Pico do Arieiro: The Ultimate Guide
Otherworldly craggy peaks floating above a sea of clouds, magical sunrises, epic hikes and a lifetime of unforgettable memories; here’s everything you need to know to visit the Pico do Arieiro Viewpoint, Miradouro do Juncal.
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Located at 1,818 metres, Pico do Arieiro (Pico do Areeiro) is the third-highest peak in Madeira and offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the archipelago.
You’ll often find yourself looking down on a sea of clouds floating below the craggy peaks of Madeira’s Central Mountains and feel like you’re on another planet!
On a clear day, you should be able to see out to the neighbouring golden paradise island of Porto Santo.
One of the best things to do in Madeira is to see a Pico do Arieiro sunrise when the sky is lit up in various hues of reds and oranges. Soaring above the sea of clouds, you’ll be immersed in an otherworldly and mystical atmosphere!
Our Top Tip: arrive about half an hour before sunrise as the glow from the sun starts before the sun is above the clouds. This is when you’ll see the most vibrant and dramatic colours.
The main Pico do Arieiro Viewpoint is Miradouro do Juncal, a 5-minute walk from the car park and one of the best viewpoints in Madeira to watch the sunrise. It faces out towards the ocean and directly to where the sun will rise.
Our Top Tip: there’ll be hundreds of people on this balcony, however, if you follow some of the nearby dirt paths you’ll be able to find a quieter spot slightly away from Miradouro do Juncal but with the same breathtaking view.
The second viewpoint on Pico do Areeiro, Miradouro do Ninho da Manta, is a 1.2-kilometre walk from the car park. Most people don’t head here until after sunrise. The route is along a narrow path but it’s well-maintained and has handrails so it’s perfectly safe.
Although this viewpoint doesn’t face directly to the sun, it’s surrounded by craggy mountain peaks and will create a very dramatic sunrise. If we were to return, we’d watch the sunrise here.
If you’re hiking from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, you’ll pass this viewpoint on the trail.
The Pico do Areeiro Viewpoint is also the starting point for hiking to Pico Ruivo; the best hike in Madeira and an absolute must-do!
Standing at 1,861 metres, Pico Ruivo is Madeira’s tallest mountain.
Narrow ledges, steep staircases, jagged mountain peaks, endless panoramic views and dark tunnels make this hike a truly unique and unforgettable experience and will no doubt be a highlight of your Madeira itinerary!
Getting to Pico do Areeiro
The map below shows the exact location of Pico do Areeiro.
Car
The easiest way to get to Pico do Arieiro is to drive from Funchal. It’s a very easy drive once you’re on road ER 103 as this will take you the entire way with only one left turn at Abrigo do Poiso Restaurant.
The drive will take about 40 minutes and the road is in great condition. Allow for a little more time if it’s a particularly foggy morning and you’re driving in the dark. From the car park, Miradouro do Juncal is a 2-minute walk.
If you don’t have a car, you have some other easy transport options.
Private Transfer
The easiest option after driving is a private transfer. You’ll be picked up and dropped off at your hotel at your chosen time. You can also use this option to hike one way to Pico Ruivo as they will also pick you up there.
Taxi
Another easy, although expensive option is to book a taxi. This should cost around €50/€60 one-way from Funchal. If you’re only planning on going to the viewpoint and not hiking, you can sometimes make a deal with the driver to wait and take you back.
Bus
At 6am and 1:30pm, you can take a public bus from Praça da Autonomia on the Funchal promenade to Pico do Arieiro. Buses return at 12:15pm and 7pm and the fare is €3 per trip.
Everything Else You Need to Know about Pico do Arieiro
Facilities at Miradouro do Juncal
At Miradouro do Juncal, there’s a large car park which, if you’re coming for sunrise you should easily find a spot. However, if you arrive later in the day the car park may be full so you might have to wait for a space.
You’ll also find toilets (for a fee so bring cash), a small cafe, an information centre and a souvenir shop. Bear in mind that the toilets may not be open as early as sunrise.
The best time of year to visit Pico do Areeiro
Madeira has a sub-tropical climate with hot summers and mild winters so the Pico do Areeiro Viewpoint is ideal to visit at any time of the year.
Winter mornings will be fairly cold before the sun is up so bring layers. In the summer, you’ll have the crowds as this is one of the best viewpoints in Madeira so it’s incredibly popular.
The best time of day to visit Pico do Arieiro
We visited for sunrise which we would 100% recommend, especially if you’re only going once during your Madeira itinerary. A Pico do Arieiro sunrise is truly magical and something you’ll cherish forever.
Sunset is also a fantastic time to visit and, if the clouds are playing ball, the sky’s colours will probably be a lot more dramatic as the light tends to be softer in the afternoons compared to the harsh morning light bursting through quickly.
Sunset, however, will also bring the crowds and parking may be more of an issue.
If you’re not limited to one specific day to visit Miradouro do Juncal, try to visit with cloud cover. Seeing Madeira’s Central Mountains jut out above the sea of clouds was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and something we weren’t expecting.
There’s sometimes an operational webcam where you can check the conditions (more if you’re visiting for sunset as it’ll be dark in the morning).
What to wear
We wore hiking clothes and a hoody which was absolutely fine for the time of year and conditions (late May and not much wind). We also brought a hat and more layers to be prepared but didn’t need these.
In the winter you’ll need more layers as the mornings will be a lot cooler and, even in the summer, if you catch the mountain on a windy day, it can be quite chilly.
The weather in the mountains can be very unpredictable and change rapidly so even if you’ve checked the weather and it looks fine, come prepared with extra layers.
Once the sun is above the clouds, you can really feel the heat beating down so make sure you have sunscreen!
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide to the Pico do Arieiro Viewpoint, Miradouro do Juncal. If you have any questions, please leave a comment. Also, check out some of our other in depth Madeira guides below. And, follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with us in real time.
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