Day 5: Hike Curral das Freiras → Pico do Arieiro | Transfer to Funchal

We start in Curral das Freiras (Nun’s Valley)—a dramatic bowl of mountains—and climb into the high peaks, finishing at Pico do Arieiro. This is the “iconic mountain day”: big effort, big reward. After the hike, we transfer to Funchal for the night to recover comfortably. (L)

What to expect on trail:
- A demanding climb day (steady rhythm, lots of small breaks)
- Cooler temps and wind near the top even if it’s warm below
- High-mountain terrain that feels wildly different from the coast
- Approximate distance: 14.5 miles