Sunrise at Pico do Arieiro Stairway To Heaven and PR3 Self Guided
Description
Begin your day above the clouds with a breathtaking sunrise at Pico do Areeiro, Madeira’s third-highest peak. As the sky turns shades of gold and violet, you’ll witness one of the island’s most unforgettable views. After sunrise, follow a stunning section of the PR1 trail toward the iconic “Stairway to Heaven” — a dramatic ridge walk with epic photo opportunities. Then, continue your adventure on the PR3 – Vereda do Burro, a quieter trail that leads you through wide mountain scenery, peaceful paths, and open skies. The full hike takes around 5 hours and offers the perfect balance of beauty, challenge, and serenity. At the end, relax with a coffee or local treat before your comfortable return. Includes hotel pickup and drop-off, with early and late start times available. Whether you’re chasing sunrises or unforgettable hikes, this is a true Madeira highlight. We will inform you the exact pickup time the day before, and keep you updated via WhatsApp.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We’ll pick you up directly from your hotel or accommodation — just let us know your location. Don’t forget: comfortable hiking shoes, warm and rain gear, plus enough water and snacks for the hike.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not recommended for travelers with vertigo
Reviews(44)
Luis Freitas has an excellent shuttle service, accommodating and friendly. He knows everything and is a very good and safe driver. I definitely want to recommend him!!!
Superb experience, Luis is really kind and gave us several pieces of information and valuable advice regarding the hike and the island in general. We recommend this activity to everyone!
Luis made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. He texted us all the details the day before, which gave us plenty of time to prepare. He picked us up right on time and drove us straight to PR1 “Stairways to Heaven” to catch the sunrise, which was absolutely worth it. Luis is a funny and friendly guide (sometimes a bit too funny), but he answered all our questions and gave helpful tips on what to do and avoid in Funchal, along with some great personal recommendations. After the hike, he picked us up at a nice café/bar where we could relax, eat, or grab a drink before heading back. The hike itself isn’t too difficult, but proper shoes are essential since both PR1 and PR3 can get slippery. If you’re active, it’ll be easy; if not, you can still complete it at your own pace. The views are stunning, very scenic, and we barely saw other people on the trail. Overall, great value for money and definitely recommended.
Very friendly driver; he explained the routes to us and was very punctual. Good price compared to what you find with other companies in Madeira
A very beautiful experience. Everything went smoothly and the landscapes were truly incredible. The transfer service went very well and everything was very well organized
We were picked up by Luis, who was unfortunately running quite late, which meant we then had quite a rush to reach Pico do Arieiro, he was however, very nice and very apologetic Arrived at the stairway to heaven and saw the most beautiful sunset, we then unfortunately didn’t listen to instructions properly and walked the incorrect route, which meant our entire group had to walk back up 7 zillion steps - completely our own fault - so I recommend listening properly :D PR3 was also lovely, we really enjoyed our day and Luis was super nice and friendly and we would certainly recommend using this tour to see these amazing places
The hike was excellent . I would do it again)
Luis, the guide, was funny and lively. I would not have done this, however, had I understood how difficult it was: 16,000 steps (70% downhill), 7 miles and the equivalent of 50 flights of stairs. I hike and do Pilates a lot and am in pretty good shape for a gal of 76, but this was too much and there was no turning back. It was truly lovely to see the sunrise and the spectacular rock formations in early morning light and I highly recommend it for someone younger in great shape. I didn’t help that my legs are short. The uneven and deep steps put a strain on my knees and quads.
Luís was wonderful and made our sunrise hike experience totally stress-free! He arranges all of the pick-up times for us and was right on time in the morning to pick us up from our lodging. We made up to the peak with plenty of time to find a spot to watch the sunrise, and followed with plenty of time to do both the PR1 and PR3 hikes. We were definitely glad to be brought straight back to our lodging at the end as well rather than a meeting point we’d have to walk back from, as those two hikes are brutal on the knees! We’d definitely recommend Luís to anyone wishing for direct transport to and from the mountain.
We consciously decided to only go for the sunrise and part of the PR1 trail. But even that is an unforgettable experience. To everyone who plans to go, we recommend good, sturdy footwear and good physical condition.
