5 – Walk Pico Areeiro – Pico Ruivo – Achada do Teixeira

Full-Day Madeira Island Walk

5 – Walk Pico Areeiro – Pico Ruivo – Achada do Teixeira

The Walk Pico Areeiro, starts at Pico do Areeiro, which is located at 1818 meters above sea level, we walk all the way to Pico Ruivo (1862 meters), the highest peak of Madeira, and finish at Achada do Teixeira at 1817 meters high.

This is a challenging walk, there are some steep ascents and descents. It also involves crossing a few tunnels, therefore a torch is required.

At Pico do Areeiro we can enjoy the fantastic panoramic view of the central mountains of Madeira Island. Afterward, we walk towards Ninho da Manta (Buzzard’s Nest) where we have a wonderful view over Fajã da Nogueira, Nun’s Valley, and Paúl da Serra plateau. The Central Mountain Massif we observe is integrated into the Natura 2000 Network (a European network of great importance for nature conservation). 

This is the only known breeding site in the world of Zino’s petrel (Pterodroma Madeira), an endemic species considered to be the most endangered seabird of Europe.

Then we go around Pico das Torres, up a steep incline of steps carved in the rock and afterward we descend. The most difficult part of this trail is at the final climb to Pico Ruivo shelter house.

Along the way, it might be possible to spot various birds, such as the canary, Berthelot’s pipit, the plain swift, the Madeira rock sparrow, the chaffinch, and the firecrest.

This area is known as high-altitude health and is marked by the presence of several endemic plants, such as Madeira violet, Madeira grey heather, the rock orchid, and the Madeira’s kidney.

When we reach the top, Pico Ruivo, we will have a 360º view that this unique location has to offer. On a clear day, we can see the Nun’s Valley, several fields of Santana, and the deep valleys of Ribeira Grande and São Jorge. It also offers fantastic views of Ponta de São Lourenço, Paúl da Serra, Porto Santo, and the Desertas Islands.

After we rest for a bit to recover our strength, we make our way down to the shelter house and continue to Achada do Teixeira where we end our journey.

View Gallery

What to Bring?

According to the time of the year that you chose to walk in Madeira and taking into consideration our changeable weather, it is necessary to be well prepared for the Levada walks and the mountain trails.

Recommended Equipment