Vereda do Areeiro

The place

The most famous walk on Madeira and the reason people book flights. It runs the spine of the island from Arieiro to Ruivo through cut steps, tunnels and staircases bolted to cliffs. Reopened after long closures, and priced accordingly.

When to come

Start at first light. The tunnels are cold, the exposed sections get windy by midday, and you want margin for the return.

Worth knowing

• Torch is essential — several unlit tunnels
• Severe exposure; not a walk to do with a fear of heights
• One-way route: arrange transport back or return the same way
• Closes on wind and rockfall warnings, sometimes at short notice
• Book a 30-minute entry slot on SIMplifica ahead of time — no walk-up access; €10.50/person, €7 via an IFCN-protocol operator
• One-way only, Areeiro to Ruivo, since the 2026 reopening — you cannot start from the Ruivo side
• Planned closures for boardwalk installation in mid-to-late September 2026 — check current status before booking
• Headlamp for the tunnel, real hiking shoes for wet rock, windproof layer for the exposed ridge