Portugal
Pico do Arieiro in the mist
Hiking the first part of the famous PR1 Pico to Pico hike, the most famous hike in Madeira. After which we make a little roadtrip along the east part of the island. Ending in Funchal for an evening on a trendy rooftop.
Pico do Arieiro in the mist
We booked our trip to Madeira partly for this hike. But unfortunately we were not so lucky... Turned out that the Pico was in the clouds all week. But worst of all... the PR1 Pico to Pico hike of 10km one-way was closed after 1.5 km. It wasn't indicated at the start, nor online. What a bummer. Nevertheless the limited views we had, gave us a small glimps of the incredible beauty this hike has to offer.
Roadtrip through the woods to the north coast
Since we could only do the hike 1/4th of the planned length, we had plenty of free time to spend this day. So we drove from the Pico to the north coast to go and check out one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the north side of the island. We took our Sunnycars rental car and headed out for a scenic drive through the woods of Madeira.
Most spectacular viewpoint on the north coast
Near Porto da Cruz is the most famous viewpoint on the north coast: Miradouro do Guindaste. There is a small parking lot from where you can walk to the famous rock. There are also 2 glass bridges where you can walk above the sea. If you walk 100m back up the road you'll find a small parking space for 2-3 cars. From here you can walk on a ridge towards another rock overlooking the north coast. Both are beautiful spots to go and discover, enjoy the view and make some nice photos.
From the north coast to Cristo Rei you will drive with the highway directly underneath the runway of Madeira Airport. A spectacular sight, especially when a plane is making a landing!
Sunset at Cristo Rei
After the north coast we make a scenic drive to the southeast corner of the island for sunset. At the Cristo Rei statue there is a large staircase down to a rock in the ocean. The stairs are flanked on both sides by hundreds of cactuses which make it a special sight.
Continue this little roadtrip to Funchal. We parked our car in the middle of the city center in an easy to reach parking lot called "Almirante Reis Car Park".
Ending the day on a rooftop
We end our packed day with cocktails & sharing dishes at the rooftop bar of the Three House Hotel. With a 360° view over the city center and the harbor, you have plenty to see while sipping your drinks. A perfect end of a day with mixed feelings.
