Sunrise Tour at Pico do Arieiro
Description
Standard Version Enjoy sunrise at Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s highest viewpoint reachable by car, with hotel pickup within our listed pickup areas. Watch the day begin above the clouds in one of the island’s most spectacular mountain settings. This option is ideal for guests who prefer a shorter sunrise experience and want to return early after the activity, including those who may already have breakfast included at their accommodation. Premium Version Enjoy a fuller sunrise experience after early hotel pickup, travelling to Pico do Arieiro to watch the sunrise from 1,818 metres above sea level. After sunrise, enjoy an included breakfast with coffee, tea, toasted ham and cheese sandwiches, and homemade cake, followed by a relaxing Paradise Valley levada walk when safe conditions allow. This Premium option is designed for guests who want a more complete morning experience with extra time after sunrise. Please share dietary restrictions when booking.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pico do Arieiro is Madeira’s third-highest peak and the highest viewpoint on the island reachable by car, at 1,818 metres above sea level. This is where you will watch the sunrise and enjoy one of Madeira’s most spectacular mountain settings above the clouds.
Included in the breakfast and walk version only After sunrise, enjoy breakfast in a peaceful and sheltered setting. Breakfast is served buffet-style and includes sandwiches, homemade cake, biscuits, water, orange juice, fruit jam, cheese, and ham.
Included in the breakfast and walk version only. Continue the morning with a gentle walk in the Paradise Valley area, surrounded by lush greenery and native laurel forest.
Pick up and drop off at funchal, plus driving to the different points of this experience takes roughly 1h15 minutes
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please bring warm clothing, as temperatures at Pico do Arieiro can be much lower than in lower areas. The driver will confirm your name and tour at pickup. Pickup is available only in Funchal, Caniço, and Câmara de Lobos centre. Guests staying outside these areas must meet us at an available pickup point within our service area.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are included only within the listed pickup areas. Pickup outside the defined service area is not included.
- Please check the option selected when booking. The Standard option includes hotel pickup/drop-off and the Pico do Arieiro sunrise visit. The Premium option also includes breakfast and a levada walk.
- Breakfast is included only with the Premium option. Breakfast is not included with the Standard option.
- The levada walk is included only with the Premium option and is subject to weather, trail conditions, safety and availability on the day.
- Please bring warm clothing and suitable footwear. Mountain temperatures can be much lower than in Funchal before sunrise.
- Mountain weather can change quickly, and clear views, sunrise colours or visibility cannot be guaranteed. The tour normally operates when access is open and conditions are safe. If conditions at Pico do Arieiro are not favourable, an alternative viewpoint such as Palheiro or another suitable location may be used.
- Weather, limited visibility, use of an alternative viewpoint, or inability to do the levada walk due to conditions do not automatically qualify for a refund if the main tour operates.
- Toilet and restaurant facilities at Pico do Arieiro may be limited or closed before sunrise. Please plan accordingly before departure.
- This experience is not a guided PR1 Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike. The Standard option is a sunrise viewpoint visit. The Premium option includes a Paradise Valley levada walk after breakfast, not the PR1 mountain hike.
Reviews(141)
Tour guide was honest and punctual. Giving all required information. Best sunrise experience above and beyond clouds. Dress up like if you’re going in harsh winter. Must have LED Headlamp Rechargeable -for tracking in darkness.
Such an amazing sunrise! Even if the weather seems bad, you must go! The weather is u predictable and we saw the most amazing sunrise. Jorge was a great tour guide! Highly recommend.
Amazing service and very professional. The sighting of sun was amazing. They picked up and dropped of on time and took us right to the footings of the steps
Experience was amazing. It is really worth it to watch the sunrise up to the mountains. I will go again next opportunity. Francisco our driver/guide was amazing, super kind. 10/10
Our booking said it included breakfast and we didn’t get offered anything We had to pay for coffees when we stopped
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry for the misunderstanding. The voucher explains what is included in each booking option, as the inclusions depend on the option selected at the time of booking. Your booking was for the Standard option, which includes transport only. Breakfast is included only with the Premium option, and this option is not available every day. We regret that this was not clear enough and will continue working to make the differences between the Standard and Premium options as clear as possible. Thank you again for joining us.
Great experience with a really nice tour guide who brought us to some extra viewing points and walks that we wouldn't have been able to find ourselves. For the sunrise itself we were a bit unlucky with the cloud cover but it was worth it anyway for the nice breakfast and other viewing points. Would highly recommend!
Thank you so much for your lovely review, Emily! We’re really happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience, the breakfast, and the extra viewpoints along the way. Sometimes the mountain weather does not give us the perfect sunrise view, but we always try to make the experience worthwhile by showing our guests the best places possible on the day. Thank you again for recommending us. It was a pleasure having you with us!
Such a wonderful experience! April is a great time to go because whilst there are other people on the mountain of course, it’s not overcrowded and we were blessed with perfect weather conditions. It was a small group so easy to find the guide, and it was very peaceful with plenty of time to walk around and take photos once it was lighter as well. Stopping off at a local coffee shop for 10 minutes was a nice added personal touch too. Also due to a couple of people moving around and leaving the van early I switched seats and accidentally left a bag in the van which I only realised after drop off - I called and they were so kind and empathetic and called the driver straight away. The kind driver brought it back to me straight after his last drop off which I honestly really appreciate after he started work early for our tour and with Easter Saturday traffic. A lovely company with warm, kind people - and not only that, I got a sunrise that I’ll never forget!
Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We are very glad you enjoyed the sunrise, the peaceful small-group atmosphere and the short coffee stop after the experience. We also appreciate your kind words about our team and driver. Returning your bag was simply the right thing to do, and we are happy everything was resolved quickly after drop-off. Thank you for joining us in Madeira, and we are glad you had a sunrise to remember.
A must-do tour in Madeira. It is absolutely amazing to watch the sun rise and the views are incredible.
The sunrise was absolutely breathtaking. The lovely company and Francisco’s kindness and cheerful energy made it even more special. Truly a beautiful morning!
Unfortunately the thick cloud cover at Pico do Arieiro meant zero visibility. Our guide, Sofia, suggested we find another viewpoint lower down. We watched a beautiful sunrise over the sea. Obviously we were disappointed not to have the Mountain view but our guide ensured it wasn’t a total failure.
Thank you for your feedback. Pico do Arieiro is a high mountain location, and visibility can change very quickly due to cloud, fog, rain and wind. Clear mountain views can never be guaranteed. On this day, Sofia made the right decision by suggesting an alternative viewpoint lower down, where the sunrise could still be enjoyed despite the conditions at the summit. We appreciate you recognising her effort to adapt the experience on the day.
