Madeira s highest Peaks

Fantastic peak to peak tour

I think it’s safe to say this tour exceeded all our expectations! After realising we weren’t able to get PR1 tickets ourselves as they were sold out we decided to book this tour as it said they sorted the tickets (which they did!) We were picked up in Funchal and driven to the start point. Our guide Thiago was friendly and informative but not overbearing and got the balance spot on! The views were incredible along the way despite it being a bit cloudy at both peaks and we saw so much along the way. Couldn’t have enjoyed it more!

via Tripadvisor

Not worth the money

We booked a hike but it was cancelled due some car problems. They offered us a another hike a couple days later: "split walk" to The Peaks (Pico do Arieiro – Pico Ruivo). Communication was poor. They did not answer to WA messages nor send us the confirmation e-mail as they promiced. So we waited 2 days and were not sure if the hike was really booked for us. The Peaks and the views were great, but the guide did not walk with the group. The only information he gave us was where to start a hike and where is the toilet. So the guide did not bring anything extra to this hike and we could have just done this same hike all by our selves. At Pico do Arieiro few young girls went to the wrong path and rest of the group waited them quite a while in the bus. This would not happened, if the guide would have walked with the group instead of just sitting and waiting for us at the starting point. Thank you for the car driver, he did his job well.

Response from the operator: HI, there must be some mistake as the last message we have is "perfect, thanks" ... We can´t accept responsibility for our guests´ behaviour and Nordic cultures and social behaviour is different from southern european. It is this diversity that makes tourism fantastic and group tours interesting. Unfortunately there were three guests that "wondered off" and the guide had to go and recall them, which unfortunately delayed the whole group. All guides, who walk with the group, naturally like to end the tour with the same number of participants, so leaving guests behind isn´t an option! I hope you will enjoy your next tours and also flow better,

via Tripadvisor

it's a bait and switch. actual hikes are different

The advertised route is closed. Has been closed for months. Will remain closed for months. So upon booking you get the choice between two significantly shorter and less interesting hikes instead.

Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. The PR1 trail between Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo is indeed closed by the local authorities and has been for several months. This closure is clearly beyond the control of any tour operator. According to the latest official information, the reopening is not expected before April 2026. For this reason, we operate alternative high-mountain routes, which are communicated to all guests before the tour takes place, including in the booking confirmation email. Guests are informed in advance of the route change and may decide whether to proceed or not. We regret that the alternative route did not meet your expectations, but we categorically do not operate a “bait and switch” model. We aim to remain fully transparent and compliant with local regulations while continuing to offer safe access to Madeira’s high-altitude landscapes. We appreciate your feedback and will continue to improve how this information is presented to avoid any misunderstanding in the future.

via Viator

Racism and Extremely Disappointing Hiking Tour

I booked a hiking tour to Pico do Arieiro on 25 September, and I have to say it was one of the most disappointing travel experiences I’ve ever had. This was meant to be a highlight of our trip and, being our last day in Madeira, we would have much preferred to spend the time on another activity had we known how unpleasant the experience would be. From the start, the guide was unfriendly and dismissive. When I asked his name at the beginning, he ignored me and jokingly said “Speedy Gonzales.” Throughout the hike he appeared disinterested, rushed us constantly, and made little effort to create a positive or inclusive experience. (He appeared to hate his job) The pace was not adjusted for the group, despite this being advertised as suitable for all fitness levels. Several people struggled to keep up. In fact 7 of the 13 in the group was 2mins late to meet back ant the bottom of the first peak and he left us behind. When we caught up to him he shouted us and complained to the other guests. It was so unpleasant and rushed - and my friend injured her ankle while hurrying down so ended up taking longer because of him rushing us. We had no real chance to enjoy the views or take in the surroundings, which defeats the whole purpose of a hike in such a beautiful location. At the second peak, we were given just 45 minutes for the climb and return, despite the large crowds and narrow paths. When my friend hesitated due to safety, the guide raised his voice and told her we should stay behind because he would leave without us. This was unnecessarily aggressive and made us feel extremely unwelcome. What made the situation worse was the clear difference in how we were treated compared to others. We were the only non-white participants on the bus, and the guide and driver were warm, friendly, and chatty with everyone else, yet consistently rude, dismissive, and unwilling to engage with us. At the end of the tour, they didn’t even offer a basic goodbye – instead, we were hurried out of the vehicle, which left us with the impression of discriminatory behaviour. It is disheartening and frankly unacceptable that, in an industry built on hospitality and cultural exchange, such unprofessional and discriminatory behaviour still occurs. This experience has left us with a very negative impression of your company and of Madeira, which is incredibly sad given how beautiful this island is. I hope you take this feedback seriously, both in addressing the conduct of this particular guide and driver (as he was extremely aggressive with us when we were last left in the vehicle - as they dropped us -3 females - off last) and in reviewing how you ensure respectful, inclusive experiences for all your guests.

Response from the operator: As per e-mail, we are waiting for your reservation confirmation - so we can only conclude you did not book with Nature Meetings! Our guides and drivers are outstanding, and the reviews demonstrate that ... we also expect guests to be outstanding and respectfull of both other guests in the guided walking group tours and out drivers and guides. Respect is a reciprical ...

via Tripadvisor

Read the reviews before booking

Having booked this hike for months, we were rather disappointed to find that the ‘stairway to heaven’ walk was actually closed last year??!!! What were we paying for??? It turns out that a ‘full’ day tour was actually half a day. The bizarre route up the mountain, off scale, was incredibly difficult, so much so that we abandoned the rest of the walk. The guide was not in the least bit interested. Advice to those booking this trip - don’t!!! £75 for a mini bus is extortionate. Find your own way and pay €3 to do the proper walk.

Response from the operator: All reservations for the Peaks are informed of the alternative routes being operated on diferent days, namely: - Picaroto - Pico Ruivo only (T,W,F, Sa) - Stairway - Arieiro - Pedra Rija / Stairway - Poiso (W, Sa) - Split walk (Th, Su) The Peaks is the most challenging walk in Madeira, not because of the distance, but the challenging ascent and descent and guests are expected to be in good fitness to do the walk and/or alternative routes. The tour booked is a group tour - we do also offer private tours ... whict cost 15 - 20x more. We did not receive any reqyest to alter o cancel the reservation, so assumed you accepted the alternative, as almost all guests accept and enjoy. Guest join our walks for various reasons including: for the physical challange, the information shared by the guide, the comfort and safety of walking with a guide, the group experience, the convinience of pickup/transfer and others. We are sorry you did not seem to enjoy the experience and are taking action on how to improve the descriptions whilst the route is closed as well as attention by guides.

via Tripadvisor