PR1: Pico Do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo

Perhaps the most beautiful hike in Madeira is the PR1 which goes from the third highest peak in Portugal to the very highest peak. The landscape cannot be described other than breathtaking and every new meter is a discovery of Madeira's beautiful nature.

This hike starts at the Pico Do Arieiro where a visitor center offers the opportunity to stock up on provisions and also provides a sanitary stop before starting this tour. The spectacular views are immediately a bull's eye since this start place is littered with beautiful panoramas. At the start of the trail there are some vantage points and each new turn is worth a photo stop. Surprisingly, the surface is not rocky, but you walk on a well-equipped path. Some passages appeal to your bravado as some stairs go down quite steeply and there is even one section that acts as a small bridge where two huge chasms are dangerously close on either side.

The first kilometers are mainly downhill and are therefore relatively easy to do. Relatively, because the descending stairs can go down quite steeply. There are also some tunnels where it is useful to have a flashlight. The tunnels are not very dark, but sometimes wet and low. About half of the way it goes up about a hundred and fifty meters via all kinds of stairs. At a leisurely pace this should normally not be a problem, although some stairs are quite steep. At the Pico Ruivo - so named because this peak looks red due to its subsoil - you also have the option to ascend to Portugal's highest mountain. Again, the panoramic view can only be described with superlatives. You have to be a bit lucky, because it is the rule rather than the exception that this top is surrounded by a cloud cover.

The last part descends again and is a welcome change after the 250 meters up from before. Plants and shrubs provide a slightly different landscape than you find in the miles before. After about forty minutes after descending the Pico Ruivo you are at the end point where this hike has made an unforgettable impression on me.

As far as I am concerned, this is my most beautiful hike of the year and that is all thanks to the landscape which is simply impressive. The walk itself is strenuous at times, but actually not particularly difficult. It is mainly a matter of dosing your strengths properly to go up at a leisurely pace. If you are in Madeira you owe it to yourself to do this walk!