Things to do at Pico do Arieiro

At 1,818 metres, Pico do Arieiro is the only one of Madeira's high peaks you can reach by car, which is why sunrise here is the island's single most-booked outing: organised trips leave Funchal around 4-5am, roughly a 45-minute drive, and cost in the region of 25-40 EUR per person with transport included.

The reward is a chance of standing above a cloud sea while the coast below still sleeps, but it is never guaranteed - clear valleys and low peak cloud can just as easily leave you in flat grey mist. Dress for it regardless: temperatures at the summit often sit close to 0C on winter mornings even when Funchal is a mild 18C.

From the car park, the Vereda do Arieiro (PR1) sets off towards Pico Ruivo, Madeira's highest point at 1,862 metres, though most visitors here only walk its opening stretch before turning back.