How Much Does a Pico do Arieiro Tour Cost?
A shared van to Pico do Arieiro for sunrise, with a ride back from Achada do Teixeira after the PR1 walk, costs $37 to $56 per person. A guide on the same walk starts at about $51, and a sunrise-only trip at $39. The trail fee of €10.50 (about $12) is extra on most of them.
Most visitors pay $37 to $56 per person for a shared van that drops them at Pico do Arieiro in the dark and collects them at Achada do Teixeira after the walk to Pico Ruivo. Paying more gets you a guide on the trail, a trail ticket bought for you or a car for your group alone. Paying less gets you a sunrise at the summit and a shorter walk.
The main price differences
- A good all-round choice: the Pico do Arieiro Sunrise Hiking Transfer, from $55 per person, rated 4.8/5 from more than 4,800 reviews.
- The shared hiking transfers all cost about the same. Between $37 and $56 you walk the same trail from Pico do Arieiro to Achada do Teixeira and share a van or minibus with other hikers. The differences are whether the van stops at your door and how many reviews the operator has.
- A guide costs no more than a transfer at the lower end. The guided Madeira Peaks Mountain Walk is from $54, a dollar less than our main pick.
- The trail fee is usually extra. The full PR1 costs €10.50 (about $12) per person and the Stairway to Heaven section €4.50 (about $5), booked on the SIMplifica portal. A few tours include it, and it explains most of the gap to the dearest shared transfer.
- A sunrise without the hike is cheaper than the hiking transfers. The Pico Arieiro Sunrise with Optional Breakfast is from $39 for three hours.
- Prices are per person, apart from the private sunrise cars. At the starting price, two people pay $110 for our main pick and four pay $220. A private 4x4 for up to six is from $351 for the whole group.
Check Availability
The tour we’d compare first
At $55, the Do it Madeira sunrise transfer costs about the same as the other shared hiking transfers. It has more than twice as many reviews as any of them. Your pickup is at your hotel in Funchal or Caniço, the van takes up to eight guests, and you have about five hours on the trail before the driver collects you at Achada do Teixeira. The day runs about eight and a half hours door to door. Its listing says the operator will reserve your PR1 permit if you ask, though you still pay the fee.
It makes most sense if you are staying in Funchal or Caniço and want sunrise on the ridge without a guide. It is less useful if you are staying in Machico or Santa Cruz, because the pickup zone stops at Caniço. The guided crossings and sunrise tours below say which ones collect there.
If a fixed pickup point is fine. The Get to Hikes PR1 transfer is from $37, rated 4.6/5 from more than 1,300 reviews. It covers the same walk with the same collection at Achada do Teixeira, but it picks up at four set points around Funchal, and your exact time arrives in your GetYourGuide inbox. For $18 more, our main pick comes to your door and has a longer review record.
If you’d rather walk with a guide. The Lido Tours Madeira Peaks walk is from $54, rated 4.8/5 from more than 380 reviews, with pickup from selected Funchal hotels. You walk at the group’s pace, so it suits first-timers who would rather not navigate the tunnels and stairs alone. The trail fee is paid to the operator on the day and is not refunded if you cancel.
If you only want the sunrise. The Charismatic Mountain Tours sunrise trip is from $39, rated 4.7/5 from more than 1,300 reviews. You watch the sunrise at the summit on a three-hour trip, with no trail fee because you don’t hike the PR1. Its Premium option adds breakfast and a levada walk in Paradise Valley, Tuesday to Saturday.
If you want the trail ticket sorted for you. The Sunrise Pico do Arieiro & Pico Ruivo Shuttle Hike is from $84, rated 4.7/5 from 61 reviews. It buys the PR1 ticket for you and reserves a sunrise entry slot. Add the $12 fee to our main pick and the gap is $17, which is what you pay for not dealing with SIMplifica yourself. Pickup is at a meeting point in Funchal, not your hotel.
A private car for four to six people. The Private 4x4 Sunrise Trip with Hot Drinks is from $351 for a group of up to six, rated 4.7/5 from 30 reviews. That is under $90 each for four people and under $60 each for six, with coffee, a chair and a wind coat at the summit. It is a sunrise trip; there is no PR1 walk.
Where do the tours start and finish?
Almost all of them start from your hotel or a set point in Funchal and Caniço. A few also cover Câmara de Lobos, Garajau, Santa Cruz or Machico, and the tables below say which.
The PR1 now runs one way, from Pico do Arieiro towards Pico Ruivo, beyond the Pedra Rija viewpoint. Every hiking transfer therefore drops you at Pico do Arieiro and collects you at Achada do Teixeira, on the north side, about an hour’s drive away. The sunrise trips and the Stairway to Heaven walks turn back before the one-way section and finish where they started.
If you are already at Achada do Teixeira, the one-way shuttle up to Pico do Arieiro is from $33 per person, rated 4.8/5 from more than 390 reviews, in a vehicle for up to seven. It has no hotel pickup, and you walk the PR1 back to where you began. The private PR1 hiker transfer does the same drive in a private SUV from $53 per person, rated 5.0/5 from 35 reviews.
Our one-way transfer guide covers the timing on that side of the mountain.
Shared hiking transfers to the full PR1
These are self-guided: a driver takes you up and brings you back, and you walk on your own.
Prices checked October 2026. Operators use dynamic pricing, so these figures are a guide; check the booking page for the current price. Euro amounts are converted at €1 = $1.1355 (European Central Bank, 30 September 2026). Every tour on this page is linked, with its rating and review count beside it; a low count is a reason for caution, not a verdict.
| Tour | From (per person) | Rating · reviews | Pickup | PR1 ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funchal: Pico do Arieiro Sunrise & Ruivo PR1 Hike Transfer | $37 | 4.6 · 1,350 | Four set points in Funchal | Extra; help available for a fee |
| Madeira: Sunrise Hike Transfer to Pico do Arieiro (PR1) | $49 | 4.8 · 584 | Accommodation, Funchal and Caniço | Extra; operator can try for early slots |
| Funchal: Pico do Arieiro & Pico Ruivo Hiking Transfer | $50 | 4.8 · 2,211 | Accommodation, Funchal and Caniço | Extra; reserved on request |
| Funchal: Pico do Arieiro Sunrise Hiking Transfer | $55 | 4.8 · 4,888 | Hotel, Funchal and Caniço | Extra; reserved on request |
| PR1/Pico do Arieiro roundtrip with Premium transfer+tickets | $55 | 5.0 · 21 | Hotels in Funchal, Câmara de Lobos and Caniço | Paid extra option |
| Pico Do Arieiro Pico Ruivo Sunrise or Morning Hike Transfers | $56 | 4.8 · 1,474 | Hotel, Funchal and Caniço | Extra |
| Madeira Peaks – From Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo | $56 | 4.9 · 102 | Funchal, Garajau and Caniço | Extra; help on request |
| Sunrise Pico do Arieiro & Pico Ruivo Shuttle Hike | $84 | 4.7 · 61 | Meeting point in Funchal | Included, with a sunrise slot |
From $49 to $56 you are mostly choosing an operator. Every transfer in that range picks up at or near your accommodation, and two pairs share a price. At $55, the Salt & Stone electric-car transfer takes seven guests at most and can add the ticket at booking, with a refund if it can’t be bought, but it has 21 reviews against more than 4,800 for our main pick. At $56, the Pico Transfers sunrise or morning transfer has the longer record of the two and gives you five hours to walk, while the Levadas In and Out transfer has the wider list of pickup points, including Garajau. The Pico Transfers listing says it is not suitable for children under 14.
The $50 Do it Madeira hiking transfer comes from the same operator as our main pick, with the same pickup zone and van size. Its title doesn’t sell it as a sunrise departure, so check the start time when you choose a date.
Guided crossings to Pico Ruivo
A guide walks the PR1 with your group and the van collects you at the far end.
| Tour | From (per person) | Rating · reviews | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|
| PR1 Guided Hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo | $51 | 4.6 · 20 | Certified mountain guide, Funchal hotel pickup; fee extra |
| From Funchal: Madeira Peaks Mountain Walk | $54 | 4.8 · 384 | Guide, pickup from selected Funchal hotels; fee paid on the day |
| Madeira: Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Hike | $54 | 4.4 · 3,057 | Certified mountain guide, pickup from main hotels; fee extra |
| Madeira: Full-Day Pico Ruivo / Achada do Teixeira Walk | $54 | 4.3 · 65 | Guide, pickup from Machico, Santa Cruz, Caniço, Garajau and Funchal |
| PR1: Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Guided Hiking Tour | $84 | 4.7 · 73 | Guide, hotel pickup, groups of up to 12 |
| Madeira: Pico do Areeiro Sunrise – Pico Ruivo – Ticket included | $89 | 5.0 · 3 | Sunrise, ticket, guide to Pedra Rija only, then on your own |
| PR1 Guided Tour Pico Areeiro – Pico Ruivo W/Ticket included | $96 | 5.0 · 14 | Ticket, picnic, a drink, groups of up to seven |
The guided crossings at $51 to $54 cost the same as the self-guided transfers, so the choice comes down to whether you want company and a set pace on the trail. Between the two with the most reviews, the Lido Tours walk is rated higher, while the Nature Meetings hike has far more reviews: more than 3,000, at 4.4/5. The Madeira Explorers walk is the one to look at from Machico or Santa Cruz, though its 4.3/5 from 65 reviews is the weakest record here.
Above $80, some add the ticket, a picnic or a smaller group. The Heartbeat Madeira PR1 tour includes all three, but from only 14 reviews. The sunrise crossing with ticket has just three reviews, and its guide turns back at Pedra Rija.
Private guided crossings start at about $135 per person and none has more than six reviews yet: the Pearl of the Atlantic private PR1 hike (from $135, 4.9/5 from 4 reviews) and the private Vereda do Areeiro hike (from $147, 5.0/5 from 6 reviews) both include the trail fee. The private guided tour for up to six is from $385 for the group and has no reviews yet.
The Stairway to Heaven and shorter walks
These go from Pico do Arieiro along the first, two-way stretch of the PR1 and turn back. The ticket for this section is €4.50 (about $5).
| Tour | From (per person) | Rating · reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stairway to Heaven, Pico do Areeiro, PR 1&3 – Sunrise Option | $21 | 4.7 · 460 | Sunrise, PR3 Donkey Trail, café stop; ticket bought at the trail |
| Stairway to Heaven: Pico do Areeiro in Madeira Island | $54 | 4.8 · 135 | Guide, accommodation pickup; fee paid to the guide in cash |
| Madeira: Pico do Areeiro: Stairway to Heaven Experience | $56 | 4.9 · 115 | Certified local guide, pickup, small group |
| Stairways to Heaven: Walk at Pico Areeiro – Guided | $65 | 4.8 · 426 | PR1 fee included, meet at the CR7 Museum, up to eight |
| Sunrise Walk & Stairway to Heaven – Guided | $66 | 4.9 · 155 | Sunrise, coffee stop, Garajau viewpoint; fee paid to the guide |
| Madeira Stairway to Heaven to Larano Hike Mountain to Sea | $84 | 5.0 · 70 | Ticket, picnic, coffee and a drink, then the Larano trail |
The Best Madeira Guide Stairway to Heaven walk is the cheapest tour on this page by a wide margin, with pickup and drop-off in Funchal and a long review record. Its listing describes a host rather than a guide, and the ticket is bought at the start of the trail. At $65, the Go Canyoning guided walk has the fee and booking included and a guide with you, but you meet at the CR7 Museum in Funchal.
The STYLETOURS jeep sunrise with the Stairs of Heaven (from $79, 4.7/5 from 58 reviews) says in its title that the entrance is included, while its list of exclusions names the Stairs of Heaven ticket. Ask the operator before you book.
Sunrise tours that skip the PR1
You watch the sunrise at the summit, and some add a short walk somewhere else. No PR1 ticket is needed for the summit viewpoint.
| Tour | From (per person) | Rating · reviews | After the sunrise |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Funchal: Pico Arieiro Sunrise with Optional Breakfast | $39 | 4.7 · 1,342 | Back to Funchal; breakfast and a levada walk on Premium |
| Madeira: Pico do Arieiro Sunrise Tour | $39 | 4.9 · 154 | Hotel pickup, up to eight guests |
| Madeira: Pico do Arieiro Sunrise Tour and Balcoes Walk | $51 | 4.9 · 184 | Walk at Ribeiro Frio, up to six guests |
| Madeira: Sunrise at Pico do Arieiro & Hike Larano trail | $54 | 4.8 · 1,281 | Guindaste glass platform, then the Larano trail on your own |
| Madeira: Pico do Arieiro Sunrise + PR11 hike + Secret spot | $56 | 4.9 · 271 | A guided short walk and a quiet viewpoint |
| Madeira: Pico do Areeiro Sunrise Tour | $67 | 5.0 · 199 | Viewpoints, café stop, Balcões walk, the north-east coast |
| Madeira: Pico Ruivo Guided Sunrise Hike with Hotel Pickup | $73 | 4.9 · 427 | Sunrise from Pico Ruivo itself, with tea and a granola bar |
At $39, the two cheapest cost the same. The Charismatic Mountain Tours trip has the far longer record and eleven pickup points, while the PF Private Tours sunrise is rated higher and keeps the group to eight. For about $12 more, the 101 Routes sunrise with the Balcões walk adds a short walk at Ribeiro Frio and caps the group at six.
The Madeira Wonders Pico Ruivo sunrise hike is a different morning: you climb the island’s highest peak from the Santana side in the dark, with a guide, and watch the sunrise from the top. It picks up in Santana, Machico, Santa Cruz, Caniço and Funchal. For a private version, the Hiking Island private sunrise hike to Pico Ruivo is from $90 per person, rated 5.0/5 from 49 reviews. It is priced per person, so four people pay $360 and the private car does not get cheaper as your group grows.
Private sunrise cars for a whole group. These are priced for the vehicle. The Private 4x4 Sunrise Trip (from $351 for up to six, 4.7/5 from 30 reviews) has the only real review record. The others are cheaper but barely tested: the private sunrise for up to six is from $243 (4.7/5 from 5 reviews), the sunrise jeep tour for up to five from $232 (5.0/5 from 5 reviews), and the sunrise and Curral das Freiras tour for up to eight from $220, with no reviews yet.
What the starting price leaves out
The PR1 ticket is the main extra. Add €10.50 (about $12) per person for the full walk to Pico Ruivo, or €4.50 (about $5) for the Stairway to Heaven section, unless the table says it is included. With the fee, our main pick comes to about $67 per person.
Food and water are extra on most of these tours, and a full PR1 day runs seven to eight and a half hours, so take breakfast, lunch and plenty to drink.
The starting price is the cheapest date and option. Some listings sell options at different prices: the Charismatic sunrise trip has Basic, Standard and Premium, and the Salt & Stone transfer adds the PR1 ticket as an extra. Its listing also says children under 12 travel for half price.
Paying more does not get you a different trail. It decides whether someone walks it with you, whether the van stops at your door and whether the ticket is sorted for you.
Should you pay more?
Pay more if you want a guide beside you, a ticket and a sunrise slot handled before you arrive, or a car for your group alone. If you are happy to walk on your own and book the permit yourself, the shared transfers between $37 and $56 cover the same walk, and the one with the longest review record costs $55.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Pico do Arieiro tour cost?
Shared hiking transfers for the full PR1 cost $37 to $56 per person, and guided crossings start at about $51. Sunrise-only trips start at $39, and a sunrise walk to the Stairway to Heaven starts at $21. Private cars for a group start at about $220.
Is the PR1 ticket included in the tour price?
Usually not. The full PR1 costs €10.50 (about $12) and the Stairway to Heaven section €4.50 (about $5), booked on SIMplifica. A few tours include it, and several operators will reserve it for you on request.
Is a guided PR1 hike more expensive than a transfer?
Not at the lower end. Guided crossings start at about $51, the same range as the shared self-guided transfers. The guided crossing with the ticket and a picnic included is from $96.
What is the cheapest way to see the sunrise at Pico do Arieiro on a tour?
The Stairway to Heaven sunrise walk from $21 includes the sunrise, with the €4.50 (about $5) ticket bought at the trail. For sunrise only, with no hike, trips start at $39.
Are Pico do Arieiro tours priced per person?
Almost all are. The private sunrise cars are priced per group, from about $220 for up to eight people.
Related reading:
Get to the Trailhead Before the Sun Does
Hotel pickup in the dark, a 40-minute drive to 1,818 m, and a ride waiting when you come off the trail. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Check Availability & Book