The Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike, officially marked as the PR1 Vereda do Arieiro, is one of the most spectacular hiking routes in Madeira. It’s a challenging yet rewarding hike through some of the most dramatic landscapes in Europe and culminates at Pico Ruivo, Madeira’s highest peak. And while it is a bit of a challenge, it’s a must-do hike for anyone visiting Madeira.
Trail Details
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 11 km / 7 Miles
- Duration: 5-6 Hrs
- Elevation Gain: 1,100 M / 3,600 ft
The PR1 Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike is an 11 km out and back trail that involves almost 1,100 metres of elevation gain and can be very steep in parts. It’s a challenging trail that takes 5-6 hours depending on your pace and how often you stop for a break or to take photos, but it’s suitable for almost any hiker as long as you take your time with it.
PR1 - Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Map
Here’s a map of the Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hiking trail. Note that this is an out-and-back hike, so all the elevation that you drop at the start of the hike you’ll hike to climb again on your way back. And as you can see from the elevation profile, it’s pretty steep in parts.
Getting To Pico do Arieiro
To start the hike, you’ll need to make your way to Pico Arieiro. Here are a few tips on how to get there:
- By Car: The most convenient way to reach Pico Arieiro is by car. The fastest way to get there from Funchal is on the ER103 road which takes about 30 to 45 minutes. The road is well maintained and leads straight up to the Miradouro do Pico do Areeiro viewpoint, which has its own free parking lot.
- Taxi: Public transportation options are pretty limited and rather inconvenient if you’re looking to start the hike early, so many hikers prefer to use a taxi service. A taxi from Funchal to Pico do Arieiro will cost you around 40 euros each way.
- Transfer / Shuttle Service: There are also several transfer companies, such as Pico Transfers and Do It Madeira, which offer shuttle services from Funchal and surrounding areas specifically for hikers planning to tackle the Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo trek. Most of them pick up and drop off from any location near Funchal and cost 30-35 euros.
Trail Description
Starting at the Pico Ariero parking lot, you’ll pass the weather station on the left and see a clearly marked out footpath leading away from the viewpoint. The path starts off relatively flat before you reach the first set of stairs. You’ll begin to drop steeply as the route becomes more and more exposed and it may seem a little scary, but it’s well protected with handrails on both sides. Depending on the weather, this can be one of the most impressive parts of the hike as you get a fantastic view across the island. That said, don’t be surprised if you find yourself hiking through the thick morning fog, particularly during the winter months.
About a kilometre in, having dropped about 170 metres in altitude already, you’ll come to the Miradouro do Ninho da Manta on the right hand side of the path. This is the first viewpoint you’ll encounter along the route and probably one of the most scenic viewpoints in Madeira, offering great views down towards the Eastern end of the island.
After the miradouro, the path continues to drop steeply, descending another 130 metres onto the Western side of the ridge. The scenery grows increasingly impressive as the path works a little deeper into the valley.
Almost 2 km into the walk, you’ll reach the first of five tunnels carved into the mountain which lead the route around the Pico das Torres. This is where you’ll want your head torch and possibly rain jacket depending on how cold/wet it is. This first tunnel is a shorter one, the second and third are a little longer and the fourth and fifth are very short. All five of the tunnels are relatively wide and tall, so getting through them is easy enough though do watch out for puddles on the floor.
Shortly after exiting the fifth tunnel comes the toughest part of the hike as you begin the very steep ascent to Pico Ruivo. A path will lead you up a set of steep stairs and ladders as you climb 120 metres to the top of the ridge and back onto the Eastern side of the mountain.
Note: At this point, you'll be able to look back at the old trail which followed the Eastern side of the ridge all along. However, due to a landslide, the route is impassable.
The path then continues to climb a further 200 metres in altitude but at a much more gradual rate until you meet a path which joins in from the right, about 5 km in. At this point, you’ll start to merge with hikers taking the much easier and shorter PR1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo from Achada do Teixeira.
You’ll soon pass the Casa do Abrigo Pico Ruivo, which is a mountain hut that offers some basic facilities including toilets, a fountain to top up your water bottle and some drinks and chocolate bars.
While you might be tempted to stop off for a break, we’d recommend pushing through the last 500 metres of the hike up to the summit of Pico Ruivo, which is of course the highest point in Madeira at 1,862 metres above sea level. At the top, you’ll no doubt be greeted with a gust of fresh air and stunning 360 degree views around the island, making it the perfect place for a well earned lunch break.
Though try not to get too caught up in the amazing views as you’re technically only halfway into the route and have a 5.5 km return journey back to Pico Arieiro. The return journey feels significantly easier as most of it is downhill and you pass all the late starters who are struggling their way up the ladders.
However, the last 2 km will feel like the most difficult as you’ll be tired, likely walking in the sun if you started the hike at sunrise and you’ll be faced with the steep climb back up to the top of Pico Arieiro at 1,818 metres. Once you’re back at Pico Arieiro, be sure to stop by the café for a coffee and snack as well as a quick visit to the gift shop for a souvenir.
Alternative Route Via Achada do Teixeira
For most hikers, the 5.5 km return journey from Pico Ruivo to Pico Arieiro is the hardest part of the hike. That’s why a popular alternative route is to exit the hike via Achada do Teixeira on the much flatter 3 km walk on the PR1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo. However, if you’ve driven and left your car at Pico Arieiro, this might not really be an option. Fortunately, the transfer companies we mentioned above, like Pico Transfers and Do It Madeira, offer collections from Achada do Teixeira too!
That said, we really enjoyed the hike back to Pico do Arieiro and it gave us the chance to enjoy much clearer views than we had in the morning when it was a lot more foggy.
FAQs
Here are a few of the most common FAQs about the Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike:
It depends entirely on your pace and how often you stop for a break or a photo. Personally, we tend to stop quite often for photos and completed the hike in 5-6 hrs. If you’re a faster hiker, you find it takes you a little less than 5 hrs.
Yes, the Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike is safe. It has recently been affected by some landslides, but they’ve now been cleared. It can be slightly scary hike given the amount of exposure, but it’s a well protected route with handrails on either side of the path.
If you don’t have a car, the best way to get to Pico do Ariero is with a transfer service from Funchal which will cost around 30-35 euros for a there and back journey. These transfer services are planned for hikers tackling the Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike and allow for roughly 5 hours from drop off to pick up.
