Pico do Arieiro

Madeira’s third highest peak, above the clouds, at the start of the great ridge walk.

Pico do Arieiro, at 1,818 metres, is the third highest peak of Madeira and the only one reached by road. On clear mornings the summit rises above a sea of clouds, with the island spread below and the Atlantic all around — one of the great experiences of a visit to Madeira, and the start of the walkers’ route to the highest point of the island.

The peak

The road from Funchal climbs through the laurel forest to the summit of Arieiro, where a radar station and viewpoints stand above the ridges of the central massif. From here the classic trail of Madeira — the Vereda do Areeiro, linking Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, the island’s highest point — crosses the high ridges through the heart of the mountains, between rock walls and views in every direction.

What to see

The sunrise above the clouds, on clear mornings.
The high ridges of the central massif, seen from the viewpoints.
The Vereda do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo, the classic walk of the island.
The laurel forest of the slopes, seen from the road and the trails.

Visiting

Pico do Arieiro is reached by road from Funchal and the villages of the centre of the island, and the summit is cold and windy even in summer — take warm clothes and check the weather before going up. The trail to Pico Ruivo is a serious mountain walk, with steep steps, tunnels and exposed ridges, to be attempted only with adequate preparation and in good conditions, and closed when the weather demands it.