Nature Activities
Trail Running
The highest peak: resilience, contemplation and serenity
The third-highest point in Portugal is located on the island of Madeira and is, of course, an iconic place with uniquely broad views. Situated at an altitude of 1,862 metres, Madeira's Pico Ruivo is a place to visit with some time set aside for contemplating.
Located in the municipality of Santana, from this peak you can see many different places. You can see, for example, the picturesque parish of Curral das Freiras, surrounded by green mountains, the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, the various 'achadas' of Santana or the impressive depth of the Ribeira Grande and São Jorge valleys. On days of greater visibility, from Madeira's Pico Ruivo you can also see the island of Porto Santo and the Desertas Islands group.
This being the highest point in the archipelago, its flora is mainly composed of high-altitude heath. It is, however, the rock formations of monumental proportions (and that recurrently rise above the clouds) that dominate the surrounding landscape of Madeira's Pico Ruivo. In addition, birds like the firecrest (Regulus ignicapus madeirensis), the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) or the linnet (Linaria cannabina) can often be found here.
Accessible on foot, through Vereda do Pico Ruivo (PR 1.2), a walk of about 45 minutes, or from Pico Areeiro, along PR 1.1.
Details
At an altitude of 1,862 metres, Pico Ruivo is the highest point in the archipelago of Madeira and the third-highest in Portugal. Its ample view is therefore unparalleled.
