Vereda do Pico Ruivo
Vereda do Pico Ruivo
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smfletcher
Alton24 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
Ignore the title, this is the walk, route PR 1.2 to the summit of PICO Ruivo, the highest point on Madeira.
First, you need to get there, by car (as we did, a one hour drive from Funchal) or there are various organised walks, with bus to the site included, by taxi and I think there may be a public bus. It is an interesting last 7km up the mountain, but the road is quite wide enough for two cars. The hydrangea hedges and other flora are spectacular on the way up (and down).
There is a good car park at the site which is level and free.
The walk starts easily enough and is paved for most of the way making walking easy, but it is a reasonable climb (330m vertical ascent) so a fair workout, but we saw all abilities make it to the top where the views are brilliant. There are three lookout points at the top which give you views to all four points.
There is a toilet about 2/3 the way up close to where the trail splits, but no refreshments so take everything you need with you.
We recommend an early (ish) start, we got there at 10:20 and by the time we were coming down 13:00) it was getting pretty busy.
Because of the mix of abilities/fitness, there can be a couple of bottlenecks on the upper parts where it gets a bit narrow and steep, but everyone is good natured.
Routes 1 and 1.1 are also accessible from here and look exciting but we didn't have time that day.
Like all mountain trails, weather is key. There are shelters on the mountain but keep an eye and prepare accordingly (I know, grandmother and sucking eggs!!). It also is fully exposed so sun can be fierce.
First, you need to get there, by car (as we did, a one hour drive from Funchal) or there are various organised walks, with bus to the site included, by taxi and I think there may be a public bus. It is an interesting last 7km up the mountain, but the road is quite wide enough for two cars. The hydrangea hedges and other flora are spectacular on the way up (and down).
There is a good car park at the site which is level and free.
The walk starts easily enough and is paved for most of the way making walking easy, but it is a reasonable climb (330m vertical ascent) so a fair workout, but we saw all abilities make it to the top where the views are brilliant. There are three lookout points at the top which give you views to all four points.
There is a toilet about 2/3 the way up close to where the trail splits, but no refreshments so take everything you need with you.
We recommend an early (ish) start, we got there at 10:20 and by the time we were coming down 13:00) it was getting pretty busy.
Because of the mix of abilities/fitness, there can be a couple of bottlenecks on the upper parts where it gets a bit narrow and steep, but everyone is good natured.
Routes 1 and 1.1 are also accessible from here and look exciting but we didn't have time that day.
Like all mountain trails, weather is key. There are shelters on the mountain but keep an eye and prepare accordingly (I know, grandmother and sucking eggs!!). It also is fully exposed so sun can be fierce.
Written March 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ondrej_B
Prague, Czech Republic140 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Also known as Highest Peaks. In this journey you can visit the three highest peaks of Madeira: Pico do Areeiro, Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo.
This is a mountain trail so it requires some physical preparation and endurance for hikers, who are faced with many ups and downs. However, the effort required is offset by extraordinary views that the walk provides. In sunny days, you may have a 360 degree view of the island with its main points highlighted: Curral das Freiras, Porto Santo, Desertas, Ponta de São Lourenço and others.
Length - 15 km; Time - 6 hours; Difficulty - Hard
This is a mountain trail so it requires some physical preparation and endurance for hikers, who are faced with many ups and downs. However, the effort required is offset by extraordinary views that the walk provides. In sunny days, you may have a 360 degree view of the island with its main points highlighted: Curral das Freiras, Porto Santo, Desertas, Ponta de São Lourenço and others.
Length - 15 km; Time - 6 hours; Difficulty - Hard
Written May 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jcm99
Chinnor, UK150 contributions
Oct 2019
We did this walk again on our last visit in October and were lucky to be free of cloud in decent sunshine - and its really a great relatively easy walk in good weather. This is my second review as I wanted to update my previous review in 2017 as there have been some changes. Unless you go on an organised trip you will need a car and although the route from Funchal is not obvious - we managed to use google maps to find it without too much difficulty. The drive from Funchal itself should take around an hour (depending on where you are staying) and you need to get on the main highway that takes you past the airport, then Machico and you need to get off after Porto da Cruz at a roundabout junction where there is a Continente supermarket (hopefully you will be able to spot it in advance providing you keep your eyes peeled). When you get off at the junction turn left and you should drive past the supermarket (which will be on your left) and keep going up hill - you are aiming for a car park at the Archado do Teixera -which should take you around 15-20 minutes.
The dirt car park is basically at the end of the road and is level and free. There are no toilets at the car park but they have now built a hotel with restaurant nearby where they charge 1€ to use their toilet (whether you use the restaurant or not!). The car park its surrounded by bushes and shrubbery and most hikers previously used this for cover if they need to relieve themselves - because after this there aren't so many opportunities. However, there are signs prohibiting this now - so they clearly expect you to now pay for the toilet! Its not a difficult walk being paved for most of the way making walking easy, but it is a climb (330m vertical ascent) so be prepared if you are not used to it. The trail splits towards the end where you need to go right which soon takes you past a white house where there are toilets (and you have to pay again I think) and you can also get refreshments here - plus there are now tables and chairs as they have refurbished the place from old. If you go left instead of right on the trail you are on a hard walk over to Pico do Ariero that currently involves steep climbs and descents and is a much more challenging prospect. From this point (the white house) its a short but quite hard climb to the top where there are three lookout points giving you great views on a clear day (make sure you keep left at the first junction you meet otherwise you will end up on another trail.
It took us around 3-4 hours with some stopping.
Would only recommend it if you have good visibility and if you go on the off chance be prepared for bad weather. When I was on an organised trip many years ago walking from Pico do Ariero over to Pico do Ruivo I was caught in lashing wind and rain on the way back to the start of this walk and despite all the right gear was literally frozen - and this was in October when everyone in Funchal was in shorts and sandals - so beware. [as a foot note to this warning - we returned a couple of days after our successful trip in October 2019 to be met with lashing rain as we entered the car park - so we turned around and drove to Canical to get some sunshine and dry weather!]
The dirt car park is basically at the end of the road and is level and free. There are no toilets at the car park but they have now built a hotel with restaurant nearby where they charge 1€ to use their toilet (whether you use the restaurant or not!). The car park its surrounded by bushes and shrubbery and most hikers previously used this for cover if they need to relieve themselves - because after this there aren't so many opportunities. However, there are signs prohibiting this now - so they clearly expect you to now pay for the toilet! Its not a difficult walk being paved for most of the way making walking easy, but it is a climb (330m vertical ascent) so be prepared if you are not used to it. The trail splits towards the end where you need to go right which soon takes you past a white house where there are toilets (and you have to pay again I think) and you can also get refreshments here - plus there are now tables and chairs as they have refurbished the place from old. If you go left instead of right on the trail you are on a hard walk over to Pico do Ariero that currently involves steep climbs and descents and is a much more challenging prospect. From this point (the white house) its a short but quite hard climb to the top where there are three lookout points giving you great views on a clear day (make sure you keep left at the first junction you meet otherwise you will end up on another trail.
It took us around 3-4 hours with some stopping.
Would only recommend it if you have good visibility and if you go on the off chance be prepared for bad weather. When I was on an organised trip many years ago walking from Pico do Ariero over to Pico do Ruivo I was caught in lashing wind and rain on the way back to the start of this walk and despite all the right gear was literally frozen - and this was in October when everyone in Funchal was in shorts and sandals - so beware. [as a foot note to this warning - we returned a couple of days after our successful trip in October 2019 to be met with lashing rain as we entered the car park - so we turned around and drove to Canical to get some sunshine and dry weather!]
Written November 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jcm99
Chinnor, UK150 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
We did this walk a couple of times on our last visit in November and were lucky to be above the clouds in beautiful sunshine each time - so when its like that its a great walk. However, unless you go on an organised trip you will need a car and although the route from Funchal is not obvious - we managed to find it without too much difficulty. The drive from Funchal itself should take around an hour (depending on where you are staying) and you need to get on the main highway that takes you past the airport, then Machico and you need to get off after Porto da Cruz at a junction where there is a supermarket (hopefully you will be able to spot it above the motorway providing you keep your eyes peeled). When you get off at the junction you need to drive past the supermarket (that should be on your left) and keep going up hill - you are aiming for a car park at the Archado do Teixera -which should take you around 15-20 minutes.
The dirt car park is basically at the end of the road and is level and free. There are no toilets at the car park but its surrounded by bushes and shrubbery and most hikers use this for cover if they need to relieve themselves - because after this there aren't so many opportunities. Its not a difficult walk being paved for most of the way making walking easy, but it is a climb (330m vertical ascent) so be prepared if you are not used to it. The trail splits towards the end where you need to go right which soon takes you past a white house where there are toilets (but you now have to pay - I think) and there are no longer any refreshments here (so take what you need with you) - (if you go left on the trail you are on a hard walk over to Pico do Ariero that currently involves steep climbs and descents and is a much more challenging prospect). From this point (the white house) its a short but quite hard climb to the top where there are three lookout points giving you great views on a clear day.
It took us around 3-4 hours with some stopping.
Would only recommend it if you have good visibility and if you go on the off chance be prepared for bad weather. When I was on an organised trip many years ago walking from Pico do Ariero over to Pico do Ruivo I was caught in lashing wind and rain on the way back to the start of this walk and despite all the right gear was literally frozen - and this was in October when everyone in Funchal was in shorts and sandals - so beware.
The dirt car park is basically at the end of the road and is level and free. There are no toilets at the car park but its surrounded by bushes and shrubbery and most hikers use this for cover if they need to relieve themselves - because after this there aren't so many opportunities. Its not a difficult walk being paved for most of the way making walking easy, but it is a climb (330m vertical ascent) so be prepared if you are not used to it. The trail splits towards the end where you need to go right which soon takes you past a white house where there are toilets (but you now have to pay - I think) and there are no longer any refreshments here (so take what you need with you) - (if you go left on the trail you are on a hard walk over to Pico do Ariero that currently involves steep climbs and descents and is a much more challenging prospect). From this point (the white house) its a short but quite hard climb to the top where there are three lookout points giving you great views on a clear day.
It took us around 3-4 hours with some stopping.
Would only recommend it if you have good visibility and if you go on the off chance be prepared for bad weather. When I was on an organised trip many years ago walking from Pico do Ariero over to Pico do Ruivo I was caught in lashing wind and rain on the way back to the start of this walk and despite all the right gear was literally frozen - and this was in October when everyone in Funchal was in shorts and sandals - so beware.
Written May 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
F. S
Sicily, Italy117 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
The so-called easy way up proved to be challenging and steep walk up to the mountain's top. It is advisable to dress accordingly (it is windy and gets really freezing cold at the top), and not to be afraid of heights, as the way gets leather "airy".
Is it worth it to go all the way up? Actually no, as the views after the first 500 meters up from the parking Lot are the best. There is not not much of a change or an improvement if you climb further, it is rather a psychological thing = there are those who would go up anyway.
I went in December on a rainy day. The weather changed at 1000m altitude. With clouds below, it was a nice view on a sea if white clouds.
Is it worth it to go all the way up? Actually no, as the views after the first 500 meters up from the parking Lot are the best. There is not not much of a change or an improvement if you climb further, it is rather a psychological thing = there are those who would go up anyway.
I went in December on a rainy day. The weather changed at 1000m altitude. With clouds below, it was a nice view on a sea if white clouds.
Written December 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Companion47489643678
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Couples
There was a dog without his owner! Please help the dood :'-( he look poor and he affraid of people,he might be lost,Please help him and take him from there.
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
331Eija
Espoo, Finland145 contributions
Sep 2022
This is a lovely route. Unfortunately, it was really cloudy the day we visited so the views were not as good as they could be. What a good excuse to come back here!
Written October 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aleksandras
Aalborg, Denmark6 contributions
Dec 2018
Stuning scenery and very steep heights. Took some nerve as someone who is a little vertigo. It was worth it nevertheless, one of the best things to do in Madeira. I wouldn't go for it if weather conditions weren't great though.
Written December 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donatas D
Kaunas, Lithuania3 contributions
Jul 2017
One of the best things I have saw in Madeira, the nature is so beautiful, lot of flowers "above the clouds". Have a flashlight as you need to go tunnels and sometimes it's totally dark inside.
Written May 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there anyone who will need to get from Pico Arieiro – Pico Ruivo (or otherwise) in the last week of July? We look for 2 persons to participate in taxi costs.
Kirsty S
Melbourne, Australia197 contributions
Is it possible to get near this walk via public transport from Funchal? I’m struggling to find a bus route here. Alternatively can anyone suggest a taxi service and price? Ty in advance!
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Frequently Asked Questions about Vereda do Pico Ruivo
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