Sunset Tour @ Pico Do Areiro | Half Day 4x4 Tour

Sadly the clouds were really thick's so zero visibility at the peak on the evening we visited. Nuns Valley was lovely though. I have a fear of heights and found the climb up by road very scary LOL. So this is not for you if you have the same phobia. Hugo our guide was such fun, we had a good laugh and owing to the bad weather he took us to a viewing point overlooking Funchal which gave those on teh trip a great photo opportunity. He is a great person and I would recommend.

Some days before our planned group 4x4 Sunset tour we were contacted by Jeff from the Hit the road team, he apologised and confirmed that he was going to be unable to undertake our planned 4x4. He offered us a full private tour for two alternative with one of his other drivers, Rui. My wife and I discussed the option and took Jeff up on his alternative tour. Rui duly arrived at our apartment, he could speak fluent English and was an absolute credit to Hit the Road, whilst also being a great ambassador for his native island. We took In various wonderland Maderian sights, as we headed up towards our final destination Pico Areerio, some of these included, Christ the King of Garajau and a wonderful locals mountain Poncha bar. When then saw the most breathtaking and memorable sunset on top Pico Areerio, this night will remain in our memories forever.. Thank you Jeff and Rui, we will be back on Maderia soon and will definitely book another tour with your team..

Beautiful views, Hugo was a great tour guide 10/10 ✨

Excellent trip. Vitor was an exceptional guide. He was very knowledgeable, personable and took us to parts of the island we probably wouldn’t have seen. He was very easy to converse with and his English is excellent. We unfortunately left a personal item in his vehicle, and he very kindly returned to our accommodation late at night to return it.

I booked at the last minute for this trip and the communication was excellent. Our driver Hugo was brilliant, planning the evening around the clouds and taking us to the best places. Highly recommended.

A safe and fun ride to the top of the mountains. You will experience the sunrise and some secrets that only these guides know. Loved it!

We found Hit the Road through YouTube, and were impressed with how seriously they take understanding where to visit based on the conditions. From conversations with our driver, Hugo, it also seems like they try not to contribute to over-tourism some places in Madeira are experiencing. The communication with Emilio from booking through to drop-off was fantastic. And Hugo was possibly the most upbeat person we’ve ever met (funny too!). The local stories and context that Hugo was able to provide - not just for the ‘main’ area we visited but for the whole drive - helped us understand more about Madeira (and made us wish we’d done more tours with Hit the Road earlier in our trip!). We’d recommend this tour without hesitation and will definitely be booking when we visit Madeira again.

Such a great experience! Hugo was a fantastic guide, really so kind and engaging throughout the trip. It was a nice mini hike and we got to see a beautiful sunset! Definitely worth it!!

Amazing experience. We did our first lavada walk and what an amazing experience with views we would never have seen on our own !! We are always impressed with the knowledge of this crew has of the Island and genuine love for how much each tour guide enjoys making their clients happy and fulfilled!!! We can’t wait to come back to Madeira and take more tours with Hit The Road Madeira !!! You All Are Amazing People & We Highly Recommend This Genuine Experience !!! We Love You Jeff and All Your Crew !!!!

We were excited for a sunset tour with Hit the Road on August 26. We were supposed to be picked up at 6:10 pm. At 6:03 pm, when we were all dressed and ready, we received a call from Hit the Road that the peak of Pico Areiro was too cloudy and that we should pack bathing suits for an alternative itinerary. When we met our guide, it was clear that there was no alternative itinerary and that we were just going to drive to get dinner on the water. We had a lovely dinner, but that was not what we signed up and paid for. We 100% understand that the weather conditions did not permit us to go to Pico Areiro. However, we should have been given more than 7 minutes notice, the opportunity to cancel/get a refund, or the opportunity to reschedule for another day with better weather. If Hit the Road does not offer these opportunities, there should be a real alternative itinerary for days when the weather does not permit ascending the peak.

We joined the Hit the Road 4x4 sunset tour in Funchal with our two kids (7 and 4) and their 70-year-old grandma, and it was fantastic. The children loved every minute — from the bumpy off-road tracks to the wow-views at the sunset stop. Our driver Hugo kept it fun, informative, and very safe, always checking on the little ones and on grandma. The pace was just right, with short, well-chosen stops, great photo opportunities, and local insights that made the experience feel truly authentic, not touristy. Comfortable vehicle, excellent communication, and a friendly team. A memorable family highlight of our Madeira trip — highly recommended!

This was one of our favourite parts of our visit to Madeira. Hugo, our guide, showed a real passion for Madeira, pointing out so many interesting things while we drove. We stopped at a viewing point to see Nuns Valley. The valley was filled with clouds - so we couldn't see the valley, but it was the most peaceful place I have ever been. The sunset at Pico Do Areiro was beautiful beyond words - a once in a lifetime experience. The drive back to Funchal was in the dark (lots of sharp turns and poor visibility), but it was no problem for Hugo! He also gave us a great restaurant recommendation. Hugo definitely made this a great experience! I highly recommend Hugo and Hit the Road Tours!

A beautiful sunset tour with a very nice guide. One of our highlights on our Madeira and Funchal Easter holiday. Recomend it 100%

Not fair to just have 5 stars for this once in a life time experience. Two years ago, we did the sunrise and it was amazing but because of the fog, hit the road took us to different location as mountain was covered in heavy fog. This time, I asked Hugo our guide that I would really love to do the stairs way to heaven. The timing was perfect. He took us to a “secret location” that I cried when I saw the view. Nothing prepared me for that and I watched lots of videos. Then he took us a different area close to the famous walks and it was as divine. We were able to do the steps and it was a. overwhelming experience in the best way possible. Sunset was wonderful. Above the cloud. Madeira is God ‘s heaven on earth. Hugo was wonderful.

This tour was excellent. The views were amazing and this was truly a magical time to visit Pico Do Areiro. Jeff was such a great guide. Very knowledgeable and fun. I highly recommend the company and the tour.

We were lucky enough to take 2 trips with Hit the Road, a full day tour to really get a feel if the island and terrain, and a half day sunset tour. If you are visiting Madeira, or thinking of doing so, a 4x4 tour is essential. Car rentals to get to the heart of the Island would be scary at best, or if you do, make sure you’ve got a good working clutch! Travelling with local people, with the insight they give and the places they know how and where to access was a huge part of our experience. Staying away from crowds, and the flexibility needed alongside the changeable weather was so helpful, and their ethos is 👌. The Sunset tour in our last evening was nothing short of magical- bathed in golden light, above the clouds. Do it! Thanks Hit the Road team 🙏

It was amazing, I don’t like heights but it was well marked and incredible views and great guide. Incredible evening I won’t forget

Hugo was our driver/guide and was so fun and enthusiastic! It was so nice to be on a tour with a guide that was as excited about the tour as we were. There were 4 of us plus Hugo and we lucked into picture perfect conditions. He was a great driver on those insane mountain roads and tight hairpin corners and we felt safe at all times. We would highly recommend this tour.

Overall fantastic experience. Our guide, Hugo, was hilarious, knowledgeable, an exceptionally skilled driver in very tricky terrain, and an overall pleasure to spend time with. The views were incredible and we got some amazing photos. We will definitely be booking again the next time we are in Madeira!

This has been my favorite part of my entire Portugal trip Our tour guide Fernando was always one step of Head of every other group making sure that we got the best seats in the house. He was super informative and made our experience was unforgettable. He know every trick of the trade as well as every corner to cut to make sure that we were getting our monies worth I will highly recommend you book Fernando in your next visit to the island

Unbelievable view and experience. 10000% would do again. This was our first activity after arriving and one of the best experiences.

WOW!! We are just sorry we didn't book more tours with HTRM tours!! Since my wife and I were unable to do everything we wanted to do in Madeira during our 6-day trip, we do plan on returning sometime in the next couple of years. HTRM will be a bigger part of our planning the next time around. This sunset tour took our breath away, so I HIGHLY recommend it for anyone visiting the island!

The Beast is extremely friendly. It even kisses the ranger's mirror. Another unforgettable experience in Madeira. Highly recommended.

From the word go, we had a great experience with Hit the Road. The joining instructions were precise, we were kept informed and our driver, Fernando, was punctual. Special praise goes to Elisa, who helped us to find waterproof jackets to buy as we stupidly had not brought any with us. She was so patient with us. As for Fernando, he is a force of nature! Friendly, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, amusing and considerate. He has extensive knowledge of the island that he lives on and loves and he shared that with us. What a character, what a guy!

We had an amazing time with Hugo as our guide. He was very entertaining and informative. He also gave us some good restaurant recommendations. We highly recommend this tour.

Great trip up to the sunrise viewpoint, with our driver Hugo. He took us first on an amazing offroad detour through a forest trail, and a visit to a traditional Poncha bar. The sunset was amazing, very happy with the tour.

Myself and my partner booked onto this sunset tour after previously attending the East coast tour with Hit the Road earlier in the week. As such, we were very excited to see how Pico do Arieiro looked during the sunset hours opposed to during the day time (our verdict- the views were even more stunning, if at all possible!) Our guide Hugo was absolutely excellent and our group was great fun. We laughed all evening and it was clear that Hugo was passionate about giving us an authentic experience. We enjoyed the poncha stops along the way and the evening was very relaxed as we felt in safe hands. We were lucky to additionally have André, who is also part of the Hit the Road team, come along with us to take some footage of the evening with his drone/ camera. He told us lots about the island on our travels and added to the experience even further with his creative talents. We really could not recommend this tour enough. A definite must if you are visiting the island!

Unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side. It was rainy and really foggy :( But Hugo, our driver had a plan A-Z in mind. Because of the fog an rain we weren't able to go to Pico do Ariero. On the way to another viewpoint the sky broke up and the sun showed up. It was a breathtaking moment. In between we made a stop at a traditional restaurant to drink a poncha, which was delicious. If you want to see Madeira in it's beauty at sunset, go with Hit the Road Madeira. Absolute recommendation!

Absolutely loved this tour, our driver Fernando was a great guy and very engaging with everyone on the tour. Although we had prepared for it being cold up in the mountains, it was actually a lot colder than anticipated. Fernando very kindly just got his jacket out of his 4 x 4 and gave it to me to wear, for which I was extremely grateful.

The team at Hit the Road Madeira is fantastic! I did the sunrise & sunset tours and both Jeff and Fernando did an amazing job at making the experience unforgettable. I can 1000% recommend booking a tour with them, it will be the highlight of your stay.

We didnt get to go to Pico do Aireiro because of the weather, but our driver Hugo had plans B & C in his pocket. We had fun going up narrow steep roads that felt like car is almost upright. Only Madeiran drivers are crazy enough to drive those small village roads... At the end of one of these roads we made a brief stop for poncha, which I think is mandatory in the tour. The evening was crowdy but Hugo chased the sunny spots and led us to places where dramatic views opened up. Hugo is the right man in this business: good driver, attentive, sense of humor. Go with Hit the Road, you will have fun no matter what the weather!

Our second tour was a half day Sunset Tour and it was an amazing experience! The trip up was exciting and exhilarating! Jeff took us on some “less travelled” thrilling roads to get us to the destination. The Pico do Arieiro above the clouds sunset did not disappoint. Afterwards we stopped at O Barracao which had a great atmosphere with tasty food and drinks.

Our family of 4 had an excellent time! All of us, including two young teens, enjoyed Fernando's energy and friendliness. The weather wasn't great, but he had an alternative that worked just fine as we could not go to primary location. We stopped off for a meal which was absolutely delicious. The banana farm tour was also very entertaining. Thank you, Fernando, for an amazing tour.

The weather was dreadful so we saw very little of the sunset. But the drive up to Pico was amazing - beautiful scenery and roads only the locals know. After the rather foggy sunset we set off back down the mountain to a little cabin where we drank poncha and had snacks. Just the best evening and Fernando our guide was great fun and full of information. Will be doing this again.

We had a wonderful trip to the sunset with Hugo our guide. It was amazing. If we will visit Madeira again we will certainly contact Hit the road.

Hugo is the best travel companion you can imagine. He is fun, knows the best viewpoints, is a really good photographer and makes this extraordinary experience even better. A tour in Madeira not to miss. Pico Areeiro is surely the best place to enjoy the sunset. Celebrate with Puncha afterwards!

I did the Sunrise Tour which was really great.  Our guide Jeff made put of the whole thing a nice experience, with his nice, open manner. He gave us a lot of additional information while the drive and a short walk afterwards. The sunrise was super beautiful, I can only recommend it.  If you want to do the Pico hike anyway, you could combine both. Nevertheless, the tour was totally worth it. Thanks Jeff.  Can only recommend Hit the road.

Hugo for president! What a fun guy. The trip was fantastic, very easy to book and communication was efficient. If we were here for longer or coming back we would definitely book more tours with you guys. Thank you.

Jeff was a very kind and nice tour guide with a lot of knowledge. The views where simply amazing and we where at the scenes before the big masses arrived.

Very nice tour with an excellent guide. The views are splendid with different stops. Sunset is wonderful.

The sunset trip with Hugo was phenomenal! We loved it so much. The views are breathtaking and we really enjoyed Hugos company, his knowledge and passion. Thank you, Hit the Road Madeira for making our first day on the island so special. We would highly recommend this trip to everyone visiting Madeira.

This was an excellent trip for the end of our time in Madeira. Lovely trip up to watch the sunset. Jeff is very informative and happy to take plenty of pictures for us. Stopped for a glass of poncha at a nice restaurant on the way up. Would recommend to all.

It was a great pleasure to do this tour with Jeff, he is very talkative and entertaining! The place is really amazing, especially at sunset!! I really recommend it to all, no fitness required... :)

We were picked up at our hotel by Hugo. What a nice chatterbox! Hugo constantly monitored the weather and adjusted his route to the weather to see the most beautiful part on the way to the Pico. He does not drive on the usual road to the top but on beautiful back roads. Along the way he has a lot to say, about himself, about the economy, about the culture, about sights along the way. He also regularly asks if the passengers are still well. On the Pico do Areiro he shows you where to walk, stand and tells you the time when the sun will set. Amazing!! The way back we drove via a nice shortcut route to Funchal, also then there was a lot in fo. And because it was already dark, the view over the illuminated city was beautiful. Arriving at the hotel, there was a big hug from Hugo as a closing act. Hugo, tanx for the amazing tour!!