After two years of closure following the devastating fires of 2024, the PR1 Vereda do Areeiro trail is finally accessible again. The official reopening coincides with the seventeenth edition of the Madeira Island Ultra Trail, scheduled for 25 and 26 April 2026: trail runners crossed the reconstructed ridge first, before access was opened to the general public from 27 April.
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A very famous path
The PR1 connects three of the highest peaks on the island: it starts from Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 metres, crosses Pico das Torres at 1,851 meters and arrives at Pico Ruivo, the highest point in Madeira, at 1,862 metres. In between, tunnels dug into the volcanic tuff, exposed ridges with dizzying height differences and, on clear days, a carpet of clouds underfoot.
With the reopening come new rules. The IFCN — the regional institute for forestry and nature conservation — has established that the route will be one-way, in the direction Pico do Areeiro → Pico Ruivo. The only exception concerns the initial stretch up to the Pedra Rija viewpoint, which can be done in both directions.
For about a month after reopening, access may be limited to Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, while paving and restoration work will continue Monday through Thursday.
Useful information
The access ticket to PR1 costs 10.50 euros, a higher rate than the 4.50 euros applied to the other classified paths on the island. Authorities explained that increased maintenance needs and new infrastructure justify the higher cost. The proceeds are used to finance safety, maintenance and environmental protection. Those who book through an IFCN partner operator access a reduced rate of 7 euros.
Reservations are mandatory via the SIMplifica portal (simplifica.madeira.gov.pt), with entry slots in thirty minute windows. The rangers check the QR code at the entrance to the trail.
For real-time updates on the status of the paths, the official reference is the IFCN website.
