Pico do Arieiro Pico Ruivo crossing

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A fabulous but demanding hike that leads through exceptional panoramas and vertiginous peaks to the island's highest summit.
Although the route is completely safe, it may not be suitable for those prone to vertigo. The path is paved throughout and includes tunnels.
N.B. The altitude difference shown is obviously overestimated (which happens in very steep terrain like this): count on around 1000m.
Walk closed at the moment.

Details

n°324812
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,469 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,475 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,833 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,508 m
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Pico do Arieiro Pico Ruivo crossing
Pico do Arieiro Pico Ruivo crossing
Pico do Arieiro Pico Ruivo crossing

Description of the walk

Start: Easy-to-find start, accessible by car. Park at the Pico do Arieiro car park (huge white radar visible from far away).

(S/E) Find the "Pico Ruivo 5,5km" signpost indicating the start of the hike. Go downhill for 600m West-North-West, then take a ridge.

(1) Take the numerous steps for 400m.

(2) Enter a 1st tunnel.

(3) At the junction, the eastern road is closed (and the path is blocked): take the only open road West (signposted). Go downhill, then uphill, facing north.

(4) Take the tunnel under the Pico das Torres ridge. Descend a few switchbacks.

(5) Take another tunnel.

(6) Follow the many steps for 600m and climb to a pass.

(7) Go down the other side. A little further down, cross the road to the east (which you left below), which comes from the right but whose access is blocked. Continue North on the paved path.

(8) At the junction with the paved path coming from the right from Achada de Teixeira, go left towards the refuge, 50m further on. Take the path above the refuge heading West towards the summit of Pico Ruivo, which is overhead.

(9) At the next junction, leave the path leading due West to Bocca da Encumeada, 11 Km away, and climb left towards Pico Ruivo.

(10) Return by the same route in the opposite direction, to Pico de Arieiro(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,800 m - Pico do Arieiro car park
  2. 1 : km 1.1 - alt. 1,563 m - Stairs
  3. 2 : km 1.53 - alt. 1,593 m - Tunnel
  4. 3 : km 1.67 - alt. 1,592 m - Cross
  5. 4 : km 2.35 - alt. 1,625 m - Tunnel
  6. 5 : km 2.88 - alt. 1,610 m - Tunnel
  7. 6 : km 3.06 - alt. 1,597 m - Stairs
  8. 7 : km 3.5 - alt. 1,587 m - Collar
  9. 8 : km 4.5 - alt. 1,752 m - Junction with the road from Achada de Texeira
  10. 9 : km 4.71 - alt. 1,801 m - Junction to the summit
  11. 10 : km 4.89 - alt. 1,802 m - Pico Ruivo
  12. S/E : km 9.82 - alt. 1,800 m - Pico do Arieiro car park

Notes

Start & Parking: Easy-to-find start, accessible by car. Park at the Pico do Arieiro car park (huge white radar visible from far away).

Allow 4 to 6 hours for the round trip, depending on your pace.

Gears: This is a mountainous area (between 1500 and 1800 meters), sometimes cool, sometimes cloudy, sometimes windy, so bring warm clothing, waterproofs, hiking boots, water and a snack.
Bring a flashlight, as we cross 3 pedestrian tunnels plunged into darkness.
This hike should be undertaken in good weather, both for safety reasons and to enjoy the panoramic views.

Terrain: Fully equipped trail: paving, stairs, tunnels, railings, etc.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 39 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Marieka37
Marieka37

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Caution 28/04/2025 hike closed after 1km
The only interest is the sunrise
You still have to pay €3 for the walk and there is a charge for parking.

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Ricolespiedschauds
Ricolespiedschauds

I feel that the notice left on 4 February should not be published, as it more or less directly encourages people to disregard local authority rules and to behave dangerously when trying to cross this barrier.

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simon fabre
simon fabre

Hello, will the track reopen in May? Thank you very much,
Simon

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Cutchy
Cutchy
• Edited:

I'm not going to downgrade this hike, which must be incredible under normal circumstances, but here's how things stand.

The walk is closed after 1.5 km by a 2 metre gate. The hike costs €3 per person despite the closure, which can be a bit frustrating. The route is still very beautiful, but I can't decide whether it was worth the (still moderate) price.

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BenjaminG
BenjaminG
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very fine, fairly busy walk. We recommend starting between 6.30 and 7.30 am. The climb to Pico Ruivo and back is long and difficult. On the way back, the number of steps is very high. This hike is not to be taken lightly, but is well worth doing.

It's dark in the tunnels, so you'll need to use a small torch or the flashlight on your phone.

Very good walking pace, a 4h20 hike.
13 km a-r and car park about 800 m from the start.

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ncouragier@wanadoo.fr
ncouragier@wanadoo.fr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike, but a difficult one, as some sections are very steep, both uphill and downhill. Technical data according to my GPS: 15km return and +980m ascent (+1.5km return and +70m ascent from the car park). Including stops, it took us 6 hours, but we're older hikers.

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faustinebrun
faustinebrun

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

If you're afraid of heights, don't do it, but it's a magnificent hike.

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Lerocher
Lerocher

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We were in the clouds as we drove up and 1km from the first car park, blue skies and the discovery of a green, jagged mountain.
Arriving at 9.15am on 11 May 2024, with many cars lining the road, we dared to go as far as the first country car park, and we did well, guided by the forest rangers, there were still a few spaces left.
We had to make a short preliminary climb to reach the start of the Pico do Arieiro.
After that, all you have to do is follow the path, which is often paved with steps and safety ropes.
The first descent was impressive, a bit windy but the hand on the cable reassured us as we walked.
It was a strenuous hike (we didn't count the steps) but without any major difficulties. The 4 or 5 ladders got us over the steepest part before we reached the refuge a little further on. The hut is well pine woods and is the meeting point for the other, shorter route via Achada do Teixeira.
There's still the climb to Pico Ruivo, a good 1/4 hour to the summit, reached at around 12.30pm. The cloud cover that day gave us a glimpse of the sea in the distance.
After a short snack, the return journey was easy (as we knew it would be )-with plenty of people on the way back to Pico Arieiro at around 3.30pm.
Great day, great hike, great site.

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hemwood9
hemwood9
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike, but a bit demanding if you do the outward and return journey.
I arrived by car at 6.45am but the car park closest to the start was full and we were redirected to a car park a little further down the road (a bonus for warming up for the 10-15 minute walk to the real start).
There were already quite a few people there, but most of them stopped quickly to watch the sunrise (there are plenty of viewpoints for this on the first few kilometres of the walk, so don't hesitate to move on a bit if you want to avoid the crowds).
As I didn't really stop, I soon found myself almost alone on the outward journey. I reached the summit of Mount Ruivo at around 9.10am.
On the way back, there were a lot more people to pass on the path, so it went more slowly, but it wasn't really a problem, just a bit of a 2-3 minute wait sometimes to let a group pass.
On the other hand, the final climb back to the starting point seemed a long one... the fatigue was starting to show.
My advice: do it very early to take advantage of the sunrise, and don't linger at the start to avoid the crowds. For those who doubt their strength, some people only do the outward journey and are picked up by a taxi: I think that's a good idea if you're not motivated by making a real physical effort, as the return journey doesn't offer much in terms of scenery.
I should add that I'm prone to vertigo, but that wasn't a problem: the path is very well secured and sometimes I just looked to avoid looking a little to the sides. Don't deprive yourself of hiking for that, contrary to what you sometimes read in comments.

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lili42
lili42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent walk to do. Make sure you check the weather forecast and get there early to avoid the clouds and crowds. A truly magnificent hike, although it can be complicated for people with vertigo.

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Clarck
Clarck

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This hike is a must
Vertiginous passes and magnificent views

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Viviane V
Viviane V
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice walk in September, but very busy.
Quite difficult for someone who doesn't walk often. A lot of difference in altitude over a short distance. Lots of steps up and down.
But the views are breathtaking! Not recommended if you suffer from vertigo.
Best to set off early and park in the car park around 800 metres before the start.

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Erpass
Erpass

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Walk completed in July 2023.
Superb hike! Rather difficult, with a succession of ascents and descents, and fairly steep climbs.

Departure from the Achada do Teixeira car park at 7.30 am.
Head for Pico do Arieiro and then back to Pico Ruivo.
- hike completed in 6h30 (round trip) with a short break at mont areiro + short photo stops.
- The route is signposted and safe.
- Bring plenty of water.

A not-to-be-missed walk in Madeira!

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rbriere7
rbriere7

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful walk. To be reserved for a well-informed and well-equipped public, well-shod with poles. Quite busy in the first third but much quieter after that. Well signposted. Magnificent scenery.
Option to eat at the start and finish.

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gaelle_taudou
gaelle_taudou
• Edited:

Crossing completed on 25 June 2023.
Arrival and start of the walk at 10am.
Regarding the information on the proposed route:
- hike completed in 5h30 with a 45-minute lunch break at mont areiro, and numerous short stops for photos and videos. Time overestimated for experienced walkers.
- The route is actually 12 km long, not 9.9 km.
- the route is signposted and safe, so you have nothing to worry about and you won't get lost.
Be aware that if there's no mist in the mountains, it's because the wind is strong, and the air is cool at higher altitudes - remember to take a windbreaker, as it's not an option, even in high season. Don't forget to strap on your hat, it'll take your hair off!
An exceptional hike, vertiginous but breathtaking.
Don't miss this incredible crossing, it's magical!

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Other walks in the area

Walking PR®1.1: Ilha to Achado Da Teixeira

Visorando Member
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