📍: 12 KM Out&Back

🚘: 2 Free parking lots (1st with unlimited time, 2nd up to 1h)

📈: 1000 m

🕒: 6-7 hours

The trail offers breathtaking views of the island's rugged interior. This challenging point-to-point trail takes you from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, the highest peak on the island. There's now a public transportation to take you to the top of Pico do Arieiro. Other ways to get there are by renting a car or joining a tour. Several roads lead to Pico do Arieiro; the routes from the north

and east are more challenging for drivers unfamiliar with steep mountain roads, while the roads from the south are less steep. For the best-prepared route, I recommend starting in Cancela and heading towards Camacha.

As Madeira's number one attraction, Pico do Arieiro attracts many visitors. In recent years, visiting this peak at sunrise has become a popular ritual, resulting in "sunrise traffic." Hundreds of cars are driven to the top and often abandoned randomly, blocking the way for tour buses and causing traffic issues. When the top parking fills up, the police must control the traffic and block the road to Pico do Arieiro. Therefore, if you're planning to visit Pico do Arieiro, consider avoiding the morning hours.

Contrary to popular belief, starting the hike at sunrise is not necessary. The hike can take up to 7 hours, so there's no need to start early unless you're aiming to see the sunrise. Instead, you can use this misconception to your advantage by waiting for the crowds to pass and starting the hike at a more suitable time. We usually start around 11 am, allowing us to return to Pico do Arieiro for the sunset and avoid traffic on the trail.

The hike begins from Pico do Arieiro, where you can park your car in the lower parking area and reach the trailhead within a 15-minute walk. The trail is straightforward, making it easy to navigate. Along the way, you'll pass several tunnels that are not too dark or long, so having a phone flashlight would be enough to find the way. After about 15 minutes, you'll reach the first viewpoint, Ninho da Manta. This impressive balcony offers stunning views of the

surrounding landscape. Continuing from the viewpoint, you'll begin a short ascent to the most exposed part of the PR1 trail, which offers some of the most

incredible views on the island. Remarkably, this trail was once the only way for locals to travel between Santana and Funchal. The next viewpoint, Miradouro Pedra Rija, is located at the bottom of the renowned Stairway to Heaven. From here, you'll descend to the lowest point of the trail and encounter the first tunnel. You'll pass through several more tunnels, with the view opening and closing on both sides.

As you approach Pico Ruivo, you'll face a steep ascent, first on steel stairs and then uphill to the mountain shelter Casa de Abrigo, where you can resupply if needed. After the shelter, only a few hundred meters separate you from the highest peak of Madeira. The area at the top of Pico Ruivo is spacious and offers incredible views with a 360-degree panorama. On a clear day, you can see every corner of the island. Visiting Pico Ruivo should be on every visitor's

bucket list while in Madeira.