You don't need the full PR1 to stand above the clouds: the first 1.2 km to the Miradouro da Pedra Rija has its own €4.50 ticket — and it's two-way.
Yes. SIMplifica sells a separate ticket for the first stretch of PR1: Pico do Areeiro to the Miradouro da Pedra Rija at km 1.2, and back the same way, for €4.50 (€3 through a licensed operator). Under-12s, Madeira residents and people with a 60%+ disability are exempt, but must still be on the booking. It is the only part of PR1 you may walk in both directions.
Official IFCN list: CLOSEDHow to book it, step by step: SIMplifica booking guide.
1.2 km each way on the stepped crest path from the Areeiro summit — about 2.4 km in total. You walk the open ridge with the central peaks on both sides and turn around at the Pedra Rija viewpoint. It is high mountain at around 1,800 m: cold wind, sudden cloud and strong sun at any time of year, so bring a warm layer whatever the forecast in Funchal says.
Is the summit clear right now? Pico do Areeiro now: webcams and weather.
No. The €4.50 ticket ends at the Pedra Rija viewpoint, and SIMplifica's FAQ is explicit: there is no upgrade on the trail and no refund. To walk the full PR1 to Pico Ruivo you need the €10.50 full-route ticket, and the full route must be started at Pico do Areeiro. The two products sit side by side on SIMplifica, and buying the wrong one is the most common PR1 booking mistake.
Because the one-way rule begins at Pedra Rija. From there to Pico Ruivo the trail runs one way only, and walkers finish at Achada do Teixeira, far from Areeiro. The first stretch is kept two-way precisely so the short ticket works: you return to your car, taxi or bus at the summit. When IFCN closed the Pedra Rija → Pico Ruivo section for works in September 2026, this stretch stayed open both ways.
The full one-way story: is PR1 one-way?.
Please don't drive up: parking at the summit is very limited (€4 an hour in the upper car park, and it fills early), and circling for a space can eat your morning. A taxi from Funchal costs around €80 for the whole round trip with the driver waiting while you walk — the price is indicative, so agree it or call for a quote before you get in.
The cheap way is Horários do Funchal's "Pico do Areeiro" bus: every day except 25 December, €3 a trip, paid on board (31 seats; seat reservation by phone, +351 291 705 555, from 7 to 2 working days ahead). Morning run: up at 06:00 from the Teleférico terminus, at the summit 06:45 — before sunrise all year; back down at 12:15. Afternoon run, the natural fit for this walk: up at 13:30, at the summit 14:15; last bus down at 18:00. If you miss the last bus there is no other — only a taxi called to the summit. On a tight day, take the taxi.
On a tight budget? Go up on the bus and book a taxi to pick you up: €35–40 to come down to Funchal (indicative). The maths for two people:
| For two people | Bus up + taxi down | Taxi round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Trail tickets (2 × €4.50) | €9 | €9 |
| Bus up (2 × €3) | €6 | — |
| Taxi | €35–40 (the car, one way) | ~€80 (waiting included) |
| Total for two | €50–55 (≈€25–28 each) | ~€89 (≈€45 each) |
Parking rates and the morning rush: Pico do Areeiro parking. All summit transport: getting to Areeiro.
About €24.50 each, door to door. A taxi costs the same with one person or four, so the biggest saving on this trip is simply filling the cab: pair up with another couple — your table neighbours from the ship, people at your hotel — and the ~€80 round trip becomes about €20 each, plus the €4.50 ticket. For cruise passengers this is the realistic way to touch PR1 and be back aboard within half a day, on your own schedule, with no last-bus anxiety.
| For four people | Per person |
|---|---|
| Taxi round trip, waiting included (~€80 ÷ 4) | ~€20 |
| Trail ticket | €4.50 |
| Total | ~€24.50 |
Only a day on the island? one day in Madeira · from the cruise port.
SIMplifica · IFCN FAQ 5.7–5.8 · IFCN avisos · Portaria 801/2025 · Portaria 48/2026 · Horários do Funchal