The ridge walk, reopened with rules
The PR1 (Vereda do Areeiro) links Pico do Arieiro with Pico Ruivo. It is 6.1 km long and takes about 3 hours, rated medium. It starts at the viewpoint on Pico do Arieiro, at up to 1,857 m, and drops to 1,491 m before the final climb to the Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo, the mountain hut. There are tunnels cut into the rock, a steep rock staircase near Pico das Torres, and the final climb is the hardest part.
The path was closed from August 2024 and reopened on 1 May 2026 with conditions. Until 25 June it ran only Friday to Sunday. Since 26 June 2026 it has been open daily. The status on 19 October 2026 was open. This independent guide is not the official site, so check the live status before you go.
Arieiro or Areeiro?
Both spellings are in use.
You will see Pico do Arieiro and Pico do Areeiro on maps, signs and booking pages. They name the same mountain. The official trail pages and the booking portal use "Areeiro" (PR 1 Vereda do Areeiro), so search for that spelling when you book. This guide uses "Arieiro" in its headings because many visitors search for it, often as plain Pico Arieiro without the "do".
Our picks: Pico do Arieiro
A guided walk with the fee included, or a transfer for the sunrise.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided walk at Pico do Arieiro
Pick-up at the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum, the Stairways to Heaven ridge and the Ninho da Manta viewpoint. The PR1 trail fee and booking are included.
Check availability →Pico do Arieiro sunrise hiking transfer
Hotel pick-up in Funchal and Caniço and a driver, but no guide. You book the PR1 trail fee yourself on SIMplifica.
Check availability →Pico do Arieiro tours and sunrise trips
Sunrise trips and guided hikes from Funchal with transport. Useful because the PR1 is one way and the public transport to the summit is practically non-existent.
How the one-way rule works
Introduced after a rockfall, enforced at the gate.
Up to Pedra Rija
From Pico do Arieiro to the Pedra Rija viewpoint (1.2 km one way) you may walk in both directions. This short section costs €4.50 as a return trip.
Beyond Pedra Rija
From Pedra Rija to Pico Ruivo you may only walk towards Pico Ruivo. There is no return on the same path. The full crossing costs €10.50. Operators with an agreement with the forestry institute (IFCN) pay €7.
Ways out
Leave via PR 1.1 (Vereda da Ilha) or PR 1.2 (Vereda do Pico Ruivo) to Achada do Teixeira near Santana. PR 1.3 (Vereda da Encumeada) is restricted, with no reopening date. At Achada do Teixeira you need a taxi or transfer.
Controls
IFCN staff and the forest police check tickets at the Pedra Rija gate and at Pico Ruivo. Only visitors with a valid reservation get through.
A short Pico Arieiro hike: to the Pedra Rija viewpoint
If you do not want the full crossing, the section from Pico do Arieiro to the Pedra Rija viewpoint is 1.2 km one way and can be walked in both directions. It costs €4.50 as a return trip and still needs a booking.
Pico do Arieiro sunrise: the early windows
Since 21 June 2026 there are two extra entry windows, 07:00 to 07:30 and 07:30 to 08:00, with 70 places each. That adds 140 places a day, and the model is meant to be permanent. It was introduced because so many people wanted the sunrise.
Book early, because the windows are limited. Arrive well before your slot, since the gate does not always open on time. On 14 June 2026 it opened after 08:20 although the tickets showed 08:00 to 08:30. My sources give no sunrise times, so check them for your date. At this altitude it is cold and often foggy before sunrise.
From Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo: what to plan
Booking, getting back and closures.
| Question | Answer (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Where do I book? | On the SIMplifica portal, by PR number, date and start window |
| Fee, Arieiro to Pedra Rija | €4.50 |
| Fee, Arieiro to Pico Ruivo | €10.50 per adult |
| Children | Aged 12 and under pay no fee according to the trail pages, but still need a registration |
| Direction | One way beyond Pedra Rija |
| Parking reservation | None found |
| Public transport to the summit | Practically none, according to a secondary source |
Closed days: in September 2026 the path was closed on 14, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 22 September while a boardwalk was installed. The forestry institute planned no further interruptions, and I found no closure for October. Weather can still close it. In March 2026 the Arieiro and Pico Ruivo trails were shut because of storms. The road from Pico do Arieiro to Eira do Serrado was closed on 2 July 2026.
Parking at Pico do Arieiro
I found no parking reservation for Pico do Arieiro. In October 2024 the press reported paid car parks run by the forestry institute, with a daily maximum of €20 and the first 30 minutes free. That may be out of date, so treat it as a guide and not as a current price.
Because the PR1 does not return, the car often stays at the summit while you finish at Achada do Teixeira. Plan how you get back: a taxi or transfer, a second person with a car, or a guided hike that includes transport.
Plan around the summit
Weather, other walks and where to sleep.
Pico do Arieiro: frequently asked questions
Can I hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo in 2026?
Yes. The PR1 reopened on 1 May 2026 and has been open daily since 26 June. You must reserve online and pay €10.50, and beyond Pedra Rija you can only walk towards Pico Ruivo.
Can I walk back the same way?
Not beyond the Pedra Rija viewpoint. The path is one way towards Pico Ruivo. You leave via PR 1.1 or PR 1.2 and arrange transport back.
Is it Pico do Arieiro or Pico do Areeiro?
Both spellings refer to the same mountain. The official trail pages and the booking portal write Areeiro.
Do I need to reserve parking?
I found no parking reservation. Paid car parks run by the forestry institute were reported in 2024, with a daily maximum of €20. Check the current rate on site.
When can I see the sunrise?
Two extra windows, 07:00 to 07:30 and 07:30 to 08:00, with 70 places each, have existed since 21 June 2026. Book the slot in advance and arrive early.