Madeira: Hike at Pico do Arieiro - stunning, spectacular, words cannot describe!

This day we undertook a hike that was part of the top ranked hike in Madeira, PR1, of Pico do Areeiro (spelled 2 different ways it seems) to Pico do Ruivo. This is a significant hike, that you can do on your own or you can arrange it through a tour company, as it starts about a 45min drive from Funchal. The day we did this in February 2025, part of the trail had been closed since fall 2024 due to wild fires. So we could only undertake it part way from Pico do Areeivo and not all the way to Pico Ruivo. But it was still spectacular and a demanding up and down hike. Lots of people take this hike starting at sunrise, hoping to catch the sun rising out of the clouds. We did not start that early. We highly recommend this hike if you are so inclined. Note though there are a lot of tourists on this hike and it is up and down with narrow passing spots in places. If you are nervous about heights, this hike may not be for you.

You will see in one of the pictures the barricade where the path is closed and you head back to where you started. There are fines of several thousand Euros for going on the closed path, plus possible cost of rescue if needed. Even so, we witnessed several hikers in a group climb over the barricade and carry on! Some tourists have no sense!

While on the hike, we were literally in the clouds at times and at the same time in spots you have a view of the sea, absolutely spectacular!

Here are some pictures. We have a video we will also put up.