ll have a blast hiking this one!

Can you drive to Pico do Arieiro?

Yes you can drive to Pico do Arieiro! The parking lot is literally right next to the peak and right next to the restaurant and shop that are at Pico Arieiro. You really don’t have to go far from the parking lot to this specific viewpoint.

How much is a taxi from Funchal to Pico do Arieiro?

You can take a taxi from Funchal to Pico do Arieiro for about $20. If there’s a few of you splitting the fee then it really isn’t that expensive. If you’re travelling by yourself then the best option for a taxi from Funchal to Pico do Arieiro is by PicoTranfers. It’s the cheapest way to get to and from the hike if you’re travelling alone.

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Recap of hiking Pico do Arieiro

The path from Casa de Abrigo to the Achada do Teixeira parking lot

We hope you’re ready to hike above the clouds, along mountain ridges, and see the most beautiful parts of Madeira. Pico do Arieiro will definitely test you a bit but it is a really fun hike and one you have to do if you’re spending any significant amount of time on the island.

Not all people know what we mentioned earlier… You can also stay the night at Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo and then hike up to Pico Ruivo for the best sunrise in Madeira. It’s something to consider for sure! 😉 

Enjoy hiking the Madeira PR1 and we hope you have great weather and get to enjoy it to the fullest! Madeira is a hiking paradise and you’ll absolutely love exploring this island.

Have fun!

Dom & Jo
Red White Adventures

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2 Comments

  1. Lynn on October 28, 2022 at 3:40 pm

    This was super helpful. I was in Madeira a few days ago. I knew I didn’t want to do the hike all the way to Pico Ruivo. Your post helped me pin point which locations to stop. The description of the sign names and pictures really helped. Thank you

    • redwhiteadventures on October 31, 2022 at 9:22 am

      Hey Lynn,

      That’s great to hear we hope you enjoyed the view from the top of Pico Arieiro. If you still have the time you can hike to Pico Ruivo from the other side and the hike isn’t that long and well worth it. If you have any questions about it, reach out to us, and we’ll help you out!

      -Dom

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