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Madeira Island, referred to as 'The Hawaii of Europe', has some of the best hikes I've ever completed! The vast diversity on this island in the middle of the Atlantic allows for a beautiful mix between climbing some of the highest peaks, trekking through the damp and shaded forests, splashing under stunning waterfalls, and walking through arid landscapes with coastal views. The top three hikes on Madeira, in my opinion, are Pico do Areeiro-Pico Ruivo, Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço and Levada do Caldeirão Verde.
Known for it's incredible sunrises and the famous 'Stairway to Heaven' path, the trail from Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo is rated as the number one trek on Madeira island. Here is a full guide to completing this hike with everything you need to know before you go !
PR1/PR1.2 - Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo: The Hike Above the Clouds
This was my favorite hike on the island, which we completed at sunrise. Watching the sun rise over the clouds was the most amazing experience and I had never seen anything like it - we arrived at Pico do Areeiro at 6:20a.m. and the sun began to crest over the clouds by 6:55a.m. This hike takes you up and down mountains with endless gorgeous views, from Pico do Areeiro (the third highest mountain peak in Madeira at 1817m) to Pico Ruivo (the highest mountain peak in Madeira at 1862 m). It even leads you through some mountains in pitch-black tunnels that you need to duck down and use a flashlight to get through! This hike is so popular, especially at sunrise, that it does get pretty crowded and at times you can feel like you're walking in the great migration. However, it does thin out as everyone goes at their own pace and stops for pictures or lunch, so it is not like that the whole time and it still ended up being my favorite hike on the island.
Views from the top of Pico Ruivo. You can see the cafe located in the bottom right of the photo above.
Also I'd like to mention, the famous 'Stairway to Heaven' path that a lot of you have likely seen on social media is only about 15 minutes into the hike from Pico do Areeiro. If you'd like it is possible to walk to go see it and walk back. Of course I think you have to hike the whole trail because it's insanely beautiful and worth every step, however if you're not able to or aren't into hiking, you can go see the most 'instagrammable' section (again, to me the whole thing is 'instagrammable' but to each it's own!!) Another option would be to complete the hike one day and then return at a less crowded time frame (either during sunrise when everyone is sitting on the mountain watching it or around sunset) to get people-less photos of this section.
How to get there: No public transportation can get you to the start of this hike, which begins at Pico do Areeiro. While you can drive, it is not recommended since the hike is not there & back - you hike from Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo which takes around 3-3.5 hours. From Pico Ruivo, there is a parking lot 45 minutes away at Achada do Teixeira. If you were to drive, you would have to hike all the way back to Pico do Areeiro where your car is parked, as there aren't taxis available at the parking lot in Achada do Teixeira unless you've previously scheduled one. Ride share services (i.e. Uber) are also unavailable here. Instead, it is recommended to book a transfer, such as one by Pico Transfers or one of these from Get Your Guide.
Other options for getting there (*recommended if you are not staying in the common transfer pick-up locations of either Funchal or Caniço):
-going on a tour with a guide
-driving to Achada do Teixeira and taking this transfer to Pico do Areeiro, where you'll complete the hike back to your car
We took a sunrise transfer with Pico Transfers which I highly recommend as they were on time and the driver was kind & informative. It costs €30 for morning transfers (8:30a.m. pickup) and €35 for the sunrise (5:30a.m. pickup) - both being a round-trip. The company will pick you up from your accommodation in either Funchal or Caniço, drop you off at Pico do Areeiro, pick you up 5 hours later at the parking lot in Achada do Teixeira and lastly take you back to your accommodation. The drive was about 45 minutes from Funchal to Pico do Areeiro.
Duration/Distance:
Total: 4-5 hours, 9.3km. This is enough time for photo/rest stops and to eat lunch.
Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo (PR1 trail): 7km/3.5 hours.
Pico Ruivo to the parking lot in Achada do Teixeira (PR1.2 trail): 2.3km/45 minutes.
Difficulty: This hike is medium to hard depending on your fitness level and hiking experience. It can get pretty steep, and most of the hike is up-and-down rather than flat. The most strenuous parts in my opinion are (1) when you come across a couple flights of metal stairs about halfway to Pico Ruivo, and (2) when you hike up from the cafe area to the highest peak of Pico Ruivo.
What to wear: Dress in layers that you can easily take off and put back on, especially depending on time of day that you complete the hike. As an example it would be good to wear a windbreaker jacket with both a sweater and t-shirt underneath, and long pants with shorts underneath. The weather in Madeira in general can change in the blink of an eye, going from very hot, sunny and still to cloudy with rain and wind. It's best to be prepared for any type of weather as you cannot fully rely on weather apps for this island.
As mentioned we went on a sunrise hike - it was freezing on the top of Pico do Areeiro upon our arrival. My jacket, sweater and long pants were hardly enough to keep me warm. I saw people with hats and gloves who looked more comfortable temperature-wise than I was. Within an hour of starting the hike I had completely shed all of my layers and was sweating in a t-shirt!
What to bring: A fully charged phone (a portable phone charger is recommended) with a flashlight (necessary for the tunnels), packed lunch, 1-2L of water*, sunscreen, a hat, and clothing layers.
*Tip: try not to drink too much, just enough that you're not dehydrated, particularly due to the information below ('Bathrooms of Food' section).
Bathrooms or food?: There are no bathrooms until you arrive at Pico Ruivo, 3-3.5 hours after starting the hike, so be sure to use the bathroom at your accomodation before leaving. Along with a bathroom there is a cafe at Pico Ruivo selling snacks and drinks, but I recommend just bringing your own packed lunch to save money. Plus, eating it on the peak of Pico Ruivo with an extremely beautiful view is worth bringing it for, as the cafe is not on the highest point of the mountain. There is another cafe at the end of the hike in Achada do Teixeira. If you've booked a transfer make sure you keep track of time if you plan on sitting down somewhere to eat.
To leave this blog on a note of self-awareness and environmental care... IF you can't possibly hold it and need to use the bathroom along the trail, be sure to bring toilet paper and a plastic bag. Please DO NOT litter the toilet paper along the trail - it is not hard to bring a bag and put the waste in your backpack until you find a trash can. If you're reading this confused why I would even have to mention it - there have been accounts of people seeing used toilet paper littered in certain areas along the trail, and I myself saw some during my hike. Do better! <3
Have an incredible hike above the clouds and enjoy the insane beauty that is PR1!
Trail from Pico Ruivo to Achada do Teixeira
The parking lot at Achada do Teixeira
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