B&Boff route
430 m
Casas de Campo do Pomar
Santana, Sítio do Lombo do Curral 54-56
Small group of rural-tourism country cottages in a large garden, in the Lombo do Curral neighbourhood, about 1 km from…
Elevation profile
1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m0 km2 km4 km6 km8 km10 km12 kmPico do Areeiro 1,818 m
| Waypoint | Altitude | Km |
|---|---|---|
| Chão das Feiteiras | 1,230 m | 0 km |
| Poiso | 1,395 m | 1.6 km |
| Pico do Areeiro | 1,818 m | 8.3 km |
| Miradouro da Pedra Rija | 1,630 m | 10.1 km |
| Pico Ruivo (refuge) | 1,790 m | 13.4 km |
The route
After the Poiso pass (1,395 m, restaurant and bus stop), a long climb leads to Pico do Areeiro (1,818 m), the island's third-highest peak, where there is a café (the former pousada on the summit no longer lets rooms). This is where the PR1 Vereda do Areeiro begins, the most famous trail on Madeira.
For 6 km, the PR1 follows the crest of the central massif: steps cut into the rock, balcony paths above the valleys and tunnels dug through the tuff, where a head torch comes in handy. After the Miradouro da Pedra Rija, it is one-way towards Pico Ruivo: this is why the crossing has to be walked from east to west. The eastern variant via Pico das Torres remains closed; you go through the tunnels.
You reach the Pico Ruivo hut (Casa de Abrigo), which sells drinks and snacks and closes at around 7 pm, and the small camping zone next to it (1,790 m). For a bed, the Mountain Spot Lodge at Achada do Teixeira is 2.8 km away via the PR1.2. The summit, at 1,862 m, is the highest point on Madeira: climb it at sunset or sunrise, often above a sea of clouds.
Practical tips
- The full PR1 costs €10.50 for non-residents (PR1.1, PR1.2 and PR1.3 included) and is booked by 30-minute time slot, with entry at Pico do Areeiro.
- Take a head torch for the tunnels and poles for the many steps.
- Do not set off in strong wind or a storm: the ridge is very exposed and gusts sometimes exceed 100 km/h at altitude.
- The water and toilets for the Pico Ruivo camping zone are at the hut, 200 m away (IFCN page): fill up before it closes, at around 7 pm.
Water points and tricky sections
2 water points listed on this stage and 3 tricky sections (levada tunnels: head torch). Springs can run dry in late summer: ask in the cafés along the route and treat the water if in doubt.
| Km | Point | Type | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 km | Fontaine | Water point | 1,384 m |
| 6.3 km | Source · Madre da Levada do Barreiro | Water point | 1,572 m |
| 10.2 km | Tunnel Vereda do Areeiro (≈ 90 m) : lampe frontale | Tricky section | 1,623 m |
| 10.7 km | Tunnel Vereda do Areeiro (≈ 120 m) : lampe frontale | Tricky section | 1,659 m |
| 11.2 km | Tunnel Vereda do Areeiro (≈ 170 m) : lampe frontale | Tricky section | 1,714 m |
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL), points less than 150 m from the trail. Fountains and springs are not tested: treat or filter the water.
Variants on this stage
- PR 1.2 – Vereda do Pico Ruivo (Achada do Teixeira)Moyenne · 2.7 km · 290 m ascent
- PR 9 – Levada do Caldeirão VerdeMoyenne · 8.4 km · 1,120 m ascent
Stage map
Where to stay on stage 2?
Accommodation along the stage, at the finish or on its variants, in walking order.
Santana 4 places to stay
Gîteoff route
385 m
Centro de Juventude de Santana (ex-Pousada de Juventude)
Santana, Rua Tenente Domingos Cardoso (Barreiro)
Public youth hostel run by the Region, in the town of Santana: the cheapest accommodation in the area, with…
Hoteloff route
435 m
Hotel O Colmo
Santana, Avenida Manuel Marques da Trindade 42 (centre)
3-star hotel with 50 rooms right in the centre of Santana, with a restaurant, indoor pool and spa. The most convenient…
Hoteloff route
265 m
Quinta do Furão
Santana, Achada do Gramacho, Estrada da Quinta do Furão (clifftop)
4-star hotel among vineyards, on top of a north-coast cliff, about 2 km from the centre of Santana. It is far from the…
Chão das Feiteiras and Poiso 7 places to stay
Campsiteoff route
1,290 m
Zona de acampamento dos Terreiros
Terreiros, above Camacha (tarmac road) · Madeira Crossing km 21.7
High-altitude clearing reachable by road, about 1.5 km as the crow flies south of the Levada do Furado section of the…
Campsite
1,230 m
Zona de acampamento do Chão das Feiteiras
Chão das Feiteiras, plateau north of Poiso (dirt track) · Madeira Crossing km 24.4
Grassy plateau surrounded by cedars, right by the route at the end of the climb from the Levada do Furado. It is the…
Campsiteoff route
1,355 m
Zona de acampamento das Cruzes de Baixo
Cruzes de Baixo, above Camacha (tarmac road) · Madeira Crossing km 25.1
Zone with no facilities (apart from a car park) by the road, about 850 m south-east of the route between Chão das…
Campsiteoff route
1,125 m
Zona de acampamento das Carreiras
Carreiras, Estrada das Carreiras above Camacha (tarmac road)
Forest area reachable by car, about 2 km south of Poiso and the route. No facilities apart from a car park according…
Refugeoff route
1,300 m
©SurroundingsCasa de Abrigo do Cedro – Montado do Pereiro
Montado do Pereiro, near the north gate, on the ER103 south of Poiso · Madeira Crossing km 26.2
IFCN forest house, rented as a whole (8 people maximum), in the Montado do Pereiro park, about 600 m south of Poiso…
Campsite
1,395 m
©Zona de acampamento do Poiso
Poiso, junction of the ER103 and ER202 roads · Madeira Crossing km 26.2
Roadside zone at the Poiso pass, on the route, about 1.5 km after Chão das Feiteiras and at the foot of the climb to…
B&Boff route
1,200 m
Mountain Eco Shelters (Eco Shelters)
Parque Ecológico do Funchal, Estrada Regional 103 n.º 259 (between Poiso and Monte) · Madeira Crossing km 26.9
Nine small eco-shelters in the Parque Ecológico do Funchal, by the ER103, about 1.4 km south-west of Poiso. They are…
Ribeiro Frio 2 places to stay
Campsiteoff route
925 m
©Zona de acampamento do Ribeiro Frio
Ribeiro Frio, forest park (access on foot) · Madeira Crossing km 24
Small zone reachable only on foot near the hamlet of Ribeiro Frio, about 700 m from the route. The hamlet has…
B&Boff route
Ribeiro Frio Cottages
Ribeiro Frio (Entre Águas), on the ER103 · Madeira Crossing km 24.2
Small country cottages by the road in the hamlet of Ribeiro Frio, about 500 m from the route. They lie between the…
Pico das Pedras and Queimadas 2 places to stay
Refugeoff route
900 m
Casa de Abrigo do Pico das Pedras
Parque Florestal do Pico das Pedras, next to the Polícia Florestal station (ER218 towards Achada do Teixeira)
IFCN forest house rented as a whole (10 people maximum), in the Pico das Pedras forest park, on the road from Santana…
Campsiteoff route
895 m
Zona de acampamento do Pico das Pedras
Parque Florestal do Pico das Pedras, ER218 road Santana – Achada do Teixeira
Forest park on the road from Santana to Achada do Teixeira, about 4.5 km as the crow flies from the route. An option…
Achada do Teixeira 1 place to stay
Gîteoff route
1,592 m
Mountain Spot Lodge (Achada do Teixeira)
Achada do Teixeira, car park at the end of the ER218, start of the PR1.2
Lodge at the Achada do Teixeira car park, at the start of the PR1.2: 2.8 km of trail up to the Pico Ruivo hut. Handy…
Pico Ruivo 2 places to stay
Refugeto be confirmed
1,760 m
©Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo
Below the summit of Pico Ruivo, junction of the PR1 / PR1.1 / PR1.2 / PR1.3 · Madeira Crossing km 37.7
Stone mountain hut, renovated and reopened in August 2019, a few minutes below the summit, at the trail junction. Its…
Campsite
1,790 m
©Zona de acampamento do Pico Ruivo
Pico Ruivo, near the Casa de Abrigo (access on foot only) · Madeira Crossing km 38
Camping zone on the ridge, at the junction of the PR1, PR1.1, PR1.2 and PR1.3 trails, a stone's throw from the hut and…