One of Madeira’s most iconic hiking routes, the PR1 Vereda do Areeiro, is set to reopen this month following a two-year closure for restoration works. The opening will coincide with the Madeira Island Ultra Trail, taking place on 25-26 April.
Connecting three of the island’s highest peaks – Pico do Areeiro (1,818m), Pico das Torres (1,851m) and Pico Ruivo (1,862m) – the 7km-long trail offers one of Madeira’s most dramatic high-altitude hiking experiences, crossing the Central Mountain Massif, a protected area recognized for its unique habitats and biodiversity.
Beginning at the Pico de Areeiro viewpoint, the route takes approximately three and a half hours to complete and leads hikers through tunnels carved into volcanic rock, steep ridgelines and panoramic viewpoints above the clouds. The trail is also home to endemic bird species found only in Macaronesia and the Madeira archipelago.
The reopening reinforces Madeira’s position as a leading destination for outdoor tourism, with hiking remaining one of the island’s most popular activities, alongside mountain biking, canyoning, climbing, coasteering and more.
The revamped trail is part of Madeira’s continued commitment to investing in infrastructure, conservation programs and community-focused tourism activities, as outlined in Visit Madeira’s latest awareness campaign, Explore. Respect. Preserve. The initiative encourages visitors and locals alike to protect the island by respecting nature and local culture and shares practical guidance on how to do so. More information is available here.
As part of this commitment, the island has also recently introduced mandatory registration and booking through the Simplifica portal, in accordance with the carrying capacity set for each trail, and fees apply to access all PR’s (classified walking routes). A fee of €10.50 will apply with the full reopening of the PR1 Vereda do Areeiro and a €4.50 fee applies to all other classified walking routes. Contributions from these fees support trail maintenance, safety improvements and environmental protection, while helping to manage visitor flow.
