Changes to Pico do Areeiro Shuttle

23rd October: The majority of the PR1 trail at Pico do Areeiro remains closed.

Horários do Funchal has announced two changes to the operation of its twice-daily shuttle service between Funchal and Pico do Areeiro which will come into effect on Sunday, 27th October.

The departure point for the shuttle will change from Praça da Autonomia to the Cable Car Terminal bus station (4A), hopefully making it easier to find.

Owing to the shortening days, the last departure from Pico do Areeiro, which is currently at 19:00 will leave an hour earlier, at 18:00. This winter timetable will run until 29th March 2025 (inclusive). The summer timetable will resume on 30th March.

Summer departures from Funchal are presently timetabled as follows:

06:00 | 13:30 – Praça da Autonomia - stop Rua 31 Janeiro S (9);
06:02 | 13:32 – Jardim Santa Luzia;
06:10 | 13:40 – Monte - Largo da Fonte;
06:11 | 13:41 – Entrada Corujeira de Dentro;
06:15 | 13:45 – Terreiro da Luta;
06:23 | 13:53 – Portão Norte da Herdade do Chão da Lagoa;
06:27 | 13:57 – Poiso;
06:35 | 14:05 – Caminho Florestal das Serras de Santo António;
06:40 | 14:10 – Car park, Pico do Areeiro;
06:45 | 14:15 – Pico do Areeiro - roundabout by Radar.

The reverse journeys are:

12:15 | 19:00 – Pico do Areeiro - roundabout by Radar;
12:20 | 19:05 – Car park, Pico do Areeiro;
12:25 | 19:10 – Caminho Florestal das Serras de Santo António;
12:33 | 19:18 – Poiso;
12:37 | 19:22 – Portão Norte da Herdade do Chão da Lagoa;
12:45 | 19:30 – Terreiro da Luta;
12:49 | 19:34 – Entrada Corujeira de Dentro;
12:50 | 19:35 – Monte - Largo da Fonte;
12:58 | 19:43 – Car park, Santa Luzia;
13:00 | 19:45 – Praça da Autonomia - stop Rua 31 Janeiro S (9).

The outward winter timetable merely changes the departure point:

06:00 | 13:30 – Cable Car Terminal (4A);
06:02 | 13:32 – Jardim Santa Luzia;
06:10 | 13:40 – Monte - Largo da Fonte;
06:11 | 13:41 – Entrada Corujeira de Dentro;
06:15 | 13:45 – Terreiro da Luta;
06:23 | 13:53 – Portão Norte da Herdade do Chão da Lagoa;
06:27 | 13:57 – Poiso;
06:35 | 14:05 – Caminho Florestal das Serras de Santo António;
06:40 | 14:10 – Car park, Pico do Areeiro;
06:45 | 14:15 – Pico do Areeiro - roundabout by Radar.

The last winter return journey is an hour earlier, returning to the Cable Car Terminal: 

12:15 | 18:00 – Pico do Areeiro - roundabout by Radar;
12:20 | 18:05 – Car park, Pico do Areeiro;
12:25 | 18:10 – Caminho Florestal das Serras de Santo António;
12:33 | 18:18 – Poiso;
12:37 | 18:22 – Portão Norte da Herdade do Chão da Lagoa;
12:45 | 18:30 – Terreiro da Luta;
12:49 | 18:34 – Entrada Corujeira de Dentro;
12:50 | 18:35 – Monte - Largo da Fonte;
12:58 | 18:43 – Car park, Santa Luzia;
13:00 | 18:45 – Cable Car Terminal (4A).

 Each journey costs 3 euros and tickets must be bought on board - no other tickets or passes are valid. Reservations can be made between 2 and 7 days in advance by telephoning 291 705 555 between 08:30 and 12:30 and between 14:30 and 18:00 (17:00 on Saturday) from Monday to Saturday. Reservations can only be made for journeys starting at the Cable Car Terminal or Pico do Areeiro and passengers with reservations must present themselves 15 minutes before the time of departure or risk losing their seat - only 31 will be available on each journey and no standing will be permitted.

The shuttle service between  Caminho Florestal das Serras de Santo António and Pico do Areeiro will operate every 15 minutes (subject to a minimum of 4 passengers) during the hours of 06:40 to 12:15 and 14:10 to 19:00 (18:00 in winter). Standing will be permitted on this service.

An information poster is available here.