Hiking on Madeira: PR1 Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo
The PR1 Vereda do Arieiro is the most famous hike in Madeira and one of the most beautiful day hikes we have ever done. If you’re lucky with the weather, this hike will not only be a literal but also a figurative highlight of your trip. The views over the island’s highest peaks are phenomenal, and the hike itself is an exciting and challenging journey full of variety and natural beauty. You start at an altitude of 1,818 meters (5,965 feet) at Pico do Arieiro.
The PR1 Vereda do Arieiro hike in a nutshell
Officially, this is a point-to-point hike, which means you don’t walk in a circle but rather towards a final point and then back the same way. The numbers below are based on the assumption that you walk both ways. However, you can also arrange transportation through this one-way tour so that you don’t have to walk back. In that case, you choose the one-way route and at the end, you only walk a few miles on an easier path to where cars can reach to pick you up. This is certainly a good option for less experienced hikers who still want to see the PR1 but don’t want to walk the entire way back with the steep changes in altitude.
Distance: 13 km or 9 km one-way route
Duration: 6 to 7 hours or 3.5 to 4 hours one-way route
Elevation difference: 1,650 meters (5,413 feet) or 900 meters (2,953 feet) one-way route
Difficulty: Challenging due to the changes in altitude and duration, but with the one-way route, it becomes easier.