Sunrise At Pico Do Arieiro Stairway To Heaven And Pr3 Self Guided

A wonderful sunrise and awesome walk and views. Pickup and our guide claudio were super efficient, helpful and fun to spend time with !

Great trip. Good communication on pick up time. Transit service arrived on time. The first part of the trip is sunrise where you are dropped by the driver to viewing area. Although very busy there was still plenty of room on the rocky out-crock for good views and to move around. It was chilly so make sure you have warm clothing for this part of the trip as you are sitting around waiting for the sunrise. Next you walk PR1 known as stairway to heaven which take 2.5 hours there and back. Lastly you walk down PR3 which takes 2.5hours. Found PR3 a bit of a boring trail but was not too busy. Best views on PR1 but lots of people on this route. You will need hiking experience as this is a long and at times arduous trek. Overall a great trip.

We would highly recommend this experience to anyone. Luís gave really good instructions and help the day in advance of the hike. Cláudio is a legend (he brought us on the tour). He collected us on time at the start of the day, was super friendly despite the early start, and despite our best efforts to ensure him we would be fine with the cold (being Irish) he was there to help us with some spare jackets when things got cold. He hung around whilst we watched the sunrise and was there for us when we got back to show us where to go next for PR3. After the day out and we got back to the coffee stop, and we all enjoyed coffees and delicious food together over great conversations. Thank you Luís & Cláudio - we will be recommending you to any of our friends or family that come visit the beautiful, Madeira 🇵🇹 from Keith & Niamh 🇮🇪

Well organised trip. Picked up from hotel. Arrived in good time to get in to position to watch the sunrise. Excellent experience. Then walked to viewing point on PR1 and back before good walk down PR3 route for about 7km. Took 2.5 hours. Need moderate fitness for older people. 2 people went the wrong way but route well marked. If you download Mapy as advised and reference it to follow route then its impossible to go wrong. Superb cafe at end.

Luis made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. He texted us all the details the day before, which gave us plenty of time to prepare. He picked us up right on time and drove us straight to PR1 “Stairways to Heaven” to catch the sunrise, which was absolutely worth it. Luis is a funny and friendly guide (sometimes a bit too funny), but he answered all our questions and gave helpful tips on what to do and avoid in Funchal, along with some great personal recommendations. After the hike, he picked us up at a nice café/bar where we could relax, eat, or grab a drink before heading back. The hike itself isn’t too difficult, but proper shoes are essential since both PR1 and PR3 can get slippery. If you’re active, it’ll be easy; if not, you can still complete it at your own pace. The views are stunning, very scenic, and we barely saw other people on the trail. Overall, great value for money and definitely recommended.

We were picked up by Luis, who was unfortunately running quite late, which meant we then had quite a rush to reach Pico do Arieiro, he was however, very nice and very apologetic Arrived at the stairway to heaven and saw the most beautiful sunset, we then unfortunately didn’t listen to instructions properly and walked the incorrect route, which meant our entire group had to walk back up 7 zillion steps - completely our own fault - so I recommend listening properly :D PR3 was also lovely, we really enjoyed our day and Luis was super nice and friendly and we would certainly recommend using this tour to see these amazing places

The hike was excellent . I would do it again)

Luis, the guide, was funny and lively. I would not have done this, however, had I understood how difficult it was: 16,000 steps (70% downhill), 7 miles and the equivalent of 50 flights of stairs. I hike and do Pilates a lot and am in pretty good shape for a gal of 76, but this was too much and there was no turning back. It was truly lovely to see the sunrise and the spectacular rock formations in early morning light and I highly recommend it for someone younger in great shape. I didn’t help that my legs are short. The uneven and deep steps put a strain on my knees and quads.

Luís was wonderful and made our sunrise hike experience totally stress-free! He arranges all of the pick-up times for us and was right on time in the morning to pick us up from our lodging. We made up to the peak with plenty of time to find a spot to watch the sunrise, and followed with plenty of time to do both the PR1 and PR3 hikes. We were definitely glad to be brought straight back to our lodging at the end as well rather than a meeting point we’d have to walk back from, as those two hikes are brutal on the knees! We’d definitely recommend Luís to anyone wishing for direct transport to and from the mountain.

Luiz took Care that everything works as planned. He helped with good advice and is a fun Guy. Would recommend again

Luis was a great transportation guide - very engaging, informative and helpful. He also provided jackets to those who needed them.

The guide was very helpful. Picked us up on time, explained everything about the trail and even borrowed us his jacket! We couldn’t have asked for a better guide, thank you!

The tour includes PR1 and PR3 — both trails are distinct, with beautiful views. I found it a bit too lengthy (probably my physical condition is a bit below average) and therefore quite exhausting. That said, the tour is non-guided, so you can go at your own pace, which I really appreciated. Please be aware that the 8:00 AM tour actually starts at approximately 5:30 AM in Funchal, which I don’t think is mentioned (I’m sorry if I missed it), but this allows you to greet the sunrise above the clouds. We were back at approximately 1 PM. Our guide Louis took good care of us — he even allowed me to make an extra stop to grab a coffee, and he also messaged us to check whether everything was ok along the way. A few tips for future hikers: • PR1 and PR3 can be done separately if you prefer a shorter or less demanding experience. • Bring food and snacks with you, as there are limited options along the way. • Dress warmly — it can get quite windy and cold in the mountains, even if it looks sunny down in Funchal.

Very safe driving, polite and entertaining driver, open to answer all your questions. Would do it again. Best value for money.

Luis was amazing today. He was super friendly, knowledgeable, informative, kept us laughing, and gave many suggestions on things to see and do around Madeira. Amazing sunrise, stairway to heaven hike and PR3 hike. Completed the hike with amazing food and cappuccino’s at the restaurant near trail end. Highly recommend this tour and Luis!!

Luis is brilliant! Really friendly, funny and helpful. He picked us up, on time from our apartment in Sao Martinho and took us and 4 other guest to the top of Pico do Arieiro. The weather was wet, super cloudy, freezing cold and blowing a gale so no chance of seeing the sunrise! Luis leant us coats and gave us advice about the walk while we waited in the van for it to get lighter and ideally less cloudy. The cloud and rain did not stop so Luis suggested we do the other walk PR3 first and then come back to do the Stairway afterwards. He changed his arrangements to meet us at the end of the walk in the (seriously welcome) cafe at the end of PR3. He kept in touch with us on the walk and showed us how to use the Mappy app duo we didn't get lost. The walk was tough, harder than I thought it'd be, there is a lot of rocky uneven steps and roots. Luis was there to pick us up at the end, and drove us back to the top to do the Stairway to Heaven. He couldn't have been more helpful. We will be back to see the view in better weather, hopefully! In conclusion; trust in Luis, dress warm and be ready for a tough walk!

I booked this tour last min was a little worried, but it turned out to be a great tour. I don’t remember the tour guy, but he was great and helpful. He made sure we know where we’re going and checked on us multiple times. It was really cold watching the sunrise, but it was worth it. Both hikes (PR1 / 3) weren’t hard to us. The directions were clear on the paths. Make sure to download the map before you go and bring a jacket or something to stay warm for the sunset. After 15 mins hike, it gets hot. Overall, it was a great tour. Highly recommend it.

Our driver was excellent. We booked a self-guided trip and Luis sent us all the information we needed before the trip and communication about pick up time was spot on. As we headed into the hills, the weather was very different to Funchal, much colder, very windy and wet. We decided to just do PR3, having attempted the path to PR1 and found the conditions just too miserable to continue. We saw the sunrise from the PR1 drop off point and actually got some dramatic photos from there. PR3 is very straightforward to follow, there was just one point where there appeared to be two choices & that was where the app came in to make sure we were on the right path. There are however sections where the steps down are very deep, as well as a couple of stepping stone sections. A good level of fitness and mobility are needed, as well as sturdy walking boots. We were prepared for the weather with waterproofs and warm clothing. We would do it again and hope for better weather but we enjoyed the challenge this time around and still managed to get a few decent photos. Luis was available to contact should we get stuck as well.

Weather can be mixed so come prepared! Luis picked us up from our hotel and we had a great time but got caught out by wind and weather. Would highly recommend!

Our guide Luís was on time, fun and had answers to all of our questions about the hike and Madeira. Would highly recommend as it makes your journey to/from your hike much more enjoyable 😁

Seeing sunrise on the peak was a phenomenal experience! The walk down PR3 was very quiet with brilliant scenery. Luis was a fantastic guide and went out of his way to organise the trip for us, even with some disruption from route closures and limited tickets to access the trails, he planned the day so we got to do it all. He’s very knowledgable about Madeira, answering all the questions we could throw at him, and even gave some great recommendations for restaurants in the city.

Would 100% recommend. The trip was easy to book, our guide was super helpful tailoring the trip for the best options for the group. Sunrise and the views were incredible! We also enjoyed PR3 as a less busy walk to appreciate the area. Would definitely do again :)

It’s beautiful! My guide Luis was really funny and very kind and helpful. Highly recommended, magical sunrise

It was the most picturesque hike i had it Madeira. The driver Luis was so sweet and kind. He explained everything, showed the best place to meet sunrise, told plenty of stories about Madeira. Then i had the part of challenging hike pr1 and the relaxing hike pr3. Highly recommend to have a transfer with this guy!

A wonderful way to start the day! Luis even prepared us for the unexpected, he was extremely helpful. I highly recommend using his transfer for this hike and others. He was prompt, gave us food and shopping suggestions, and even checked in on us partway through. No sunrise this morning but the little flashes of light trying to make it through made it wonderful anyways.

BEST DRIVER EVER. I cannot recommend Luis more. He was SO knowledgeable, kind, and funny. He explained everything perfectly about the hikes. We didn’t get to see the sunrise but Luis took us to two lookout spots. I also told him I was vegatarian and he sent so many restaurants for me. He is absolutely the best!!

We’ve had such a fabulous day. Luis was extremely friendly and helpful with lots of tips and recommendations for our trip. We did the sunrise hike PR1 and PR3, we all really enjoyed it. Communication from Luis was excellent he was very friendly and made us feel comfortable . We would definitely recommend him and will contact him for future trips to Madeira .

We booked a hiking tour in Madeira for PR1 and PR3, and the whole experience was excellent from start to finish. The organization was smooth and everything worked perfectly. Luis was responsible for the transfer and the introduction before the hike. He picked us up on time and drove us safely to the starting point. Before we began, he explained everything clearly — the routes, important safety information, timing, and what to expect during the hikes. His instructions were helpful and made us feel well prepared and confident to do the trails on our own. The hikes themselves were self-guided, and Luis waited for us while we were on the trails. It was very reassuring to know that he was there and available if needed. He was extremely friendly, funny, and kind, which created a very relaxed and positive atmosphere right from the beginning. After we finished, he even gave us extra time to enjoy some food and drinks at a café, which we really appreciated. It showed that he truly cares about his guests and wants them to have a great overall experience, not just complete the tour. We would definitely book more tours with him again and highly recommend him to anyone visiting Madeira. Thank you for a wonderful day 🥰.

Everything was very well organized, with clear and friendly communication via WhatsApp. Luis is a kind and professional guide with a great sense of humor! also appreciate recommendations for hiking apps and restaurants in Funchal. Already planning more trips with him and highly recommend this service

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brilliant self-guided hiking experience with fantastic support We had an amazing self-guided hiking experience organised by Luis in Madeira and couldn’t recommend him more highly. Although he wasn’t physically hiking with us, Luis provided absolutely everything we needed. Clear instructions, brilliant route planning, Blankets and extra jackets ( some of my party didnt believe it would be that cold wet and windy at the peak 🥶🤣) and all the information via hiking apps so we felt completely confident and supported the whole time. He stayed in contact with me throughout, made sure we knew exactly how to reach him if needed, and genuinely cared about us having a great experience. He also shared lovely recommendations for local attractions, restaurants and places to explore, along with bits of history about the island which added so much to the trip. He even sent me a happy birthday message, which was such a thoughtful and unexpected touch. The drive up was so much fun too, Luis has such a dry, quick sense of humour and had us all giggling before we’d even started the hike. The route itself was stunning and the whole experience, whilst challenging, felt seamless, well thought out and really special. One of the highlights of our time in Madeira. Luis is an extremely thoughtful, responsive and professional guide. We felt so well looked after from start to finish. Highly recommend 🌿✨

A lot of emotions, good vibes to pico and stairs to heaven, and comfort hiking burro, Guide tour very helping and very pleasure continued hiking together

Picked up at my hotel at 6:45 am and headed for the top of the mountain. Sunrise was 8:10 am. Sunrise was magical and felt like you were on top of the world. Afterwards, PR1 trail with stairway to heaven. PR1 trail is a must do. Was done around 9:30 am. I did not do the PR3 trail because I had to get back. PR3 would have taken me until 1 pm per Luis. Luis was nice and made the trip light hearted and fun. I highly recommend you book with him for your next trip. Even if you take a tour of the island, I recommend this one if it does not include the sunrise and PR1.

Fantastic service. I only booked the tour the night before and straight away I was contacted by WhatsApp with all the details I needed

Couldn’t recommend this experience any more! Luís was my driver and he was fantastic - he sent hiking information a few days before and talked me through the route, showed me the maps etc - I would have been lost without him. As a solo traveller, it was also very reassuring to know he was on the end of the phone during my hike if I needed him. He was super friendly and is so knowledgeable about Madeira - he took the time to also share recommendations for restaurants, beaches etc in the area too. I liked the structure of having the transport and guidance whilst being able to walk without a group. The views from the top are incredible and the PR3 trail was a highlight of my trip! Thank you Luís!

We had a great time on our sunrise hike and down the PR3 trail. Luís got in touch via Whatsapp a couple of days before to confirm the pickup time and location, he provided us with lots of information about what to expect and bring. He arrived on time and was so lovely cracking jokes and giving us the information we needed to complete the walk and also some top tips of where to see the sunrise the best! Would definitely recommend this trip if you like walking but go prepared for all weathers as you start in the dark and at the top it’s very cold waiting for the sunrise. Walking down PR3 we went through the cloud which was cold and wet but was amazing to experience so just check the weather and take a coat with you!

Luis is simply amazing :) such a good tour guide and genuine guy. Gave us in general so many suggestions on what to do in madeira when he had nothing to gain. He was helping us with giving so many directions related to the hike and we had an amazing time. Thank you Luis! The guys from Chipre

Everything was great! Beautiful scenery at Pico do Arieiro, peaceful trails and brilliant planing by Luis

Wow. The best organised trip we have ever had. Luis is so caring and thoughtful, very knowledgeable and professional. He will provide the reassurances that everything is well organised and will go to plan. His warm and funny personality will ensure you know you are in safe hands. He checks in with you before your trip and throughout making sure you get the best experience that you wanted. I cannot recommend Hiking Transfers enough. So good we booked a 2nd walk straight away. The Sunrise is amazing and PR1 (even the first 1.2km) is unmissable and the sights will astound you. Worth every penny. You haven’t seen Madeira’s magic if you don’t do a PR walk.

Luis is a fantastic guide - he was great at getting in touch with me via what's app as soon as I booked the sun rise pick up experiemce. with him. He was full of helpful information before hand and gave excellent advice about the self guided walk. He was great at keeping in touch to see how we were doing during our hike and was able to pick us up 10 mins after we messaged at the end of our hike. Thoroughly recommend using Luis

Simply exceptional. Top-notch organization. Our guide accompanied us to the best spot to get the best view. Unforgettable sunrise. The show was magnificent. Reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. The walk to the skyway to heaven and back is really worth it. It is dizzying and magnificent at the same time. The PR3 is pleasant in a totally different natural setting. Be careful, this trail is not recommended for people with knee problems because it is a 3-hour descent, but it is okay with trekking poles. Our guide guided us well from a distance to avoid route errors and left us time to eat upon arrival. We recommend it 100%.

Luis Freitas has an excellent shuttle service, accommodating and friendly. He knows everything and is a very good and safe driver. I definitely want to recommend him!!!

Superb experience, Luis is really kind and gave us several pieces of information and valuable advice regarding the hike and the island in general. We recommend this activity to everyone!

Very friendly driver; he explained the routes to us and was very punctual. Good price compared to what you find with other companies in Madeira

A very beautiful experience. Everything went smoothly and the landscapes were truly incredible. The transfer service went very well and everything was very well organized

We consciously decided to only go for the sunrise and part of the PR1 trail. But even that is an unforgettable experience. To everyone who plans to go, we recommend good, sturdy footwear and good physical condition.

Super shuttle service, our guide was very attentive and asked us during our hike if everything was okay. He even picked up other fellow passengers beforehand because they didn't want to continue hiking. All in all, just top!

Excellent driver! Punctual and very professional, made the transfer really enjoyable. Always nice, attentive during the trip and available to give useful tips and recommendations on what to see and do in the area. Impeccable service and great friendliness: I absolutely recommend it to those looking for a reliable and pleasant transfer.

The communication, pick up and ride was superb. We were dropped off at a good location with clear explanations. And picked up again after the hike.