Madeira News Blog

This excellent report and guide courtesy of Martin L :

Madeira is famous for its many levada walks and for most visitors, a levada walk will be on their schedule. Walking the levadas is a good way of experiencing some of the beautiful open countryside on offer but if you want to experience a more rugged mountain walk then you should try the route from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo.

If you have access to a car then it is easy to get to the start point at Pico do Arieiro. From Funchal you take the road for Monte and continue uphill past Monte watching out for the sign for Pico do Arieiro. It is about a half hour drive from Monte and the sign posting is good (if you pay attention).  Without access to a car you will need a taxi.

If you are going to attempt this walk you need to be reasonably fit. For example it is not suitable for anyone with mobility difficulties, vertigo, or heart /respiratory problems.  The path is well defined and has been brought up to a good standard over the past few years but this can lull you into a false sense of security. You will need good sturdy footwear, a picnic, plenty to drink, sun protection, a waterproof jacket and be prepared for a full day out.

Although you are in the warm climate of Madeira, the weather can be changeable on this mountain range. You can experience restricted visibility due to low cloud, stronger winds, the occasional rain fall and a drop in temperature. Outside the main summer season you also need to remember that it gets dark earlier. The round trip from Arieiro to Ruivo allowing for rest breaks is around 5-7 hours depending on fitness level. You start at Arieiro which is 1817 metres above sea level, cross a plateau,  descend about 300 metres and ascend to Ruivo at 1861 metres. This involves some steep ascents and descents.

On this walk you will see that fences have been constructed at the edges of the path. Do not lean on any of the fences or rely on them for support as they can give way under reasonable pressure. Some parts of the walk traverse sections where you are on a narrow path with a sheer drop of 300 metres or so on one or both sides.

Most mountain accidents are as a result of tripping. Therefore when walking pay attention to your feet. If you want to take in the view stand still and be safe.

Starting  at the café at Pico do Arieiro, follow the obvious path across the plateau. After about 15-20 minutes there is an excellent view point from where you can see Ruivo in the distance.

From here you re join the main path and gradually descend from Arieiro to join Pico dos Torres. The path is sign posted at a junction taking you to the right. If you take the path to the left you follow a vertiginous route over some precarious sections and if you are not an experienced mountain traveller, this could make you nervous. If you are an experienced mountain traveller then you can follow the right hand route going out and on the return journey pick up the start of the alternative route at a tunnel just after you have descended from Ruivo and it will you bring back to this junction.. So, for the moment we go right.

You now follow an easy section which gradually gets steeper as you head up and around Dos Torres and there is a good picnic spot on this path just at the point where it circumnavigates just below the peak of Dos Torres.

From here you might be able to see Pico Do Ruivo ahead of you and it is a well defined path all the way. As you get nearer to Ruivo you will pass Casa de Abrigo do Ruivo (Pico Ruivo’s Hut) which is a large stone house with some outside seating and offers a resting point before the final steep ascent to Ruivo.

The summit of Pico Ruivo used to be a genuine mountain summit, rugged and exposed and you had to do your best to find a seat on the rocks to get your breath back before the return journey. It has now been ruined by the installation of wooden decking, but nevertheless, the views are magnificent.

If you are fit and have time (this adds an extra hour and a half to the total journey time of 5-7 hours) on the way back you can descend to just past Pico Ruivo’s hut and pick up the path for Achada Do Teixeira. This is a well defined route and takes in the extra peak while you are already in the vicinity, but your return journey is the same route back to the main path just below Pico Ruivo’s Hut.

If you choose not to do this follow the main path for your return to Arieiro, but experienced mountain walkers can watch for the right turn into a tunnel as you are descending from Pico Ruivo’s Hut. This is a short but more dangerous way back to Arieiro. The rest of you play safe and return by the well defined path that you took on the outward journey.

Remember, you are in a mountain range so be prepared. Pay attention to your feet, standstill to look at the view, do not lean on the fences, pace yourself, relax and enjoy the fabulous rugged scenery.

Excellent, thanks so much Martin for sharing and the considerable effort put in. Excellent photos too.

(2nd June). ‘Get Marching – The popular saints animate festivals in various parts of Madeira between 12th and 28th June’. The three popular saints are celebrated with “pomp and circumstance” by the various municipalities of the south west coast of Madeira. The popular marches start on the 12th in Santo António, 13th, in Ponta do Sol (both Santo António), and end on the 28th in Câmara de Lobos (São Pedro). Through in between there are Calheta (São João), on the 20th, and Ribeira Brava on the 27th (São Pedro).

Ponta do Sol on 13th, with Santo António with ‘Silver of the house’ (?), that will take the parade through the lower part of the town early evening on the Saturday. At least 10 local groups , schools, and other institutions are expected to take part, with around 500 participants in all.  (UPDATED 13th June – To say locals don’t think that this is the correct date)

A week later, on Saturday 20th, São João festival in Calheta, again expects strong support in the parades, and two celebrity appearances are planned. Each parish of Calheta (8) will be represented in the parade, with at least 600 participants expected.

São Pedro in Ribeira Brava falls on a weekend, so the eve of the official festa day (27th) is expected to be lively with the party going on throughout the weekend. This is the one where many Madeirans are prepared to travel, and many thousands of visitors are expected. The parades will take place on the Saturday night, but details are as yet not released on who will take part, but this year there are no limits imposed on the number of participants.

Rather wisely perhaps, Câmara de Lobos sticks more rigidly to the official day of São Pedro, the 28th being the main highlight.  They are expecting 12 troupes made up of around 700 participants, who will cover the route from Avenida Nova Cidade down to the car park at the front of the bay.

(2nd June). ‘Pools Reopen This Saturday – The beach season begins 21st June in the city of Funchal‘. The swimming pools at Lido, Ponta Gorda and Barreirinha officially open on Saturday, with entrance fees returning to be chargeable. However, the official beach season will not be inaugurated until 21st June in Funchal, as the council says it does not make sense  to do so before with the children still at school and few people on holiday. With maintenance and repair work still to be done at the swimming pools and bathing complexes, the authorities decided to allow bathers to use the facilities free of charge, as long as they were prepared to put up with the noise and dirt, as everything was being prepared. Life-guards and first aiders will not be present on the beaches though until 21st June.

As for other events in Funchal, in the beginning of July there will be a regatta for canoes, and 8th August will see the competition for building sand constructions of the beaches. On 20th August there will be the beauty contest for ‘Miss Praia Formosa’. September will be the month for the annual dog show. Alongside these there will be several initiatives dedicated to the care of the sea, including rubbish disposal and recycling, and health and safety in the bathing complexes.

Eight beaches in Funchal have the ‘Blue Flag’ awards : Seven of these are public beaches (Lido, Ponta Gorda, Barreirinha, Formosa, Areeiro, Poças do Gomes, Doca do Cavacas). The private one is at the Naval Club. The water will continue to be monitored throughout the Summer, and in cases of water pollution the blue flags will be lowered whilst the situation continues.

The inaugural conference of ExpoEnergia, an initiative of Funchal Council (câmara), dedicated to renewable energy begins today in the Largo da Restauração, and runs until Friday. The delegates also include representatives from hotels and civil engineering. Amongst other things, the conference will discuss the use of photovoltaic (solar) panels, the future of electric cars, and good energy practices in hotels.

This is quite interesting and a has a few great photos. The ‘Madeira Island Ultra Trail 2009′ is a ultra long running competition organized by Clube de Montanha of Funchal and Confraria Trotamontes. lt takes place on 5th September 2009 on Madeira, and comprises two challenges. One is to cover around 105 km in a maximum of 25 hours. The second is around 50 km to be done in less than 15 hours. They are not team events. If I am feeling energetic that day, perhaps I will do both. RUNNERS FORUM