Madeira Peaks - Mountain Walk

This is the second time that my wife and I have completed this walk, both times with Lido Tours, the first time being 4 years ago. The walk itself is very challenging physically but the reward far outweighs the effort. It is simply stunning, with views so spectacular that they will live in the memory forever. Lido Tours were absolutely professional in every aspect. Our guide was friendly and informative from start to finish. Challenge yourself, you will not be disappointed.

We booked this tour because all walking permits for PR1 were sold out. Also, the PR1 is a logistical challenge. The guide and the group were all passionate hikers in good shape and with love for nature. I am very happy we booked this tour! The experience itself was very special, steep and panoramic. Sometimes it was hot and we were out of breath (as you would expect with a hike like this in August). I would definitely recommend it!

The views and landscape were amazing. The peaks was unavailable so we did a long levada walk. The guide was knowledgeable and kind. She made sure we were all safe and having a good time. Definitely do your research and bring what they recommend , flashlights, etc.

Thank you for doing this trips. Levada do Furado – Ribeiro Frio Portela - PR10 is 11km to walk through the mountains forest. The guide Sara told us about the forest plants and provided useful information. We had stops on this trip to have a drink and a bite to eat. We stopped at beautiful places to take photos for memories. Thank you Sara and driver.

The tour got cancelled a week before due to fires? . Viator should know about this . There is still the same tour being advertised on the website. This is wrong.

We had a fantastic day. Friendly, funny, likeable guide who loved his island and knew loads about the local history and flora and fauna. Time flew by. Excellent value.

Great and dramatic sites we saw across the island from waterfalls, to village festivals to dramatic mountain views! We loved it!

Due to the previous fires in the area this hike was cancelled and we were giving the 3/4 different options. We close Larano cliff walk and it was fantastic a great walk, some parts can be slippy so trail runners or boots are essential. Collection and drop off are easy and Guide Ruby was super friendly.the 15/20 minute start for coffee etc could be reduced as wasn't necessary for us.

We had to change the location of the lavada due to the fires. However, we were not disappointed. Communication was excellent. Tour guide was a delight, very informative and engaging. The hike was amazing, at a perfect pace and duration. Every corner the sights were incredible. Lido tours are very well organized and I would definitely book again.

Ruby our guide, was fantastic. Pick up was prompt and navigated our group up the mountain with ease considering we did it on a really hot day. Really great walk.

Sara was a was a wonderful guide. Managed our expectations throughout. White tough in parts but worth it. You have to have a reasonable level of fitness for it.

This was, without doubt, the best day of our holiday. The views were amazing from the moment that we stepped off the mini-bus and just got better and better as the hike went on. The company have rated this walk as 'difficult' and it certainly was - the whole route is up or down and incorporates 7000 steps and 5 tunnels. It was tough going and you do need to have a pretty good level of fitness - but it was absolutely worth it and the total highlight of an excellent week away. The guide was great and the organisation from the company was smooth.

The entire experience was amazing. A fantastic guide (Sanna) was very informative and ensured we were safe throughout the tour. Not for the faint hearted.

A fantastic day out at the highest point in Madeira! The hike was definitely challenging for the most part with some absolutely spectacular views. Our guide was very nice, informative and supportive. Getting the minibus to and from the walk was massively useful too and set this tour well apart from just renting a car.

If you want an excursion that will leave you with a life time of memories and a few aching muscles the next morning, then this one is for you. Fabulous views, breathtaking scenery, and a lovely tour guide who looks after you excellently, a day to remember.

As others have said this walk requires a good level of fitness and is not for anyone afraid of heights (or walking through tunnels). One of the Lido group on our day dropped out within the first 400 meters and went back to Funchal by taxi as she had not realised what the walk entailed. The walk is demanding for almost the whole walk but the views are stunning. I cannot praise our guide, Ruby, enough and I would not have wanted to attempt this walk without a guide. There is a particularly hard climb towards the end of the walk (before the "house") and she kept us walking as she said too many people's legs go wobbly if they stop for a picnic break before this climb. We picnicked at the house after the climb and I can confirm that we would have struggled with the climb had we stopped before. I recommend Lido tours who were easy to deal with and ensured our safety throughout. Some of the ledges and steps are quite narrow/difficult for people to pass each other and we welcomed having our guide to negotiate who had right of way! We did 2 x moderate walks with Lido before we attempted this one as it was classified as "difficult" - many thanks to Sara, our excellent guide on the earlier walks, for approving that we were fit enough for this one. If your not sure if you are fit enough, I'd recommend one of the moderate walks first (such as Fanal Forest) and then asking the guide for an honest assessment as to whether you would manage this one! (P.S. Ensure you take plenty of water and you will need change if you want to use the loos at the start of the hike).

Our guide Sara was very informative and gave clear instructions of what to expect! All the way along we got information of the local wildlife, flowers and peaks (what we could see) it was a foggy day but didn’t take away from the challenge! It is not for the low level fitness people! Excellent hike and thank you Sara!

Quite a hard walk but a wonderful experience. Our guide (whose name I forget) was enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

Fantastic guided walk. Our guide, Elder, took us on this walk yesterday and was fantastic! He was very informative and ensured we were safe at all times. Would highly recommend for anyone wanting to do the peak to peak walk with some guidance and support. Some of the shear drops off the sides are scary and it really reassured both of us that we had an expert to guide us round the walk and tell us what was up ahead. If you are not an experienced hiker, I highly recommend doing it with an experienced guide, rather than solo. Thank you very much!

This was a good way to access the three peaks. Taxis are much more expensive to get to the start of the walk and so this was a much better option for us. My only disappointment was (hence the 4 stars) it felt rushed. Our guide didn't allow much time for taking in the views on the way up and as the path underfoot is rocky I spent a lot of time watching my feet and would have appreciated time to look around. Also when we reached the house we only had an hour if we wanted to get to the top, and as I was a bit slower I felt I didn't have enough time so chose not to. It turned out I would have had plenty of time as we finished the walk early, we were back at least an hour before the allotted time and I felt it was all a bit rushed. That said the views are spectacular and we had a clear and sunny day to enjoy them.

This isn't an easy hike but definitely worth the effort, although by the time we reached the top the cloud was thick so no views! Lido Tours were on time with clear instructions for pick up. Can't rate Sara highly enough, she was very encouraging and kept us all going.

An easy hike with great views 😎the drop off and pickup takes away the stress .The guide has a lot of local knowledge and explains things in a relaxed manner

From start to end, it was a fantastic experience. At the start of the hike, there is a shop and WC, so you can stock up if required. The day I went was cloudy and around 5 degrees, so there were no views to start. We started the walk as a group of 10, and after 25 mins the clouds started to lift, and the views were impressive. Sarah was the guide for the walk, she was very knowledgeable about the route, the flora, fauna, and a very experienced hiker. There were regular stops on the route for photos and breaks. The route was well signposted, and the path was good but uneven in places. There we many steps of varying sizes and heights so us not a good walk for people with joint problems. The path took you through man-made tunnels in parts of the 10km journey. Arriving at Pico Ruivo the clouds returned with occasional gap and fantastic views. Overall the hike is amazing to do and I would definitely recommend.

We had the most amazing time. Our guide Sara was very knowledgeable about the wildlife and made sure the entire day went smoothly. We also had Sara for the levada walk and enjoyed seeing a familiar face for another great experience. Will definitely be coming back for more adventures like this.

A very challenging hike with spectacular scenery! Our guide was knowledgable and lovely. I expected the van to stop at 3 different locations, but it was a drop off and then you hiked to the other peaks. This day was the highlight of our stay in Madeira

This was an awesome hike even though there was no visibility that day. It’s Madeira, with its various micro climates so you never know what you are going to get. It was sunny and 65 degrees Fahrenheit in Funchal but 45 degrees and a slight mist and windy on Pico Do Ariero. Just make sure you are prepared with the proper clothing and hiking boots/shoes. The guide (Sarah) was great in working with the various skill levels of the group but overall it was not very strenuous. There is a bathroom at the start of the hike and about 3 hours into the hike (€0.50 at the start and €1.00 at the stopping point). So make sure to have some coins on you. There was not a restroom at the end from what I could see and it was an hour ride back to Funchal. Would love to do this hike again with good visibility. Next time!

My wife and I booked 3 tours with Lido for our trip to Madeira this year. Having never used them before I wondered if booking a few weeks in advance online was a bit of a risk. I need not have worried, Lido Tour’s were brilliant giving swift emailed confirmation with good details of time and location for pick up. Charlotte was our guide for 2 of the 3 days and was excellent. She amazed us with her seemingly endless number of languages that she was fluent in. Keeping everyone safe was paramount and she was careful with briefings and making sure we all kept together. We loved the Madeira peaks walk, they do mark this walk as hard, and it was. Almost every step of the 12 km was an either up or down steps, so quite demanding but very rewarding. If you are looking for a less demanding walk the Laramo coastal walk was wonderful, and not many other people on it which was a bonus. Booking online in advance is a good way of ensuring you can book the walks that you want as they get booked up pretty quickly, if you leave it until you arrive in Madeira many will already be booked. We would recommend Lido Tours and would definitely use them next time.

Beautiful and breathtaking! Strenuous as well. Be prepared. Having a guide was great as she gave us great advice as we hiked to keep us safe and happy. Having to not have to hike all the way back after reaching the top was the way to go for sure!

This was the highlight of our holiday. It was such a great experience and the tour guides are so welcoming and helpful. I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to do hiking in Madeira.

Awesome views , nice guide, well organised. Very good communication of guide with group . Recommended

This is an amazing experience. The walk is indeed more challenging than I expected, but worth every minute. Our guide was delightful. I recommend bringing at least one hiking stick (can be purchased at starting point) and double the water you anticipate needing.

We book 3 full day walks with Lido Tours and we weren’t disappointed. We were also lucky enough to have Charlotte as our guide for all 3 walks, all of which were completely different, the hardest being The Madeira Peaks! It was definitely up there as one of the highlight of our holiday. Thank you Charlotte for your guidance and knowledge on our walks. We have no hesitation in recommending Lido Tours and will definitely be booking more walks with them when we next return to Madeira.

Well organised, good guide, stunning walk and overall a fantastic day. It is quite strenuous but the paths are well maintained throughout so there is nothing tricky. Highly recommended

Unreal experience, views are amazing as is the tour guide Charlotte. Would highly recommend, not for the faint hearted if you’re afraid of heights or don’t have great stamina as there are some challenging parts. Well worth it if you can push through. You’re above the clouds!

The organisation was great. Bus driver Eduardo great. The trip itself great. Our tour guide didn’t give us enough time to take pictures. I felt like I’m at work schedule and not on vacation because she didn’t give us enough time and was super strict saying I will leave exactly at xy. Not enough time to take pictures, to enjoy, relax and have some free time on the peaks. Even not enough time to use the bathroom (she would look at us mean while we were standing in the line for the bathrooms and would come and start fighting with us). Felt like we’re paid by her and not the way around. Otherwise everything was great.

The views are astonishing. A challenging hike not to be underestimated. The route was busy and it's a shame some people use the mountain as a toilet and leave their evidence behind!

This was such a breathtaking experience both in the scenery (and in physical exertion- definitely need good fitness level for this!) My husband and I were so glad to have a guided hike to do this. Sara was excellent. She pointed out different fauna and flora along the hike and gave us pointers for when the tunnels were coming or steps got more challenging. The weather was almost ideal with strong winds at the beginning (literally blowing my hat into the mountains!) I would dress warm for the wind and shaded conditions. Bring lots of water, lunch, and snacks. There is a 1 hour break for a picnic lunch near the top of Pico Ruivo. The pace of the hike was moderately challenging and the views are spectacular but quite high up, so this is not for the faint hearted! This is, however and fortunately, a one way hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. We were concerned that this was a round trip hike at first when we signed up, but the bus drops you off at Pico do Arieiro and will come around many hours later when you finish after Pico Ruivo. It was a wonderful experience!

Due to weather the Pico to Pico Hike was not possible but we were offered an amazing Alternative Hike by our Guide Sarah. Everyone loved it and we had a great time Exploring the eastern coast. Lido Tours did the right thing by changing plans in cooperation with our group - with this Company you know your wellbeing and safety come first, even though they are aware some people might be unhappy about changes (though in our group everyone was super happy with the hike!!) Sarah was a super friendly and knowledgeable Guide who will make your Trip worthwhile. 100% recommend!

A very enjoyable and full day in the hands of a very careful driver and an extremely knowledgeable guide. The weather was not on our side but Plan B was put in full swing and everyone had a great day.

This was an amazing experience. All correspondence was exceptional. Charlotte and Nuno picked us up at exactly the right time. We had an amazing tour with 10 other people. Charlotte was informative and caring. She made sure that everyone in our group could handle the hike and felt great along the way. I highly recommend this tour. The views were amazing and you will be in good hands. Thank you Charlotte and Nuno for an amazing experience!

Excellent walking tour of the Madeira Peaks. Pick up on time. Good explanation of your. Well looked after during your with good information during the walk. Small group size.

This was by far the best excursion we did whilst we visited Madeira. The views were breathtaking!!! The walk itself was a little taxing in places especially the metal steps but it was worth a little sweat to see the surrounding scenery. Our Guide Charlotte was friendly and informative and you really could tell she loved her job pointing out flowers, rock formations and points of interest along the way. Nuno the driver was on time and his skillful driving was a must with traversing windy mountain roads. Overall 10/10 day if I could rate it higher I would. Book it you won't be disappointed!!!

Unfortunately I have a fear of heights and wasn’t aware of first part of walk on mountain side, however this was catered for and the bus driver , José, took me to various view points and stops and I was able to do a walk with spectacular views to join the group with an opportunity to do a peak walk. Thank you

Great trip! The hike itself was a bit crowded due to ideal weather conditions, but it is really worth it. Very friendly and motivated guide (Charlotte), kind driver, wonderful views. Some basic fitness is definitely needed. The path itself is preparated (a lot of stairs and rails), however one should not be afraid of heights.

Fantastic experience Our guide and driver were very helpful to everybody who can have limitations ...they pay attention to health problem and give good advises to tourist ( my husband) who can over rate capacities. So you need good cardiovascular conditions, good mobility ( the path are very good but can be slippy if wet, metal rope most of the time between both peaks, tunnel without light so bring a frontal lamp or phone). Dress yourself for all conditions ( wind-cold-cloud-sunshine) so you will be ready for each side of the peaks. The most important thing : you should wear walking boots for good grip, stability et stay dry all the day long. Now enjoy the view as my two sons ( 17 and 21 years old) and I (63 y) did.

Sara was great, provided us with information about the Madeira Vegetation. She was very friendly, patience and knowledgeable about her job as tour guide. I will recommend her without a doubt. Our original hike was to hike Pico Arieiro but because the landslides and closure of the trail for repairs Pico Ariero was canceled. . They offered us to hike Pico Ruivo, our hike was shortened by the circumstances but still it was a nice hike with amazing views.

It was really a good idea to choose this trip. Sarah was lovely and caring of the group. Highly recommend!

Thank you so much, Sarah, for that wonderful day, we hope to hike with you again when we come back to Madeira!!! Margareta and Lars

The weather was against us and as a group we decided to do a different walk. Sarah our host was informative, thoughtful and great company. It was a good day with beautiful views and I would use this company again