Vereda do Pico Ruivo (PR 1.2): the short way up Pico Ruivo from Achada do Teixeira

Edited by Roman Antonov · route details as of 20 September 2026

I'd choose PR 1.2 if you want the shorter walk to Pico Ruivo. It's 2.8 km from Achada do Teixeira to the summit, with the same walk back. Book your entry slot online through SIMplifica before you go.

The PR 1.2 path halfway up, looking towards Santana
Photo: Asurnipal, CC BY-SA 4.0
Status
OpenOpen, both ways. IFCN table dated 14 September 2026 · checked by islandmadeira.com 20 September 2026 at 19:32, Madeira time.Fetch the current trail status from the IFCN page; one live request per 30 minutes for the whole site, otherwise the last check is shown.
Length
2.8 km (+ 2.8 km back)
Time on the route board
1 h 30
Highest and lowest point
1,862 m and 1,592 m
Start and finish
Achada do Teixeira (ER218) to Pico Ruivo
Fee
€4.50 per person, booked onlineBooking on the SIMplifica portal, fees as of 2 June 2026. Free for children aged 12 or under and for Madeira residents with their resident card, still with a booking.
At the start
parking, shelter, café, toilets, information board (Achada do Teixeira)
Weather now
17.0 °C at Pico do Areeiro, 1,818 mThe nearest IPMA station, observed 20 September 2026 at 18:00, Madeira time

The PR 1.2 walk from Achada do Teixeira

Pico Ruivo stands 270 m above the start at Achada do Teixeira. The path has a short dip around the middle.

Several shelters give you places to rest along the climb.

The Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo sits below the summit. It has a café and toilets. There's also a picnic area.

Pico Ruivo is Madeira's highest peak at 1,862 m. On a clear day you can see Curral das Freiras and Ponta de São Lourenço. The view also takes in the Desertas islands and Porto Santo.

Look for the Homem em Pé below the shelter at Achada do Teixeira. It's a basalt formation known as the Standing Man.

PR 1.2 and the one-way rule on PR 1

On PR 1.2 you can walk to the summit and return to Achada do Teixeira. PR 1 from Pico do Arieiro is one way beyond the Pedra Rija viewpoint.

After walking PR 1, leave by PR 1.2 to Achada do Teixeira or PR 1.1 to Ilha. You can't retrace PR 1 to a car at Pico do Arieiro.

Check the PR 1 status before planning that walk. You'll need to arrange your own transport back to a car at Pico do Arieiro.

Weather on the Pico Ruivo walk

Take warm clothing. The weather changes quickly at this height. Cloud often covers the route.

Pico do Areeiro is the nearest IPMA weather station. Its latest reading is in the panel above. Check the weather page before setting off.

A weather warning doesn't automatically close the route. Check the official status in the panel above before you go.

PR 1.2 fees and booking

PR 1.2 on its own costs €4.50 per person. The full PR 1 fee is €10.50. It covers PR 1.2 as your descent from Pico Ruivo.

Book online through SIMplifica. Choose your date and entry slot. Registration is required even if your entry is free. IFCN offices cannot take bookings or payments.

There's about 15 minutes of tolerance before or after your slot. Slots close once they're full. Same-day and next-day bookings are possible while places remain.

Children aged 12 or under enter free. Madeira residents need their resident card and citizen card for free entry. Everyone still needs a booking.

Entry is also free for people with a disability of 60% or more. One companion can enter free too. Both still need a booking.

For two or more routes, a one-day pass costs €9.00. A three-day pass costs €22.50. A seven-day pass costs €52.50. These passes exclude PR 1.

Each route still needs its own booking with these passes. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.

IFCN allows a refund or rescheduling only when it closes or restricts the route. Email IFCN within 10 working days to request it.

Rain and illness don't qualify for a refund. Neither does a change of mind or a missed flight.

Getting to Achada do Teixeira and back to your car

The PR 1.2 start is at Achada do Teixeira on the ER218. There's a car park at the start. For a taxi, call Táxis Santana on +351 291 572 540.

Start coordinates: 32°45'53.32"N 16°55'16.08"W.

Walking PR 1.2 out and back brings you to the same car park. After walking PR 1 from Pico do Arieiro, you need to arrange your return transport.

For a car left at Pico do Arieiro, look at the shared shuttle from Achada do Teixeira. It leaves from the car park. Check its dates before planning your walk.

Walking PR 1.2 without a guide

You don't need a guide on a classified route. Book your entry slot before walking PR 1.2 on your own.

The options below include transfers and guided walks. The morning transfer is for PR 1, with the descent on PR 1.2. The guided PR 1 and PR 1.2 walk includes the trail fee.

Routes beside the Pico Ruivo shelter

PR 1.1 leads down to Ilha from beside the Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo. PR 1.3 heads 11.2 km west along the central range to Encumeada. PR 1 Vereda do Areeiro runs 6.1 km to Pico do Arieiro by the west path through the tunnels; its east path over Pico das Torres is closed.

Check route status before choosing any of them. The one-way rule on PR 1 beyond Pedra Rija means it's no way back to a car at Pico do Arieiro.

Vereda do Pico Ruivo, PR 1.2
Photo: 5onyfreak, CC BY-SA 2.0
Vereda do Pico Ruivo, PR 1.2
Photo: The Kopf System, CC BY-SA 2.0
Vereda do Pico Ruivo, PR 1.2
Photo: anagh, CC BY-SA 3.0

What the route board asks

  • The weather changes often: take warm clothing.
  • Several shelters along the climb: the area is often inside the clouds and conditions change fast.

From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Táxis Santana +351 291 572 540.

Guided walks and transfers on this route

Prices and ratings as of 20 September 2026. All Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hikes with transport → · All guided levada walks in Madeira →

Routes next door

Questions before you go

How long is the walk from Achada do Teixeira to Pico Ruivo?

It's 2.8 km from Achada do Teixeira to the summit, and 2.8 km back along the same path. The route board gives 1 hour 30 for the route. Plan for about the same again on the way down, plus time at the shelter and the top.

How hard is PR 1.2?

The summit is 270 m higher than Achada do Teixeira. There's a short dip along the climb. You'll pass several shelters along the way. Bring warm clothing for sudden changes in the weather.

Do I need to book PR 1.2 and how much does it cost?

Yes. Reserve an entry slot through SIMplifica. PR 1.2 costs €4.50 per person when walked on its own. The €10.50 full PR 1 fee includes the descent on PR 1.2. Free entry still requires a booking. See the fee section above for exemptions.

Is Pico Ruivo open?

PR 1.2 is open in both directions. Use the status panel above for the latest check. For a walk from Pico do Arieiro, check the PR 1 status too. A weather warning alone doesn't close a route.

Pico do Arieiro or Pico Ruivo?

You can drive to Pico do Arieiro. There's no road to Pico Ruivo, so it's a walk either way. For the shorter walk, I'd start at Achada do Teixeira: PR 1.2 is 2.8 km each way. PR 1 from Pico do Arieiro is 6.1 km to Pico Ruivo, and its one-way rule means leaving by PR 1.2 or PR 1.1.

Can I walk back to Pico do Arieiro from Pico Ruivo?

No. Beyond the Pedra Rija viewpoint, PR 1 is one way towards Pico Ruivo. Leave by PR 1.2 to Achada do Teixeira or PR 1.1 to Ilha. The shared shuttle from Achada do Teixeira goes back to Pico do Arieiro. Arrange your return before the walk.

Sources

  • IFCN, table of classified routes: status and length. IFCN table dated · checked by islandmadeira.com ; re-read every few hours.
  • IFCN, route board PR 1.2 at the start of the route: distance, time, heights, description and cautions, read 20 September 2026.
  • IFCN, fees and bookings FAQ, updated 2 June 2026, read 14 September 2026.
  • Viator, tour prices, ratings and programmes, as of 20 September 2026.

Who checked this

Roman Antonov, editor. The status comes from the forest service table, the figures from the board at the start of the route and the fee rules from the IFCN FAQ, each with its date above. If something on the ground has changed, tell me.

Tour links go to Viator, where we may earn a commission at no cost to you. It does not change which walks are listed. How we earn.