If you are planning to hike Pico Ruivo, you will likely start right here at the Achada do Teixeira plateau. Sitting at 1,592 metres, this is our main eastern trailhead for the summit. I always tell guests that the drive up from Santana is steep, but it takes you straight out of the coastal weather and into the central mountains. The weather here is famously unpredictable. You might leave Santana in the rain and arrive here to bright sunshine, or vice versa. High winds and sudden fog are common, which is why you should check this camera before heading up. It marks the very end of the drivable road and the beginning of the protected mountain trails.

This is the most direct path to the very top of Madeira. The trail from Achada do Teixeira takes you straight to the Pico Ruivo summit at exactly 1,861 metres. You are looking at a 2.8-kilometre walk each way over uneven, rocky ground. Along the way, you will pass the Homem em Pé rock formation. You will also notice heavy protective mesh along the rock walls to keep the path safe from loose stones.

Right around the 2.4-kilometre mark, you will find the Casa de Abrigo. It is a great spot to catch your breath. The regional government rebuilt it in 2019, and the construction was a major effort. They had to use cargo helicopters for six months just to fly in 800 tons of liquid concrete! If you are wondering about recent maintenance, the main rocky path was officially reopened to the public on September 4th.