PR 1 - Vereda do Arieiro
Elevation: 250 m / Lenght: 2,5 km / Time: 2 hrs
Visit rate: 5/5 / Rating: 5/5
We arrived at the upper parking lot at Pico do Arieiro around 3:30 p.m., and it was already quite empty. It seemed to us that arriving for one of the later time slots in the Simplifica app is an advantage, as there are fewer people compared to midday or the final reservation window. This time, we did not encounter anyone checking QR codes at the entrance, even though it is a paid PR route.
Parking, however, is definitely not cheap, so expect to pay around 20 euros per day. The lower parking area is significantly cheaper, but from there you have about a fifteen minute uphill walk, which was not ideal for us after a full day of activities.
We actually started the day in Funchal with a visit to Monte Palace Tropical Garden on Caminho das Babosas. We are not particularly into botanical gardens, but this is on a completely different level. An incredible variety of plants, terraces, and views over the city and the ocean. It is a place you will not easily find anywhere else. The entrance fee is not exactly cheap, but it is worth it.
For those planning to visit both the garden and the mountains, we recommend doing the garden in the morning and heading to the mountains in the afternoon, which is exactly what we did. Just be careful with parking, as finding a spot near the garden during the day is almost impossible. We had to park about fifteen minutes away on a free parking lot. Alternatively, you can take the cable car from the coast, which stops almost right next to the entrance.
Right after arriving at the parking lot at Pico do Arieiro, a thick cloud rolled in and visibility dropped to almost nothing. We waited for a while, but the situation did not improve, so we decided to set off anyway. Figuring out the weather in Madeira's mountains is a story in itself. It is best to rely on webcams rather than forecasts, which might promise clear skies in the evening and greet you with fog in the morning. After a few days on the island, you start to get the hang of it.
At the exact moment we reached the Ninho da Manta viewpoint, the clouds began to break apart and the peak of Pico Ruivo appeared in front of us. The mountain tops rising above the clouds looked absolutely incredible. Because we set off without hesitation and were among the first, we had most of the trail almost to ourselves. As soon as the clouds cleared and others noticed from the parking area, what felt like a hundred more people set off behind us.
The trail itself is a nice rocky path with stairs and sections offering views on both sides of the ridge. The landscape, shaped by fires from previous years, was in some places bare and rocky, while in others still green, and the contrast was visually striking. At the moment, the route is only accessible up to the Pedra Rija viewpoint, but from April 2026 the entire trail to Pico Ruivo should be open again.
The second half of the trail offered views down to the southern side of the island, which was completely cloud free. The weather really could not have worked out better for us. At the end, we took a few photos of the local birds, which are unfortunately very used to tourists and have long lost their natural shyness. Then a wave of eager hikers caught up with us, and it was time to head back.
Around 6 p.m., when we returned to the parking lot, it was still occupied but nowhere near as crowded as in the afternoon. If you just want to stop by for the viewpoint or catch the sunset, you should still be able to find a spot in the evening. Just do not expect to be there alone.
Week on Madeira for 2 (7 nights) Flights (Smartwings): 820,- Car rental (Sixt): 370,- Accommodation (Booking): 570,- Spending: 610,- Total: 2 370,- EUR