Pico do Arieiro — Attraction in Câmara de Lobos

Pico do Areeiro I will write everything you will need to know (and I wish I knew) before going to this hike: Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo - I visited on September 2023 Endurance - This is not an easy hiking! It’s not for beginners, if your are not used to and really wanna go, prepare yourself physically before. My husband and I are quite used to hiking and we still felt it was very hard finishing. Path - There are two ways to go, one has 6,1km (VO) and the other one has 7km (VE). We decided for the VO. That meant 12,2 km the intere trail. The path is full of stairs, tunnels and cliffs. In the day we did the hiking it was super humid and it was quite dangerous because it was very slippery. However the landscape was breath taken, it is really one experience of a life time. Just be careful and you will be fine. We were very tired in the way back and didn’t enjoy as we could because we just wanna finish. Saying that, I would highly recommend you to get a company to drop you off at Pico do Areeiro and pick up you in the end of the trail in Achada de Teixeira. Many companies do that and also offer you the possibility to watch the sunrise, it’s around 40 euros per person the basic fare. Doing both ways is very demanding physically and I regretted not hiring a service like that. There is also the possibility to get a cab in Achada de Teixeira to take you back. Parking - There are two Parking spaces, The first one is for the people that want to spend more in the parking place, normally people like us that decided to go on the hike. This one is around 1km from the beginning of the hike, I cannot stress that enough, go early! Is a small parking space and it takes hours for people to get back. The second park is right in the beginning of the hiking trail, however you can only park there for one hour maximum. This parking is normally used for the people that go there to watch the sunrise. As I mentioned before, hiring a company to take you there also takes the parking problem from your mind. Food - Bring your water and snacks with you. There is only one cafeteria in the end of the path and there is not much of food options, especially if you have some type of allergy. They have cold and hot drinks, chips, cookies and sandwiches. Weather - Choose wisely the day you are going, set the weather app for Pico do Areeiro. It is colder because of the altitude and this makes a lot of difference in the experience. I went in a very fog and cloudy day, so in most of the trail we could not enjoy the view as we would like. We also could not see the sunrise, which was very sad, I was dreaming with this. Overall tips: Prepare yourself physically, if possible hire a company to take and pick you up after the hiking, bring water and sacks, keep track of the weather, be careful...

This is a tough thing to rank, but here it goes:

5 stars for views, hands down. If you want to do the Stairway to Heaven, you need to enter the trail and stick to the left. Take the stairs that looks like it's going to the summit, but you'll see the trail splits off and will take you to that Instagrammable spot!

The trail is relatively well maintained, though it would be very difficult for those with mobility issues both because of the stones on the path plus the steep stairs. Remember, the air is a little thin at this elevation and may be a little difficult to complete. Because of the elevation, the weather is significantly colder and likely more windy compared to where your hotel is. There was about a 40 degree (F) difference between our hotel and the summit.

Also, there are a lot of barriers throughout the trail though 3 days after I visited, a person disregarded these barriers and fell to his death. Be mindful and be smart when visiting.

The parking situation is 2 stars - there is honestly not enough parking. There also is a charge to park. I went to see the sunrise, left early and barely found a parking spot. Once I did, there was a long queue to pay for parking at a machine. Parking was also a challenge because there are levadas and my car got stuck in the levada. It's hard to see when dark, so be mindful when parking in the main parking lot.

There is a fee to hike, which you can pay by cash or card. If you go early, there is no way to pay by cash but there were attendants in yellow vests by the summit who were getting payment.

The Instagram influencers honestly make this trail frustrating. I hiked this at the end of March (not busy season) and constantly had to stop for people to do a mini photo shoot every 2 steps. And I'm not talking about a quick photo, but multiple poses that lasts several minutes. If you are in a rush or have plans to actually hike, make sure to give yourself a...

In the pre-dawn darkness, we set out on what would become one of the most memorable experiences of our Madeira trip: watching the sunrise from Pico do Arieiro, Madeira's third-highest peak. The drive to Pico do Arieiro is an adventure in itself. As our vehicle wound its way up the serpentine roads, we ascended through different microclimates. The warm coastal air gave way to cooler mountain breezes, and soon we found ourselves above a sea of clouds.

When we arrived at the parking area near the summit, we were greeted by a crisp mountain air that instantly awakened our senses. Bundled up against the early morning chill, we made our way to the viewpoint. Even in the pre-dawn light, the landscape was otherworldly. Jagged peaks pierced through a blanket of clouds, creating an archipelago of rocky islands in a misty sea. The play of light and shadow in these early moments created an ever-changing tableau that was captivating in its own right.

As we waited for the sun to make its appearance, we weren't alone. Other early risers had also made the journey, creating a sense of shared anticipation. There was a hushed excitement in the air, broken only by the click of camera shutters as people tried to capture the evolving scene. Then, almost imperceptibly at first, the eastern sky began to lighten. Slowly, the black of night gave way to deep blues, then purples, pinks, and oranges. The clouds below and around us became a canvas for this spectacular light show, reflecting and refracting the colors in a breathtaking display.

The full glory of the sunrise revealed itself moments later, and we were struck by the sheer drama of Madeira's mountainous interior. From this vantage point, we could truly appreciate why Madeira is often described as a "floating garden" - lush valleys and peaks rising dramatically from the...