A ridge walk connecting Madeira's third and first highest peaks — through tunnels carved into volcanic rock above a sea of clouds in the mid-Atlantic.

Arrêts de ce circuit (10)

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   Pico do Arieiro Summit Car Park At 1,818 metres, Pico do Arieiro is accessible by road — but the trail ahead is earned. The walk to Pico Ruivo traverses exposed ridges, climbs through hand-carved tunnels, and negotiates staircases bolted into cliff faces. Start early to beat the clouds that typically envelope the peaks by midday. A headlamp is needed for the tunnels. No permit required.
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   Arieiro Observatory Viewpoint The radar station and telecommunications tower mark the summit. On clear mornings, the view extends across the Atlantic to the Desertas Islands. Below, a sea of cloud fills the valleys — the peaks of Madeira's central mountains rise like islands above a white ocean.
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   First Tunnel Section The trail descends stone stairs to the first of several tunnels carved through basalt ridges. These tunnels were cut by hand in the 1960s to create a hiking route along the previously impassable ridge. The rock is volcanic — Madeira rose from the Atlantic seabed 5 million years ago.
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   Ninho da Manta Viewpoint The "Nest of the Buzzard" viewpoint perches on a rocky promontory between two ravines. Madeira buzzards — the island's apex predator — ride the thermals below. Both sides of the ridge fall away hundreds of metres into cloud-filled valleys. The exposure is extraordinary.
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   Pico das Torres The trail passes beneath the third peak on the ridge — Pico das Torres at 1,851 metres. The narrow path traverses the southern face, with iron railings providing security on the most exposed sections. The volcanic rock is a mix of basalt and trachyte, sculpted by erosion into dramatic pinnacles.
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   Saddle Between Peaks A broad saddle connects the Torres section with the final ascent to Pico Ruivo. The trail crosses open heath dominated by Erica arborea — tree heather that can grow to four metres in Madeira's mild, humid climate. The Madeiran wall lizard — endemic to the island — basks on sun-warmed rocks.
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   Second Tunnel Complex A series of short tunnels and staircases negotiate a cliff section. The tunnels are cool and damp, with water dripping from the ceiling. The contrast between the dark interior and the blinding light at each exit is dramatic.
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   Pico Ruivo Final Ascent The final climb to Madeira's highest point follows a well-graded path through heather. The summit post is visible ahead. Clouds may have risen from the valleys by now — the summit can be above, within, or below the cloud layer, creating constantly shifting conditions.
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   Pico Ruivo Summit At 1,862 metres, Pico Ruivo is the highest point in Madeira and the third highest in Portugal. On clear days, the entire island is visible — from the cliffs of Cabo Girão to the eastern peninsula of Ponta de São Lourenço. The Atlantic stretches to every horizon. You are standing on the summit of a volcanic island in the middle of an ocean.
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    Pico Ruivo Refuge The mountain shelter below the summit provides basic refreshments and rest. The return can be made by retracing the route to Arieiro, or by descending to Achada do Teixeira — a shorter, gentler alternative with road access. Either way, you have traversed one of the most spectacular ridge walks in the Atlantic islands.

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