PR1 Vereda do Areeiro — Attraction in Câmara de Lobos

We did the PR1 Vereda do Areeiro hike and honestly, it turned out to be one of the best experiences ever. First thing to know is that parking is a bit tricky. There’s limited paid parking with two lots. If the first one is full (which happens fast), you’ll have to park in the lower lot and do a bit of a mini-hike to get to the starting point. I think that part is actually PR3, so be prepared for a little warm-up before the real hike begins.

We got there around 9:30 AM on a sunny day, but even with the sun out, it was cold. Definitely bring layers, a jacket or at least a hoodie because that mountain wind hits different. There are toilets available, but it’ll cost you 1 euro. There’s also a small souvenir shop and a café at the start if you want to grab something before heading off.

The hike itself is moderate, but it keeps you on your toes. There’s a lot of going up and down, and many of the stairs have high steps, so you’ll be stretching those legs quite a bit. It’s not a flat walk, but nothing too extreme either. I’d say anyone with a bit of stamina can handle it, even kids if they’re into hiking.

What really makes this hike special are the viewpoints along the way. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, mountains, cliffs, and clouds below you. This isn’t a hike you want to rush. The real magic happens when you stop at these spots, take a breather, and just soak in the views. Pure satisfaction. At some points, the wind gets crazy strong, like "I might get blown off the mountain" kind of strong, but in a weird way, it adds to the adventure and feels amazing.

Right now, the full trail isn’t open due to some closures, so you can only go about 1.2 km one way. Even with that, it’s totally worth it. We spent around 4.5 hours just enjoying the hike, stopping often, taking photos, and embracing the whole vibe. There’s nothing insanely difficult about this trail, no dangerous steep climbs or sketchy parts , so it’s pretty accessible for most people (at least for the part that is accessible now).

You’re supposed to pay 3 euros per person for access, but when we were there, the ticket machine was broken. We bought tickets online, but honestly, no one was checking. I’m pretty sure some people just walked in without paying because the whole system seemed pretty relaxed and unregulated.

All in all, this hike was amazing. The views, the fresh mountain air, the challenge, everything about it was worth it. Definitely one of those experiences that stays with you. If you're in Madeira, don’t miss this one. It’s...

The start of an amazing (and long) journey. Getting here can be difficult. Three options are currently available from what I could tell.

Cheap: What I opted for, you can take the bus from Funchal to Poiso, and walk 7km (a shallow uphill incline) for about an hour and a bit to reach this point. Although a little extra work, the total cost of transport (return) works out to a total cost of under 10 Euros. In order to do this you must leave Funchal at 8:00 and be ready at Poiso bus station for 18:40. At Poiso bus station lies a cafe for you to relax while you wait for the bus.

Medium: If you do not mind travelling with a tour group, many of the tour busses will take you to the start of the week for around €30-40 return. Whilst this isn’t a bad price, you are shoehorned into walking with a group this way, which a feel would not have provided the same experience as walking solo/duo.

Expensive: Taxi. The cost can be €100+ (I guess this works out better than the tour for a group of 3+) and allegedly varies based on the driver. This is however the fastest and most flexible of all the transportation methods.

At the start of this walk is a small Cafe, which serves food and drinks for a variable price. Some menu items are overpriced whilst others are more reasonable (Bolo do Caco for €2). As a tip, if you take the Poiso route the people working at the place are happy to fill your water bottles up which came in very handy as in the summer it’s important to stay hydrated on this route.

As for the route itself a lot of people will say it is “hard” difficulty but honestly if you pace yourself well this can be quite a relaxing climb with only a few challenging uphill sections (I’m referring directly to you Mr. Ridiculous incline steep stairs about 2/3 of the way in). Take lots of water (2 full hiking bottles minimum) and enjoy the...

This was one of the best hikes I've done in my life. However, be aware that it is an out and back, and there are likely, if I had counted, 1000's of stairs in each direction. This is not a hike that I would recommend for anyone with any sort of mobility issues, or out of shape individuals. I was hurting the next day as my wife and I pushed to see how quickly we could finish. The views throughout are amazing, and you get to go through some neat tunnels throughout the trip. I will also warn however that I would likely not do it again as it had very heavy traffic in both directions and the trail is very narrow, edged by steep cliffs throughout. Defintely not a hike for one that is afraid of heights as you walk along the edge for the majority of the hike. You will need a decent pair of hikers, and some water. There is a cafe at the far peak where you can take a break as required. If I could do it again with very little to no other people on the trail I think I would enjoy it that much more, but you will find that you will get stuck behind a slower group for a long period. I tracked it on my Garmin watch and it told me that it was a 14km trip from parking lot back to the parking lot. We went up at sunrise as we had been recommnded, and it was definitely worth the early rise, but remember that not everyone is a capable driver and we got stuck in a fairly long line of cars as we got closer, so remember to give yourself a couple extra minutes to get to the parking lot, and the best place to see the sunrise is about a 5-10 minute walk from the...