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Pico do Areeiro

Breakfast above the clouds

Pico do Areeiro

See the sunrise from the summit of Pico do Areeiro while enjoying a private picnic

At 1,818 m (5,965 feet) tall, Pico do Areeiro is among the highest peaks on the island of Madeira, and its summit is an ideal perch for a private breakfast at sunrise. In the pre-dawn stillness, you’ll watch the sky brighten from pale blue to orange as the sun emerges above a sea of clouds, its golden light reflecting off their cottony tufts. All with a warm drink in hand and a specially prepared picnic spread out before you.

You’ll be picked up by your driver from your hotel early in the morning for the 45-minute journey through Madeira’s winding roads to Pico do Areeiro. Here, your guide will lead the way to a peaceful vantage point above the cloud layer and away from the crowds to enjoy a morning meal with a view. On clear days, you can see all the way across the angular, rocky landscape to the Atlantic Ocean and nearby island of Porto Santo. After you’ve eaten, you can toast the new day with a glass of sparkling wine to a soundtrack of birdsong before being driven back to your hotel.

It can get very chilly before dawn on Pico do Areeiro, so we recommend dressing in layers and bringing a hat, gloves, and windproof jacket. We also advise wearing comfortable shoes on the mountain.

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who's been there
Audley Travel specialist Cara

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Other experiences in Madeira

These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.

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Experience it for yourself

You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tour below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.