Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo (PR1): the great mountain walk
Madeira’s most spectacular hike, from Pico do Arieiro to the island’s highest peak: route, difficulty, booking and the €10.50 fee, the shorter PR1.2 alternative, and safety tips.
The path from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo runs along the jagged spine of Madeira, cut into the rock with steps, tunnels and railings. On a clear morning you walk above a sea of clouds with the whole island below you. It is the walk most people remember.
The facts
- Trail: PR1, Vereda do Areeiro
- From: Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m), where you can drive to the summit car park
- To: Pico Ruivo (1,862 m), the highest point of Madeira
- Distance: about 7 km one way
- Time: 3 to 3.5 hours one way; most people walk out and back, or continue down to Achada do Teixeira
- Difficulty: challenging. Long flights of steps up and down, exposed sections and tunnels
- Fee: €10.50 per person for non-residents, children under 12 free; booking with a time slot required
The route
From the Arieiro summit, the path drops steeply on steps to the Miradouro do Ninho da Manta viewpoint, then threads along the ridges past Pico das Torres through short tunnels. After the last climb you reach the rest house below Pico Ruivo; from there a short climb takes you to the summit.
Parts of the route have been closed or diverted in recent years after wildfires and rockfalls. Always check the current status on the IFCN website before you go.
Shorter: Achada do Teixeira to Pico Ruivo (PR1.2)
If you want the summit without the long ridge walk, PR1.2 climbs from the car park at Achada do Teixeira, above Santana, to Pico Ruivo in about an hour each way (around 2.8 km). It is a steady paved and stepped path, much easier than PR1, and still gives you the view from the top.
Linear walk with a taxi
Many walkers start at Pico do Arieiro, walk to Pico Ruivo and descend PR1.2 to Achada do Teixeira, where a pre-booked taxi takes them back to their car. It avoids walking the whole way back, but needs good planning.
When to go
- Start early. Clouds often rise in the late morning, and the car park at Arieiro fills fast.
- Avoid it in rain, strong wind or thick fog, and on days with mountain weather warnings.
- In winter it can be icy and close to freezing at dawn.
What to bring
Hiking shoes with good grip, warm and waterproof layers, gloves in winter, plenty of water, food, sun protection and a head torch for the tunnels. There are toilets and a café at Pico do Arieiro, and water and a simple rest house near Pico Ruivo, but don’t count on them being open.
Is it safe?
The path is well built and has railings in the most exposed places, but it is high, steep and long. People who are uneasy with heights find some sections hard. Turn back if the weather changes. Read our hiking safety tips.
Sunrise
Pico do Arieiro is the classic place to watch the sunrise above the clouds. See sunrise at Pico do Arieiro.
Sources: IFCN, PR1 Vereda do Areeiro, SIMplifica, trail booking