Skip to map

PR 1 — Vereda do Areeiro

PR 1 — Vereda do Areeiro — the trail guide

The PR 1 — Vereda do Areeiro is a 5.3 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in 1 day, with 646 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (122 m of gain per km, topping out at 1830 m).

PR 1 links Madeira's third-highest peak to its highest, running 5.3 km along the volcanic spine of the island's central massif. From the Pico do Areeiro car park at 1,818 m the path plunges into cliff-cut stairways, unlit rock tunnels and knife-edge ridges under Pico das Torres before climbing to Pico Ruivo at 1,862 m. People walk it for the sunrise cloud inversion and the drop-away views over Curral das Freiras. It is strictly point-to-point, so sort transport or a return leg first.

Quick facts

Distance5.3 km
Total ascent646 m
Typical duration1 day
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness122 m gain per km
High point1830 m
CountryPortugal
RegionPortugal

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 1525 m · high point 1830 m · 646 m total ascent over 5.3 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 1785 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan97 mm
Feb91 mm
Mar94 mm
Apr70 mm
May11°48 mm
Jun12°72 mm
Jul15°17 mm
Aug17°22 mm
Sep14°49 mm
Oct13°99 mm
Nov10°104 mm
Dec117 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PR 1 — Vereda do Areeiro?

The PR 1 — Vereda do Areeiro is 5.3 km, and most hikers complete it in 1 day. Total elevation gain is 646 m.

How difficult is the PR 1 — Vereda do Areeiro?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 122 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1830 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the PR 1 — Vereda do Areeiro is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the PR 1 — Vereda do Areeiro?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.735, -16.929 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

More treks in Madeira