Your adventure begins with a pickup from your accommodation. Upon arriving at Pico do Areeiro, you can take a refreshment break at the local bar before starting the hike (if opened). The hike from Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo is a thrilling mountain walk in Madeira, connecting the island’s three highest peaks. Starting at Pico do Areeiro (1818m), the trail takes you to Madeira’s highest point, Pico Ruivo (1861m). This 10km route offers stunning views of Madeira’s central mountain range. After enjoying the beauty of Pico do Areeiro, the path leads to “Ninho da Manta,” providing views over Fajã da Nogueira Valley, Nun’s Valley, and Paul da Serra. As part of the Natura 2000 Network, this area is crucial for nature conservation, home to the endangered Freira da Madeira bird species. The high-altitude vegetation features ancient endemic trees like the centenary Urzes. The trail becomes steeper as you approach Pico Ruivo, with tunnels, bridges, and narrow paths. Reaching Pico Ruivo rewards hikers with a 360° panoramic view. The descent to Achadas do Teixeira (1592m) concludes this challenging yet rewarding hike, a must-do for any hiking enthusiast visiting Madeira.
We were lucky with the weather and had some amazing views. Our guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable and kept a pace which suited everyone in the group.
Philippe was an enthusiastic and friendly guide. He made everybody feel welcome and loved sharing his knowledge of beautiful Madeira. A great group of people to share the day with whilst travelling solo. Beautiful weather made the hike even more gorgeous.. this is a ‘must do’ if you have good knees and energy and want to see the best views of Madeira!
Of course weather blessed us, all sunshine and warmth, but that alone doesn't make the trip great. Pick-up was on time, Ben, the guide, was knowledgeable, relaxed, and friendly, and the whole set-up was executed perfectly. We started from Pico do Areeiro slightly before 10 AM and reached the Pico Ruivo toilet / cafe, with plenty of time to summit Pico Ruivo on your own if interested. The PR 1.2 from Ruivo to Achada do Teixeira part was noticeably more crowded than the actual PR1, but both were completely manageable regardless. From my limited experience, I would recommend Madeira Adventure Kingdom for anyone, group or solo hikers, who wish to get organizer pass to the classified trails and to not having to worry about parking or logistics. The service offered impeccable value at least in my eyes. I, however, cannot comment other trails or services. The pick-up and drop-off happened downtown Funchal near the cable car station. This specific trail I would probably avoid if you suffer from vertigo or if you cannot handle around 8.5 km of walking with moderate amount of steep descents and inclines, mostly consisting of stairs. Total elevation gain is around 730 meters across the PR1 + PR 1.2 from Pico do Areeiro to Achada do Teixeira if you include the Pico Ruivo summit.
Well organized group hike to one of the highest peaks in Madeira. Recommend if you’re short on time and don’t have a rental car.
This tour was incredible I'll be at slightly difficult times which we knew going in. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and provided excellent times for breaks to discuss what they were seeing as a group. I believe her name was Danya or Dalia, she was great! She was very friendly and made sure no one has left behind at all times. Would recommend for amazing views! Jaap & Amanda
Beautiful views great walk mostly uphill definitely need to be fit, highly recommend. Cafe at the end to get a drink and use public toilets 1€
As the PR1 is closed due to damage the hike was up Pico Aeerio, well worth the effort the mist lower down cleared to leave fantastic views of the peaks and valleys. Guide was first class.
Needless to say, by far the most challenging hike we've been to. But the views make up all the effort. Recommendations: go on organised tour, do bring enough water and some snakcs/ sandwich because it'll be a long and tiring hike with many uneven steps. If you suffer from asthma/COPD do bring your inhaler with you, you might need it (I sure did...) Should you have any kind of knee/ ancle issues, think twice before booking this hike. Or buy those knee straps for that extra support (got mine from decathlon in funchal). Dress accordingly and beware that the weather may change rapidly. Good hiking boots are a must, a hat/ cap and sunglasses, since the sun is very bright above those clouds :-) On high season it might get very crowded up there.
The Stairway to Heaven hike in Madeira was an unforgettable experience—both challenging and breathtaking. The stunning landscapes, from lush valleys to dramatic cliffs, made every step worth it. Our guide was fantastic, sharing valuable insights and keeping the group motivated throughout. If you’re looking for a rewarding adventure with incredible views and a great guide, this tour is a must!
This was a fantastic hike with our guide, Dalia. The hike was definitely a challenge but totally worth it. She was friendly and accommodating. I would definitely book again!
We were picked up in Funchal for a day's hike up Pico Arieiro. Prompt connections, a great guide, relaxed pace and amazing scenery - perfect!
Everything was extremely well organised. The guide, Darya, was helpful and friendly and was able to respond to additional questions asked. Definitely challenge, but a doable excursion and worth the price!
My daughter and I did this hike 4 days ago and we are still in awe of the beauty of what we saw. Maderia is a very special place and it is especially evident from the heights of Pico do Areeiro and Ruivo. Having read up some information in advance of the hike I was very nervous about it. With Ruben as our guide it turned out to be an awesome experience. There is no doubt about it, as a visitor to the island this hike is a must. Thank you so much Ruben for looking after us and inspiring us to continue hiking throughout the summer. Thanks also to the driver, apologies I can't remember your name.
The hike is stunning the scenery is breathtaking. We were very lucky and was quite a clear day which meant we had a good combination of cloud and sun to enhance the views! The hike is quite challenging and should only be done if you are used to hikes! The guide did ensure we knew what was involved and could stop a little way into the trip and go back if we were concerned! Our guide was very knowledgeable and engaging throughout the walk and stopped regularly to explain things to us! Challenging walk, but well worth it.
Great day out, perfect weather (chilly in the early morning), admiring the nature and various landscape. Loads of picture spots, memorable views... reasonable fitness level + good shoes are needed. Highly recommended, very well organized tour (pick up, whatsapp messaging...) along with great guide that come with you throughout the hiking while the van driver pick us all up from the arrival point.
Had a fantastic day out with Darya today up the Picos. She was so interesting, funny and cute. Weather was amazing so great photos too. Thank you for an awesome day Darya!
I really enjoyed all of the three hikes we did with them. The guides were really good. Many hikes are better to do with a guide because then the pick up point can be different than the starting point (this and 25 Fontes being good examples). That makes hikes more enjoyable than going back the same way. Highly recommended!
Had a really good experience. The route was beautiful and the weather happened to be also nice! The travel guide was very professional and kind!
We did this with the Madeira Magical Adventure group in May 2023; it's a great experience with fabulous views. It is not too arduous, and as long as you are reasonably fit at any age, it is very manageable. The toughest portion of it are the ~500 steps but if you take your time these are not as bad as they sound; otherwise the paths are very well laid out. Worth doing with a tour group as: 1) the guides here are great. We had Favio who is great fun, full of knowledge , and keeps an eye out for you 2) if you park at one peak you will have to head back, whereas the driver can pick you up 3) If any problems do arise, you have someone in support. The views make this a must when on the island. It's chilly at the top, so protective layers that have a bit of heat (but too warm as you are exercising) and wind protection are advised, but highly recommended.
We did the hike from Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo with Roxana and the Levada das 25 Fontes with Fábio. Roxana was a good guide, always looking out for our safety & Fábio always had some funny stories to tell. Both of them were great :) The pick-up at our accommodation was on time and we were also dropped back by them - very handy! Communication with André, responsible for the bookings, via whatsapp, was also very convenient. André also took care of our catamaran trip, and all was easily arranged when we arrived at the harbour. We definitely recommend Adventure Kingdom ! Thank you for the amazing time!
We really enjoyed the hike. Our tour guide was really nice and knew a lot about the area. Pace was good and enough time to take pictures.
We booked this hike with Madeira Adventure Kingdom and we had a really good day. They did the pick-up and drop-off in our hotel and made sure we were well equipped so we can begin our day. They also provided a picnic (extra cost) and it was delicious. (Ordered during reservation) The views during the hike were breath-taking and for sure will return to discover the rest of the island. Thank you for the experience. We recommend this walk for sure!
This hike was challenging, a lot of stairs but it was really great, such a wonderfull view and the guide that was with the group was amazing, explained everything to us. To do this activity you really have to be in good physical condition. It has some tunnels.
Amazing experience. Great pace and beautiful views. Group of 12. Tour guide was lovely and knew a lot about the island.
Fabulous hike with a great guide. She kept a really good steady pace and made sure we were all ok. Breathtaking views. Loved that we did the main hike and then headed back on a quicker and easier path. Also gave us enough time to have lunch, climb the peak and enjoy the views. I would recommend this company.
We had a great morning hicking! Fábio, our tour guide was really experienced and very nice. The hike is very challenging and if you are afraid of heights and are in poor physical condition I would not recommend. But the view is incredible! Will certainly do others if I come back to Madeira!
The views are spectacular! We had such a great experiance. We were fortunate to have Leana as our guide on this hike and 2 of the Levada walks. She kept a great pace on the hike and was always giving us great insight into the flora and fauna on the island. While there are some difficult parts to this, if you take your time you will have a great experience. On our hike they were also doing the Madeira 115km race so we had to deal with runners on the path coming our way. We turned into a cheering squad for these intrepid men and women running this challenging race. We had to stop to let runners get by us but it gave us a small break each time. We had a great hike, saw some awesome sights and got to see a race! What more could you ask for.
A great experience, the guide was great, the walk - surreal. The middle part is a but challenging if you are not very fit. But still, very doable.
The weather was rather demanding. At first slight rain and in the end heavier showers. Did not see too far but the experience was fantastic. The guide was also very good. This definately requires some level of fittness but is safe to walk. A lot of climbing and decendig. Have to to see these pkaces also in better weather.
Beautiful scenery but plan for the weather. Was sunny when we started hiking but clouds tend to collect at the top of high peaks. By the time we got to the top, it was socked in clouds and we couldn't see anything.
It has been a fabulous experience and Ben the guide was very kind and made the tough tour a wonderful walk.
Good guide Very nice views
Really beautiful and regenerating hike. The route runs for 6 kilometers, with a difference in altitude of just over 300 meters, which can be covered in 3 hours. The peculiarity of this walk, what makes it "difficult" level, is that for the first stretch you only go down, and then begin the hard ascent, also through the stairs. Despite this, it is an excursion that develops on a really beautiful path, well maintained and maintained, and that gives on truly exceptional views. Fabio, our guide, was really nice and attentive to everyone's needs and pace. Unfortunately when we did this hike it was not a beautiful day, there was fog and we could not fully enjoy the beauty of the mountains, but this can only be an incentive to return and redo this beautiful and regenerating walk! The path is exposed, but protected: although I suffer from vertigo, I approached it with great tranquility, because it is precisely protected and well maintained. Super recommended!
The walking activity, Pico do Areeiro- Pico Ruivo, was very beautiful. I had the privilege of the weather conditions being fantastic, with blue sky and sun. The guide went to give us information about the geography of the place and other important aspects. It was undoubtedly an enriching experience! I like it!
Beautiful mountain hike, unique experience! Required a good condition and also think of proper clothing against wind and rain.
Excellent. With a friendly and attentive guide. An experience to repeat shortly on the island of wood.
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