Pico Ruivo

Pico Ruivo, at 1,862 metres, is the highest summit of Madeira — a rocky pyramid above the clouds, in the heart of the mountains of the island. It is the goal of the classic high-level walk that crosses the central massif, and one of the great viewpoints of the Atlantic: on clear days, the sea appears on both sides of the island.

The summit

The summit rises in the central cordillera of Madeira, between the valleys of the north and the south. It is reached on foot, by the ridge trail from Pico do Arieiro — the famous Vereda do Areeiro — or by the shorter trail from Achada do Teixeira, in Santana. At the top, the bare rock and the high altitude give the mountain its character: cold, wind and, often, a sea of clouds below the summit.

What to see

• The panorama from the summit, over the mountains and the two coasts.
• The Vereda do Areeiro, linking Pico do Arieiro to the summit.
• The shorter trail from Achada do Teixeira, in Santana.
• The high ridges, tunnels and steps of the central massif.

Visiting

Pico Ruivo is a mountain summit: the trails are demanding, with steps, ridges and tunnels, and the weather can change in minutes, with cold, rain and strong wind even in summer. Walkers should go prepared, with proper footwear and clothing, and follow the marked routes and the official information of Visit Madeira, which publishes the conditions and closures of the trails.

Nearby

The Pico do Arieiro, at the start of the great ridge walk, and the city of Funchal complete the journey from the sea to the highest point of the island.

Information: visitmadeira.com.

Image credit: Pico Ruivo, the highest mountain of Madeira, by antony_hap, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.