Pedra Rija PR1 Start

As soon as I and Serhii landed at the Madeira airport, we immediately took a taxi and drove to Pico do Areeiro (1818 m). The taxi driver was really confused where we were headed to, but we managed to convince him to drive us to the specified location without asking further questions. Upon arrival, we walked around the area, explored the souvenir shops, and went on to start the hike.

At the starting point, we discovered a fee of 3 Euro per person to enter the trail, which can be paid online, at a terminal with a credit card (which didn't work with my card), or in-person to one of the employees there holding pre-printed tickets. None of the employees had a printed ticket, so I gave up, gave them the money without receiving a ticket, and went forward. I guess the tickets are only necessary for tax write-offs or reimbursement from companies, so it wasn't a big deal for me.

As we headed out, the trail was very windy and dusty, filled with tourists and very well-kept. The route is extremely safe, with paved stone paths and guard wires along the way.

When we eventually reached Pedra Rija, we realized the road ahead was closed due to recent storms and landslides, so we had to turn around and go back to the beginning.

Overall, I'd say the views are nice but the hike is only worth it if you can continue up to Ruivo (1862 m) and down to Achada do Teixeira (1592 m). It's too crowded off-season, so I can only imagine what it's like during the peak tourism season.