Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Hike (PR1)

The hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo (PR1) is Madeira’s most famous walk, and one of the most spectacular in Europe. It follows a ridge path above the clouds, through tunnels and up rock staircases, between the island’s third-highest and highest peaks. Here’s what you need to know.

Quick answer: the trail is about 7km and takes 3 to 4 hours, with lots of steps, plus about an hour down to the end point. It is now one-way only, from Arieiro to Ruivo, finishing at Achada do Teixeira, so arrange a pickup or taxi. You must book a slot and pay the fee (€10.50, or €7 with a guide) on the official SIMplifica portal. Check the trail status the day before. See guided hikes with transport.

Why go

No other walk in Madeira gives you views like this. The path links three of the island’s highest peaks, Pico do Arieiro, Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo, along a jagged volcanic ridge. On a good day you walk above a sea of cloud, with deep valleys dropping away on both sides. The trail closed after the August 2024 wildfires damaged it, and reopened on 1 May 2026 after repairs, with new one-way rules. At first it opened only from Friday to Sunday. It has been open every day since 26 June 2026, apart from short planned closures for works, such as several days in September 2026.

The 2026 rules

• Book a slot: every hiker needs a 30-minute start slot, booked online on the regional government’s SIMplifica portal. Extra early slots from 7am were added in June 2026, mainly for people who want to see the sunrise first.
• Fee: €10.50 for independent hikers. The lower €7 rate applies when you go with a registered tour company that has an agreement with IFCN, the regional parks authority. Children under 12 and Madeira residents are free, but still need to register.
• Passes don’t cover it: the day and multi-day trail passes (€9 for a day, €22.50 for three days, €52.50 for a week) cover the other official trails, not PR1.
• One way only: you can only walk from Arieiro towards Ruivo. The exception is the short first stretch to the Pedra Rija viewpoint, which you can walk there and back. This short option is booked separately at the standard trail fee of €4.50.
• Proper footwear: walking boots or shoes with good grip are required. Rangers can turn away people in sandals or casual trainers.
• Stay on the path: the ridge is a protected area, and leaving the trail is not allowed.

See Madeira levada walks for more on the booking system.

The route

1. Pico do Arieiro (1,818m): start at the summit car park, reachable by road. There are toilets and a café here.
2. The first viewpoints: Ninho da Manta and Pedra Rija, with the classic views along the ridge and back to Arieiro.
3. The ridge: a paved and carved path with railings, steep staircases and narrow sections along the knife-edge crest.
4. The tunnels: several short tunnels through the rock. Bring a torch.
5. Pico das Torres (1,851m): the path climbs around the side of Madeira’s second-highest peak, with some of the steepest steps on the route.
6. Pico Ruivo (1,862m): the highest point in Madeira, a short climb from the rest house below the summit. The rest house has toilets, and there are none on the trail itself.
7. Achada do Teixeira: walk down about 2.8km on a paved path to the car park on the north side, above Santana, for your pickup.

How long to spend

Allow 3 to 4 hours from Arieiro to Ruivo, plus about an hour down to Achada do Teixeira. With sunrise, photo stops and a break at the rest house, it fills most of a day. Fit hikers who are short of time can walk just to Pedra Rija and back in about an hour.

Sunrise

Watching the sun rise over the clouds from Pico do Arieiro is a Madeira highlight. Many people watch the sunrise first and then start the hike. Early slots sell out, so book as soon as you know your dates. See sunrise tours.

What to bring

• Layers: it can be cold and windy at 1,800m, even in summer, and near freezing in winter.
• Good shoes with grip.
• Water and snacks: there’s nowhere to buy food between Arieiro and the rest house.
• A torch for the tunnels.
• Your booking on your phone, for checks on the trail.
• A bag for rubbish: take everything back out with you.

Safety

• Vertigo: some sections are exposed, though protected by railings.
• Weather: clouds and rain can roll in fast, and the trail closes in bad weather or for maintenance. Check the official trail status the day before and again in the morning.
• Closures: storms, rockfalls and wildfires have shut this trail before, sometimes for months. If it closes during your trip, the Vereda do Pico Ruivo from Achada do Teixeira is a shorter way to reach the top.
• Fitness: the steps are relentless, so it’s tougher than the distance suggests.

When to go

Late spring to early autumn usually gives the most stable weather, though cloud can sit on the peaks at any time of year. Winter brings cold, wind, ice and more closures. See the best time to visit Madeira.

Getting there

Pico do Arieiro is about 40 minutes’ drive from Funchal, and parking there is paid by the hour, with the car park nearest the summit costing more. There’s no useful public transport to the summit. Because the route is one-way, you’ll need a taxi or pickup from Achada do Teixeira, or a second car left there. Book the taxi in advance rather than hoping to find one waiting at the car park. A guided hike with transport solves the one-way problem. See the best Madeira tours.

FAQ

Can you walk from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo and back?

No. Since the 2026 reopening the full trail is one-way, from Arieiro to Ruivo, ending at Achada do Teixeira. Only the short stretch to the Pedra Rija viewpoint can be walked there and back.

How much does the PR1 cost?

€10.50 per person, booked with a time slot on SIMplifica, or €7 with a tour company that has an agreement with the parks authority. Children under 12 and Madeira residents don’t pay but must register.

How hard is the hike?

It’s about 7km, but with long flights of steep steps, exposed sections and tunnels, so it’s a moderate to hard walk. You need reasonable fitness, a head for heights and proper shoes.

How do you get back from Achada do Teixeira?

Book a taxi or pickup in advance, leave a second car there, or join a guided hike that includes transport back to Arieiro or Funchal.

More: Madeira levada walks, hiking in Portugal, Santana and the Madeira itinerary.

See also: Levada das 25 Fontes.

Some links in this guide are affiliate or referral links (GetYourGuide, Booking.com, Discover Cars, Welcome Pickups, Airalo, Yesim, Saily, Tiqets, Radical Storage, EKTA, AirHelp, Uber). If you book or sign up through them we may earn a small commission or ride credit at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our groups and this site free.