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PR 1.2

Vereda do Pico Ruivo

OpenLast checked October 26, 2026

The short way up Pico Ruivo, from the car park at Achada do Teixeira to the summit at 1857 m. It is 2.8 km each way, 5.6 km there and back, and IFCN allows an hour and a half for the round trip on a paved and stepped path. It is the least demanding approach to the highest point on the island, which also makes it the busiest.

Vereda do Pico Ruivo
Abrek Okur · Pexels licence

Route facts

Start and end
Achada do Teixeira → Pico Ruivo
Municipality
Santana
Length
2.8 km one way
IFCN walking time
1 h 30 min
Difficulty
Medium
Route type
Out and back
Highest point
1857 m
Start coordinates
32.76481, -16.92108

Figures as IFCN publishes them on the trail's own page. A row is missing where the official sheet does not state it, and IFCN publishes no cumulative elevation gain for any route.

Before you go

  • Walking a classified trail requires a paid reservation through the regional SIMplifica portal. The official trail pages list the fee as 4.50 € per visitor over 12; children of 12 and under are exempt. Book before you set off. Reserve on SIMplifica
  • This route is walked to the end and back the same way, so the length and time above are for one direction.
  • The route reaches 1857 m. Cloud, wind and temperature at that height are often nothing like the coast.
  • Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo are the classic places to watch the sun come up, so check today's times before you fix a start.

Shared rides to this trail

Shared cars and taxis to the start and back from the end, planned in the Madeira1 app for the next two weeks.

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