When doing this walk, which has the particularity of linking two of the highest mountains of Madeira (Pico do Areeiro - 1817 m and Pico Ruivo - 1861 m), you have the possibility of enjoying a great variety of shapes and colours.

Moss and Ferns, Rosetas, Piorno Flowers and white Mandon's Chrysanthemum : these are some of the species that you can find here. If you decide to do this walk, be sure you will never find a shape, a landscape or a path similar to the one you have just passed by. Say good-bye to the borrowing monotonous landscapes!

A few meters after the Pousada do Pico do Areeiro, you will find the balcony of Ninho da Manta (the buzzard's nest) from where there is a magnificent view down into the Ribeira da Fajã da Nogueira Valley and the framework of water-brooks and rivers that hold the Ribeira da Metade and the Cordilheira Montanhosa Central. In the Fajã da Nogueira valley some species make their nests, like the Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus puffinus) and the Zinos Petrel (Pterodroma Madeira) which is an endemic specie in danger of extinction.

To reach Pico Ruivo, the highest mountain of the island, it is necessary, at Pico das Torres, to start a crumpled ascent through hundreds of steps excavated in the rock. Some time afterwards this great effort, you will envisage a demanding descent , so, prepare your muscles! Having accomplished this descent it urges to go forward, this time, onto the final ascent until the Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo (Pico Ruivo's hut). For many people this is the most difficult part of this track. So, rest a bit under the trees and have no rush to get to the top of the mountain, as until you reach there, you can enjoy the surrounding landscape.

This is an ideal path for the lovers of flora and fauna. Endemic species such as Madeira Violet (Viola paradoxa), Madeira Grey Heather (Erica madeirensis), Klippen-Knabenkraut (Orchis scopulorum) and the Antilídea (Anthyllis lemanniana). If you enjoy observing the birds, you can find here species restricted to the Macaronesia such as the Canary (Serinus canaria canaria), the Berthelots Pipit (Anthus Berthelotii Madeirense) and the Pallid Swift (Apus Unicolor). Here, we can also view some restrict sub-species of the Archipelago of Madeira and you may also listen to a bird concert with the Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia madeirensis), the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs madeirensis) and the Madeira Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus madeirensis).

Near Pico Ruivo shelter there is a path that leads to the Achada do Teixeira and here you can visit the "Homem em Pé", that is, a basaltic rock formation similar to a man standing up.

Bibliography

Quintal, Raimundo (2004). Levadas e Veredas da Madeira. Funchal: Francisco Ribeiro & Filhos, Lda.