Morning Transfer To Pico Do Arieiro, Hike To Pico Ruivo & Return From Teixeira

Great walk, pick ups on time. Friendly and informative driver. Please be aware that you need to look out for a separate email (ours went into junk) telling you to contact them to buy the tickets for the walk. I knew we had to pay €10.50 for this (listed as taxes on the information email) but could not see anywhere on Tripadvisor or their own website on how to do this, so assumed we paid at the start of the walk. After we had been dropped off we found out that it was sold out. Thankfully pico transfers were able to sort it out for us via WhatsApp and we had a fantastic walk. It’s a shame that on the original email it wasn’t mentioned how to purchase these and again on the WhatsApp sent the day before the walk they could have checked that we’d bought the tickets - this would have saved some worry on the day. The walk is spectacular. There are hard climbs so not for the frail! My watch recorded 139 flights of stairs climbed!!!

Great service offered. Ciro arrived on time in comfortable and clean vehicle. Clear instructions given for the walk and pick up point. Thank you!

Transfer went excellent. Great communication, provided clear instructions, were timely and friendly. Was a great way to do PR1! If only they could control the weather.. lol Was a great time even with the wet weather :-)

Very organised and timings work perfectly. You will get all the info before the day of your transfer and they cover everything you might need (timings, maps, weather info etc.). Ciro was a great driver/guide. He was punctual and explained the hiking routes very well. Since PR1 was partially closed, they offered to do PR3 which gives you a totally different experience, but is also a nice route.

Pick up was on time. roads were difficult but Radko, our diveer was very good at navigating and driving. On thr trail we go a little off track but Elisabeth was very helpful with getting us back on track. I would definatly use their services again.

Radko was my driver/tour guide and he was very nice as well as warm. He was prompt in picking me up plus organized as well which I appreciated. He debriefed the group with where to hike and what to look out for which was helpful as well as led to seamless experience. Since the whole PR1 was closed so I did the modify one which they offered and their transport was cheapest out of all groups I used while in Madeira.

Really well organised, good communication from the local provider. Timings for each part of walk worked perfectly. Wonderful views from PR1 but very busy, nice to descend quietly on PR3.

Friendly and punctual driver with clear instructions for both hikes. Plenty of time to enjoy PR1 and PR3 in own pace which are both remarkable but challenging. Comfortable car with reliable and considerate driving skills as roads were hilly and had lots of sharp turns.

Just do “transfers” and don't do guided tours…. Routes are well marked and easy to follow…. Communications and pick up points from Elizabeth were clear, you get them the day before with your pick up time too. Our driver Ciro was friendly, the drive up was smooth and calm and was safe. At the top, Ciro told us about the routes and gave advise on certain points of the PR3 because of the split in the path and making sure you follow the right one , these were well marked too so was easy! Nice little pub/cafe near the bottom, worth stopping for a bit if cake then 5 mins from here to the pick up point! Cafe, toilets and little shop at the top - Pico do Arieiro. 1 euro for toilets at the top before you set off. 3 euros per person to pay the rangers (bit like “national trust” so that routes are maintained). You can pay in cash or card. Thanks to Elisabeth and Ciro!!

Fabulous careful driver. Transfer excellent. Good instructions on where to meet afterwards. Punctual.

Great experience! Our driver, Radko, was super friendly, knowledgable and timely! We had an amazing time.

We travel a lot, especially in the USA and Europe. Our driver for this excursion was Radko. He was truly the best driver we’ve ever had anywhere in the world. He knows everything about Madeira and he showed us and the other four guests where to hike and what times we needed to meet. Everything was so perfect. He picked us up and dropped us off on time directly at our hotel. Thank you, Radko!!!

Be aware, This trip does not excist except for the first part. The road has been closed for more than one year. You will get an offer for another aption which we accepted, but it was something totalt different from what we ordered. We wanted spectacular wiev but got a nice walk in different environment than we excpected. In all, the company should not offer something they can not deliver.

Was great but also very tiring the hike at Pico it self. One of the hardest hikes you can have on the island. If it comes to the transfer company great communication and everything ok :)

Picked me up on time. Dropped me off back at the hotel. Taxi was clean driver was safe. Not much more to say really. They were efficient.

Getting to and from the mountain was super easy, the pick-up point was just a short walk from our Airbnb, and the drive itself was beautifully scenic. Once we arrived, the instructions and information provided were really clear, so we knew exactly what to expect from the hikes. The whole experience was amazing, and the views were absolutely breathtaking! The guide recommends around 2 hours for the first walk and 3 hours for the second. We finished the first walk in just about an hour, which gave us a bit of false confidence about the timing for the second one. In reality, the second walk is much longer and requires more pacing. You don’t need to rush, but I’d definitely suggest keeping breaks shorter on the second trail to ensure you’re back comfortably by 3. Overall, such a memorable and worthwhile experience - highly recommend!

We had a fun day hiking the Levada. We had initially booked to do the mountain hike at Pico do Arieiro but as the majority of the hike was closed due to a fire we swapped over to the Levada hike PR9. The company was very good at the communication and advice. Transfer arrived a few minutes early and got us to location ten minutes before estimate. Return journey took us into the town centre which we had not yet explored so that was a bonus. Highly recommend!

They are selling a path that is not available since one year ago because of a fire! The will tell you just once you have paid, and they will offer to cancel. The alternative path is not nice enough and does not justify the price... three hours walking down, in a not stunning landscape. You will be able to walk only 1 km of pico Arieiro, but they made you completely dependent of the van. Take an uber, really. Much cheaper and flexible. We dicover it because my partner had a knee injury and they did not wait for us even 15 minutes, as they needed to run for the next pack of tourist. They did not text with an alternative, simply left us forshaken there. Once the Ruivo-Arieiro path reopens it could make sense to contract the van tranfer, but not now.

Great hike transfer with Carlos. Clear instructions on where to meet and about the trail itself. Carlos also shared some insights about Madeira on the journey to Pico do Areeiro.

Really well organised with good information beforehand. The driver, Radko was punctual, a considerate driver and gave good information and was friendly- all in all, great. Part of the P1 hike is closed so you do an ‘in and out’ of the section of P1- brill views, and then part of the P3 hike. It’s mostly downhill, a mixture of terrain- steps, stone paths and then more challenging narrow stone sections. It’s well marked. It’s really beautiful and we enjoyed it a lot. Would recommend the tour service.

I recommend getting the bus to Pico do Areiro instead. After the company changed the departure time on the day before the trip, and neglected to make sure we were aware of this, we missed the transfer by 3 mins, and lost all our money. The company refused to refund and insisted it was our fault in quite aggressive language. After further research, we found you can get to the base of Pico do Ariero on the public bus, which departs twice a day from the bottom of the cable car in Funchal, and costs €3 per trip (over €20 less than the operators).

Our driver Radko was incredibly friendly and explained all the details of the trip very thoroughly. The hike was amazing. I have done a lot of hiking in my life and have never seen mountains so beautiful. Make sure you are on time for your transfer, the driver has to pick up multiple groups and the cant wait for people.

Great way to see some of the best hikes in Madeira. We did the short route to Pico do Arieiro (partially closed trail right now) and then transferred to another trail. We got to see mountain peaks, sunny canyons and then descended into the misty forest. Our transfer was on time, provided clearly and timely communication, and made it easy for our family to enjoy a day of hiking.

Easy to book and company sent detailed message the day before with how to prepare. We actually got on the road ahead of schedule on the day of which was great. Our driver Ciro was very nice and explained the hikes for us. Pick up was also ahead of schedule but gave us lots of time to hike and also enjoy a couple cafes along the way. Would recommend for a no stress hike day!

The hike itself was beautiful both of the trails, however on the second trail we thought we got lost at one point as it was very long so just remember to bring water it does also get quite humid and hot so be prepared!

We had a great experience and highly recommend this hike. The organizer, Elizabeth, was professional, and the driver, Radko, was friendly and answered all of our questions.

Unmatched views of Madeira. PR1 is a bit scary. Out and back due to parts closed. PR3 is a nice, scenic hike mostly downhill. Ciro was a great driver, picking us up at end of PR3 and getting us home safely! Highly recommend this tour for a day of hiking.

The driver was super friendly and helpful. The tour was probably the best thing you could do in Madeira. Once you arrive at the hike destination, you just want to take pictures of everything, it's very beautiful 😍 It was 2 hikes. The first one took about 1,5 hours, and the second one ~3 hours. Highly recommend 👌

Booked but it was canceled a few days before our trip without a reason. I went to rebook on a different day and was able to book the same trip a few days later. This time they contacted me to tell me part of the hike was closed due to a fire that had occurred on new years (trip is in May) and if I wanted they would still drop me off but I would take a different hike in the same area. The driver was prompt and friendly. The communication was for the most part excellent, other than that first hiccup. I did enjoy the hike except that it was 4.5 miles all downhill and my knees are killing me for it today. Overall I’d do it again.

THE DROP OFF LOCATION AND PICK UP LOCATIONS ARE DIFFERENT! I was surprised and sad by the lack of humanity on this tour. As expected, the itinerary was provided, and they picked me up almost from my home address. They took me to the location and showed me where the hiking routes were. I started the hike. I misunderstood and thought I needed to return to the spot where the car dropped me off. But it turned out the car only takes you back from another location (at the end of the hike). So they left me and didn’t come back to pick me up. It was cold, and I waited until evening for a bus home. Sure, I could’ve taken a taxi, which costs as much as the tour itself. But the point is, I was shocked that after paying the full price, they couldn’t drive ~8km to the initial location to pick me up and take me home. It’s understandable that people can get confused. Or get injured and stay at the initial location. But to leave someone completely alone and just let them figure out how to get back… Yes I misunderstood the pick up location, but I didn’t thought I’ll be left just like that.

The main reason for the trip to Madeira was to hike to Pico Arieiro which was only partially open. It was a cool misty day which made photos not the best but I was still happy to have the opportunity to still do this hike. The second part where we hiked to Pico Ruivo which was quite gruelling. You are required to be at the meeting point at a certain time so it’s not a trek for everyone. Due to some wet areas I did manage to slip a few times and hurt my knee. lol. I’m an avid hiker back in Canada but this one challenged me.

Fantastic walk, amazing views. Quick and easy transfer. One you must try if visiting Madeira. Recommend taking walking sticks for the downhill sections.

You get to see everything! Great tour. Takes his time talking about what to see and look at. Great way to spend the day and getting to see an end of the island

Picked up on time, Radko was super friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The views from Pico Do Arieiro and PR3 were amazing.

The staff was friendly and had good communication. They answered our questions, and the two pickups were on time. I recommend them

Our driver Mike was really professional and friendly. Pick up and drop off on time. As PR1 was partially closed we did 1.2km out and back on this then 7km of PR3. Actually preferred PR3 as we felt like we had the path mostly to ourselves - a really tranquil, scenic walk.

Nice short trip, only 4 hours. Good viewpoints and trip to the valley. Would recommend to anyone who wants to see the nuns valley

Deffo recommend this hike to anyone, I personally struggle with heights but the views were breathtaking and honestly you can get over it very quickly. Unfortunately the hike was partially closed to wildfires in the summer however they organized a second hike routing down the mountain and I honestly say I’m glad that was an option as trekking through the landscape was a great experience. Communication between the guide and organizer were great and they made sure we knew all the necessary information! Looking forward to returning and completing the hike in full.

The communication was really good. The main hiking route is closed due to the forest fires but Elisabeth offered an alternative where we still got to enjoy the amazing views at Pico de Areerio and then took a downhill path through the valley. We probably wouldn’t have known this without booking Pico Transfers. It was much easier than trying to park and then get back to the car at the end. Our driver was really friendly and we chatted about what it’s like living in Madeira. It’s really reccomend exploring the area this way.

Great communication from Elizabeth thx you. pity the full route was closed but fact was communicated well. Spectacular views and look forward to returning to complete the hike cheers James

Fantastic organisation by Elizabeth, clear and prompt communications. The fires have meant the original walk was not possible, but she explained another walk, that we agreed would be a great alternative. On the day Michael was out driver - couldn't have been more friendly and welcoming. Walk was truly stunning. And Michael your Thai restaurant recommendation was perfect! Highly recommend.

Fantastic walk and spectacular views. The hike was busy but still enjoyable. Radko was a good driver, friendly and informative.

Radko the driver was excellent, he provided detailed information and instructions for both hikes. We enjoyed both parts of the hike and scenery. A big negative factor was Elizabeth, the point of contact for the tour. Customer service is an important factor for a tour company, and having this person be the point of contact is a great concern. When we were lost in the trail and needed some guidance, I messaged her and tried to call her and was not responsive only via WhatsApp. As we were approaching the end, we were running late and we wanted to let her know. Her response indicated that we were over 40 minutes late and the driver had to leave to take the others. This was incorrect, we were only 15 minutes late, and Radko was there waiting for us and made us feel at ease. Radko gets 5 stars, and the hike was 5 stars, and Elizabeth’s customer service 1 star.

Due to most of the PR1 track being closed, the tour operator arranged an alternative plan for the day which included PR3. The driver was also very knowledgeable about the island.

Our driver Radko picked us up on time, explained the hike and where he would be waiting for us. Very well organised and efficient company. Thank you Elisabeth for the excellent communication.

Great experience, super punctual and great communication. The drive was very friendly and gave us all the necessary information. Recommended

I have never been on a tour that was more on time! Our driver Michael was amazing and so friendly! Only 1.2km of PR1 was open due to the recent wildfires but the tour offered an alternative of doing what was available of PR1 and then doing PR3 which has its starting point at the same area. 2 hours were allotted for PR1 and 3 hours for PR3. We didn’t think we would need that much time for PR1 but boy were we wrong. It took us probably 1.5 hours and then we started our mostly downhill trek of PR3 and finished with only 20 mins to spare. We were extremely exhausted by the end but it was all worth it (for the views of PR1 of course) because there were donkeys at the end of PR3 which was a delightful surprise!

The driver Radko was attentive and kind. The trail from Pico Arieiro to the Funchal Ecological Park was tiring but totally worth it. Each landscape takes your breath away. I highly recommend it.

Canceled because of fire and closed for the whole week we spent on this island.Next time ? WE wil se....... am,anmajajajjajajaja