Transport
The sunrise itself was beautiful. The driver was 30 mins late picking us up which was fine as he still got us there 30 mins before sunrise. It was blowing a hooley up there so an extra 30 mins would have been very uncomfortable. My issue is that there was no communication. He didn’t ring us and there was no one for us to ring as the offices didn’t open til 8. The driver was very apologetic. He was also very friendly.
Watching the sunrise from the top of one of Madeira's highest peaks will have you reaching for your camera over and over again. And this exclusive morning trip to Pico do Arieiro promises just that – views over Madeira during the mystical first light of the day, followed by a warming breakfast. Arlindo, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘You may wonder why we plan to drive to the peak a while before the sun is due to rise. You'll see when you get there that the best colours light up the sky during the half-hour before the sun appears.'
You'll want to pack warm layers, a hat, gloves and scarf for this morning tour, as the temperature can often be up to 10 degrees lower at the top of Pico do Arieiro than at the coast. We'll set off early, with a pre-dawn pick-up from your hotel – this is to ensure you can reach the top in time to find a good viewpoint for the chance to watch the sun bathe the island of Madeira in golden light. Often, clouds sit below the Pico do Arieiro, making the sunrise views even more magical.
Coffee will be served as you're taking it all in and enjoying the moment in the midst of mountains and clouds. Afterwards, you'll head along to a restaurant for a tasty breakfast. Arlindo adds, ‘It can get very cold on the Pico do Arieiro, sometimes it even snows there. My parents used to drive us up here if there was snow at the peak. The local tradition was to build a snowman on the bonnet of the car before driving back down again.'
