Atractia turistica nr 1 din Madeira – Pico do Arieiro si Pico Ruivo – Ghidul complet

The most important tourist attractions in Madeira, the symbols of the island and the representative images of this exotic destination are represented by the two high peaks: Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo.

In this article I will present you all the information needed in order to reach either one of the two peaks.

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What you need to know about Madeira

Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo
- Where to stay in Madeira

What you need to know about Madeira

Madeira is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, belonging to Portugal, at the same time being an autonomous region.

I have prepared an article for you, with all the important information about the island: transport in Madeira, where to stay, what are the prices, etc.: Madeira - Everything you need to know before visiting Madeira, the island of eternal spring.

Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo

1. Pico do Arieiro

Pico do Arieiro is one of the high mountain peaks of the island, with an altitude of 1818 meters. The place is absolutely spectacular, and it is Madeira's number 1 tourist attraction!

The good part is that anyone can reach Pico do Arieiro, it is accessible by car and you don't need any kind of training or physical condition to climb this peak.

There are two car parks near Pico do Ariero: the upper car park, where the parking time is limited to one hour, and which fills up quite quickly, and a car park a little further, 10 minutes' walk away, where there is no time limit . Both parking lots are free. Arriving at the base of the peak of Pico do Arieiro, you will find a restaurant, toilets and souvenir shops.

What makes Pico do Ariero so special? The feeling you get when you are there, high up, above everything, with that spectacular panorama of the mountain ridges and the Atlantic Ocean. And if you are lucky with a blanket of clouds, then the landscape is even more dramatic!

Tips when visiting Pico do Arieiro

Plan to climb Pico do Arieiro from the very first day! The weather is very changeable in Madeira, and the peaks, mainly, are often covered with clouds, when you have no visibility at all because of the fog.

Wait for the day with the right weather to climb to the top!

Always check the weather forecast for Pico do Arieiro before you start for the summit, on a live webcam. (example: https://www.madeira-web.com/de/webcams.html).

For a complete experience, don't miss the sunset or sunrise here!

If you don't have your own car, take a guided tour, such as this one: Funchal: Sunrise Hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo.

2. Pico Ruivo

Pico Ruivo is the highest peak in Madeira, with an altitude of 1862 meters. Together with Pico do Ariero, the two peaks represent the essence of Madeira, they are the main symbols of the island and the images you will see everywhere on the internet, when you search for the word "Madeira".

Just like on Pico do Ariero, the view captured here is fascinating! The only difference is that Pico Ruivo is not as accessible as Pico do Arieiro and you cannot reach it directly by car. To climb to the top you need to do a hike, either from the parking lot at Achada do Teixeira (PR 1.2), or directly from Pico do Arieiro (PR1). But let's talk about these hikes:

a. PR 1 Vereda do Areeiro

PR 1 Vereda do Areeiro is the most famous hiking trail in Madeira, connecting Pico do Arieiro with Pico Ruivo. The route has a length of approximately 7 km each way, and is considered of medium to high difficulty.

The route requires a good physical condition, due to the level differences, and is not recommended to people with a fear of heights.

Otherwise, the route is very well marked, the landscapes are just amazing, and the experience of doing this hike is definitely unique!

Plan your route ahead of time, depending on the means of transport you chose to get there.

For example, if you come with a rented car, you have two options:

Park at Pico do Arieiro, take the PR 1 route to Pico Ruivo, and then either go on the same 7 km route back to the car (14 km hike in total),
or go down another 3 km from Pico Ruivo on PR 1.2 to the Achada do Teixeira parking lot, from where you can order a Bolt to take you back to the car. But be aware that the drive from Achada do Teixeira parking lot to Pico do Arieiro takes about an hour (40 km).

If you join a group day trip, the car will leave you at Pico do Arieiro early in the morning, and in the evening it will pick you up from the Achada do Teixeira parking lot, after you have crossed the trails PR 1 (Pico do Arieiro – Pico Ruivo 7 km) and PR 1.2 (Pico Ruivo - Achada do Teixeira 3 km) – 10 km in total.

One such day trip would be this: Funchal: Sunrise Hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo.

b. PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo

Another possibility to reach Pico Ruivo, less physically demanding than PR 1 Vereda do Areeiro and more comfortable for those traveling with a rented car, is on the PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo.

The route starts from the Achada do Teixeira parking lot and is approximately 3 km long. The climb takes between an hour and an hour and a half, the route is of medium difficulty, but it is very well organized and very spectacular!

It is a hike that even those without an enviable physical condition can do, and I recommend you not to miss it! With breaks along the way and walking at your own pace, it is not an impossible route, and the satisfaction of reaching the top will be worth every effort!

And if you arrive at sunset, the feeling of being there will be all the more uplifting!

Where to stay in Madeira

The accommodation location chosen by most tourists traveling to Madeira is in the area of Funchal. You can choose the capital of the island as a starting point for most touristic attractions in Madeira. The advantage is that from here you can reach any point of the island by car, and if you don't have a car, you can take guided tours or buses directly from Funchal. Besides that, in Funchal you have a wide variety of restaurants and shops.

Below you will find a list of accommodations in Funchal, all rated above 9:

Belvedere Boutique – Adults only - is our number 1 recommendation, the accommodation that we had and fell in love with! The rooms start from 79 euros/night, but must be booked in advance! And if you have the chance, book the apartment with the terrace, it's absolutely incredible! We paid 90 euros/night for the biggest apartment in the building.
São Francisco Accommodation - from 100 euros/night
Solar do Ribeiro - from 110 euros/night
Palmar Rooms - from 80 euros/night
Central – São Pedro Boutique - from 75 euros/night

Alta locatie posibila unde sa te cazezi poate fi si in Santana, la 10 km distanta de parcarea Achada do Teixeira, de unde incepe traseul PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo: