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(40)
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.
Luiz took Care that everything works as planned. He helped with good advice and is a fun Guy. Would recommend again
Super shuttle service, our guide was very attentive and asked us during our hike if everything was okay. He even picked up other fellow passengers beforehand because they didn't want to continue hiking. All in all, just top!
Luis was a great transportation guide - very engaging, informative and helpful. He also provided jackets to those who needed them.
The guide was very helpful. Picked us up on time, explained everything about the trail and even borrowed us his jacket! We couldn’t have asked for a better guide, thank you!
