Things to do at Pico Ruivo

At 1,862 metres, Pico Ruivo is the highest point on Madeira, and it is walk-only: no road reaches the top. Most visitors arrive on the PR1 traverse from Pico do Arieiro, roughly 7km one way through three tunnels and rock-cut steps, taking 3 to 4 hours. 8km each way and the only route that reaches the summit without doing the full traverse.

Both are official PR trails, which since August 2021 require paid online booking (around EUR 3 per person, per trail, per day) checked at the entrance — there is no free walk-up here. Arieiro makes sense mainly as the starting point for the traverse rather than a destination in itself. Bring a torch for the tunnels and check trail status before setting out, since closures after heavy rain are common.