If you’re taking a trip to Madeira, then it’s safe to assume you have plans to visit Pico Do Areiro (whether you end up hiking all the way to Pico Ruivo or not)
Although Pico Ruivo is Madeira’s highest peak, Pico Do Areiro is a much more popular sunrise spot.
It has a way better view of the sunrise, more facilities, and all of the best sections of the Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo hike are close to the Pico Do Areeiro trailhead (including the Stairway to Heaven).
It’s honestly worth visiting, even if you only have time to watch the sunrise and do a small portion of the hike.
We rented a car and drove ourselves, which was super convenient.
But it got us thinking… how would you get from Funchal to Pico Do Areeiro without a car? Are there shuttle buses? Guided tours? Can you prearrange a transfer?
Let this be your complete guide to reaching Pico Do Areeiro from Funchal, whether you’re driving, taking public transportation, or booking a tour.
You essentially have four options:
- Book a Private Transfer / Taxi – the most convenient option.
- Take the Public Bus – the cheapest option.
- Rent a Car in Madeira – best for flexibiliy & making multiple stops.
- Guided Tour (w/transportation included) – best for unexperienced hikers
Taxi / Private Transfer
Taxis are the easiest way to get from Funchal to Pico Do Areiro, but they are also the most expensive.
Whether you prearrange a ride with a private driver or hail a taxi on the spot, the price is about the same €40-€60 each way. This fare doesn’t really change from season to season, either.
For us, €100+ roundtrip feels difficult to spend.
Public Taxis in Funchal
All around Madeira, public taxis are yellow with a blue stripe along the sides. Official government taxis will also have a sign on top that says ‘taxi.’
Taxis are widely available in Funchal, but if you want to be sure you find one, head to Avenida do Mar or near the Monte-Funchal Cable Car.
Confirm that the driver has a working meter or negotiate the fare BEFORE getting in the car.
Note: If you plan to visit the viewpoint only and not hike, you can sometimes negotiate with the driver to wait and take you back.
Book a Transfer (Welcome Pickups)
We would prefer NOT to scramble to find transportation at 5:00 AM. That sounds so stressful.
There’s no guarantee that you’ll find a taxi right away otherwise, and it sucks to be running late and scrambling to get to the section of the hike where you want to watch the sunrise.
So we recommend booking a transfer ahead of time.
If we aren’t driving ourselves, we do this EVERY TIME. It lets us schedule the exact pickup time and know they’ll be ready at our guesthouse when we need to leave.
Plus, the price is the same as a taxi on the street: €40-60 (one-way).
The Pico Do Areeiro Bus
Madeira’s public transportation network offers a dedicated bus service to Pico Do Areeiro, so if you’re on a tight budget, that shouldn’t stop you from doing the most epic hike in Madeira.
Traditional Bus Timetables
The Public Buses depart from Funchal’s Praça da Autonomia and cost just €3 per trip.
Here’s the current timetable:
- Funchal to Pico Do Areeiro: 6:00 AM – 6:45 AM / 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
- Pico Do Areeiro to Funchal: 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM / 7:00 PM – 7:45 PM
They do take reservations by phone (+351 291 705 555), but only 2-7 days before the travel date.
If your itinerary isn’t very flexible, we’d try to call a full week before the trip. The timetable is extremely limited, so it’s common for spots to fill up a few days in advance.
Shuttle Bus Timetables
There’s a new shuttle bus that runs from Serras de Santo António Forest Path to Pico do Areeiro and back every 15 minutes from 6:40 AM – 12:15 PM and then again from 2:10 PM – 7:00 PM.
Tickets cost just €1.20, but this is NOT convenient from Funchal.
We would only recommend it to people staying in Machico or near the airport!
Rent a Car and Drive Yourself
Driving is by far the most convenient way to reach Pico Do Areeiro, especially if you plan to arrive before sunrise.
Most of the time, you can get a rental car in Madeira for as little as €40-50, and this is how we got to the peak before hiking from Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo.
The drive from Funchal takes about 30-40 minutes and follows well-maintained mountain roads.
The only downside was that we were forced to hike roundtrip or take a separate taxi back to our car from Pico Ruivo. If you hire a transfer or book a guided tour, it’s easy to hike one way and have your transportation follow you to the other side.
Usually, you can rent a car in Madeira for as little as €40-50.
Quick Tips for Driving in Madeira
The roads can feel a bit daunting, particularly in the dark, but as long as you have some experience driving manual transmissions, there’s honestly nothing to worry about. Morning traffic is light, and everyone’s traveling in the same direction, so there are no headlights in your eyes!
If you’re still nervous about driving in Madeira, this article has literally everything you need to know about our experience.
But if you don’t feel like reading them all, here’s a brief overview of the most important ones!
- Rent a compact car: Madeira’s roads can be narrow, and smaller cars are easier to maneuver and park.
- Use your headlights and drive cautiously. Before sunrise, the route can be foggy and dark, so take it slow and be mindful of sharp turns.
- Watch for Fallen Rocks: Many roads are next to cliffs, leading to the occasional fallen rocks on the road.
- Planned Parking: The parking lot at Pico Do Areeiro can fill up quickly (just like the parking spots in Funchal). So, you should have a plan and arrive early.
- People drive fast on the highway: Locals fly down the highways in Madeira (usually over 100 kph). Be cautious when changing lanes or getting off of an exit.
Take a Guided Tour
Most tours have pickup and drop-off in Funchal, no matter what excursion you have on the itinerary.
Well… it’s the same for booking a guide on the sunrise hike to Pico Do Areeiro.
The only difference is that many of these tours will drop you off at Pico Do Areeiro and pick you up at the other end of the hike–Pico Ruivo. This is so nice and saves you hours of hiking and probably 1000 burnt calories. It honestly makes the grueling hike way more doable.
Here are a couple of the best options!
Roundtrip Transfer: Pico Do Areeiro to Ruivo Hike
This is the best tour for more experienced hikers who want to explore at their own pace.
It’s basically a glorified transfer service, with drop off at Pico Do Areeiro and pick up roughly 5-6 hours later at Achada do Teixeira.
However, it’s actually cheaper than hiring a taxi, and your driver will give you expert hiking instructions and tips along the way.
Note: This tour also offers pickup in Caniço.
Guided Hike: Pico Do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo
If you want a more immersive experience with trained hiking guides throughout the trail, we recommend the Pico Do Areeiro & Pico Ruivo Sunrise Hike.
They pick you up from your hotel at 8:30 AM and have you ready to start hiking by 9:30 AM.
This also means you’ll never have to hike in the dark and have plenty of time to complete the hike. The guides are also well-known for providing excellent insights into the region and making you feel safe throughout the hike.
Tips for Visiting Pico Do Areiro
We didn’t really know what to expect the first time we attempted to hike from Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo, so here are some tips to help you feel more prepared for the excursion!
Weather & Temperature
The weather at Pico Do Areeiro is highly unpredictable, and conditions can change rapidly. Although it rains occasionally, the real worry is the fog, which can become so bad in the mornings that it completely blocks out the sunrise.
There’s no way to 100% know if it’s going to be foggy when you get there. You kind of just have to go for it and try to have another day in the back of your mind to try in case it’s too foggy!
It’s also quite cold during sunrise, so do your best to dress in layers and bring a windproof/waterproof jacket.
When is Sunrise in Madeira?
Sunrise at Pico Do Areeiro is a magical experience, with vibrant colors illuminating the rugged peaks. Depending on the season, the sun typically rises between 6:30 and 7:30 AM.
But because it is so popular, we would get there at least 30 minutes early (closer to 6:00 AM) to secure a parking spot and a seat to watch the sunrise.
Hiking Length and Difficulty
The hike from Pico Do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo spans about 6.5 kilometers (4.3 miles) each way and has over 1000 meters (3,500 feet) of elevation gain.
As you can guess, it’s officially rated as strenuous, and we can assure you that it’s a HARD hike.
Bring plenty of water, and we’d encourage you to train a little bit before your trip to Madeira, especially if you’re trying to do the entire roundtrip trail in one day.
What Facilities are at the top?
Pico Do Areeiro has a small café and restroom facilities near the parking lot.
However, these amenities may not be open early in the morning or during off-peak times. Be sure to bring water, snacks, and any essentials.
Can you go without a guide?
Absolutely. We drove ourselves to the summit and planned the whole experience without a guide.
This also let us arrive as early as we wanted and take our time on the hike (I think we hung out by the ‘stairway to heaven’ for over an hour!
So, Is the Pico Do Areeiro Sunrise Worth It?
If you’re traveling to Madeira for any span of time, you should make time to hike Pico Do Arieiro. It’s worth it even just to do a small portion of the trail and a nice change from all the waterfalls and levadas in Madeira.
We rented a car for the entire time we were in Madeira, but that’s definitely not the only way to get from Funchal to Pico Do Areeiro.
You can pre-book a taxi, take the public bus, or sign up for a tour with an official hiking guide!
But while the whole experience does require a bit of planning, we promise it’s worth it!
