Pico do Areeiro / Pico Ruivo Footpath

Dificulty Level: Medium

Distance: 7 Km

Start: Pico Areeiro

Finish: Pico Ruivo

Time(going): 3:30 hrs

Time(back): 3 hrs

Highest point: 1861 m

Lowest point: 1542 m

There are crowds at the top of Pico do Arieiro (1,817 m), by the busload. And it's easy to see why, the access is easy by car or by coach tour and the scenery is stunning. The rugged rocks look like they’re from another world but the sea is also visible on a clear day. You can't see Pico Ruivo (1,861 m) from here though, as it's hidden by craggy peaks. There's only one footpath here so you can't go wrong - it's the one with all the steps leading downwards. With open views to left and right, the path plunges bravely downward. Fifteen minutes later you reach a turnoff where the right-hand path leads a short distance to a lookout point. From here you get great views out over the valley to the right, often blanketed in cloud.

Back at the fork and continuing on the main path, you reach a second lookout point. Soon Pico Ruivo also appears. After this, the path begins to descend more sharply, dropping to enter the first tunnel.

Shortly after emerging from the tunnel, the path splits and offers two options - the left-hand path (the westerly of the two) is flatter but negotiates more tunnels. The right-hand path to the east has no more tunnels but requires a lot more climbing and descent. Both paths have the same destination though, they meet up and lead to Pico Ruivo, so it doesn't matter which one you take.

Climbing in switchbacks, the path soon reaches the Pico Ruivo hut, where you can buy canned drinks but no food. There is also a water tap outside the hut, useful for refilling your bottles in the heat. The path then cimbs the last 90m or so towards the summit, ignoring the turnoff to Encumeada and heading straight for the wooden summit platforms and the panoramic views. There are three of these wooden lookout platforms, with the middle one being the highest of the three.

After reaching a low point of 1540m, the path then climbs back up to the junction of the paths and passes back through the first tunnel, before the long long climb back up the steps to Pico Arieiro where the hike started.

Suggested Equipment: hiking boots; warm clothing / windbreaker; a torch and drinking water, camera