Three days in Madeira are enough for one high-mountain walk, one levada and an evening in Funchal if you sleep in Funchal and have a car. This plan pairs a sunrise at Pico do Arieiro and the PR 1 with the Rabaçal levadas in the west, and lists the bookings, fees and weather back-ups each day needs. Facts were checked against IFCN and SIMplifica on 28 October 2026.
Day 1 — Funchal: market, Monte and an evening in the old town
Start the morning at Mercado dos Lavradores, Funchal's covered market for fruit, flowers and fish. From the seafront, the Funchal cable car climbs to Monte, where you can visit the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and come down by Monte toboggan or cable car.
Keep the evening for Funchal itself: the old town around the market and the seafront are walkable from most central hotels. The Funchal region guide covers the neighbourhoods.
Weather back-up: this day needs no trail booking, so it is the one to swap. If the mountain forecast is better today than for Day 2, walk the PR 1 today and do Funchal later.
Day 2 — Pico do Arieiro at sunrise and the PR 1
When is sunrise at Pico do Arieiro?
Sunrise changes by more than an hour across the year. Calculated times for the summit's coordinates (local time):
| Date | Civil twilight begins | Sunrise |
|---|---|---|
| 21 June 2026 | 06:32 | 07:00 |
| 28 October 2026 | 06:57 | 07:22 |
| 21 December 2026 | 07:39 | 08:06 |
The sky starts to brighten at civil twilight, so plan to be at the Pico do Arieiro viewpoint before it. The drive from central Funchal is about 18.6 km, estimated at 31 minutes by OpenStreetMap routing without traffic. It is a mountain road driven in the dark, so allow more.
What does the PR 1 booking cover?
Vereda do Areeiro (PR 1) is 6.1 km from Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo. IFCN lists the west branch (through the tunnels) as open and the east branch via Pico das Torres as closed. Two tickets exist on SIMplifica:
- €4.50 — out and back between Pico do Areeiro and the Pedra Rija viewpoint at km 1.2. It does not give access to Pico Ruivo.
- €10.50 — Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo, including PR 1.1 and PR 1.2, one-way only beyond Pedra Rija.
Because the section to Pico Ruivo is one-way, you cannot walk back to your car at Arieiro. You leave via PR 1.2 (2.8 km) to Achada do Teixeira, which is about 37.4 km and 52 minutes by road from Arieiro. That needs a second driver or a pre-booked transfer. For a three-day trip with one car, the €4.50 Pedra Rija return is the practical choice.
In June 2026 IFCN added two entry slots for the Arieiro–Pico Ruivo direction, 07:00–07:30 and 07:30–08:00, with 70 places each, because of sunrise demand. Your ticket shows your entry window.
Then: Balcões
Ribeiro Frio is about 11.5 km (an estimated 15 minutes) below Arieiro. Vereda dos Balcões (PR 11) is 1.5 km each way to a viewpoint over the Faial valley, and needs its own booking.
Weather back-up: rain, strong wind or fog can close trails temporarily. After payment, SIMplifica only allows rescheduling or a refund if the trail is officially closed; changing your mind is not covered. If the summit is in cloud, Eira do Serrado, about 14.9 km and 24 minutes from Funchal, is a lower roadside viewpoint over Curral das Freiras.
Day 3 — A levada day at Rabaçal
The Rabaçal car park is about 42 km from central Funchal, estimated at 47 minutes. Two classified trails start from here:
- Levada das 25 Fontes (PR 6): 4.3 km each way. IFCN runs it one-way: out along the levada, back by an alternative section called the Bypass.
- Levada do Risco (PR 6.1): 3 km each way to the Risco waterfall.
Booking both on the same day costs €9.00, the combined daily rate, which SIMplifica applies automatically at checkout.
On the drive back, Cabo Girão is about 20 minutes from Funchal by road.
Weather back-up: Paul da Serra, above Rabaçal, is often in cloud while the coast is clear. If PR 6 is closed, check the IFCN status table: other Rabaçal trails are listed separately and may still be open.
Before you go
- Book every PR trail on SIMplifica before you drive up. Mountain internet coverage can be limited, and walking a PR without a booking is an infraction. See trail booking and fees.
- Residents of Madeira are exempt from the fee; visitors pay.
- Check status the evening before and in the morning. IFCN and Visit Madeira mark each trail Open, Restricted or Closed.
- Driving times here are routing estimates without traffic. Mountain roads are slow and narrow.
- No car? Read getting around without a car. Choosing dates? See best time to visit.