Which private Pico do Arieiro tour from Funchal should you choose?
Updated October 11, 2026 · 5 min read
For most couples: book Private Stargazing at Pico do Arieiro with Dinner. It costs €70 per person, lasts 4h 30m and is the only option here with a rating: 4.9 from 20 reviews. For up to six people wanting a compact island circuit: the private 4x4 tour to Monte and Pico do Arieiro is €240 per group. For a full mountain day: the private Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo tour is seven hours and €340 per group.
Three private tours compared
| Tour | Duration | From | Rating | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Stargazing at Pico do Arieiro with Dinner | 4h 30m | €70 per person | 4.9 (20) | Couples wanting an evening experience |
| Private 4x4 Monte and Pico do Arieiro tour | 4 hours | €240 per group up to 6 | No reviews | Families or groups wanting several stops |
| Private Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo tour | 7 hours | €340 per group up to 6 | No reviews | Groups prioritising the two peaks |
Dinner and stars: the strongest evidence
This is an evening rather than a conventional sightseeing circuit. The description combines sunset, dinner, stargazing, night photography, poncha and extras after the summit. That sequence makes the €70 price easier to read: it pays for a meal and an organised night, not simply a lift to a viewpoint. With 20 reviews it is still a small sample, but it is the only sample among these three. It is less suitable if you want daylight landscapes or do not want dinner bundled into the plan.
See prices and dates for the private stargazing dinner
The private 4x4: four stops in four hours
The €240 vehicle takes a group of up to six to Pico do Arieiro, Monte’s wicker sledges, Curral das Freiras and viewpoints over Funchal. At full capacity that is €40 per person, although any toboggan ride or other admission should be checked separately on the booking page. The attraction is variety and door-closing privacy, not depth: fitting mountain, Monte and Nun’s Valley into four hours means short stops. With no reviews, confirm pickup and the exact itinerary before committing.
Check availability for the private 4x4 circuit
The two-peak tour: spend the day in the mountains
The seven-hour private trip names both Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo, a local guide, viewpoints and a flexible itinerary. That makes it the clearest choice for a group whose reason for booking is the high mountains. At €340 for up to six, the per-person cost falls to €56.67 with a full group of six, but the listing has no reviews. Do not infer a particular hike, trail opening or ticket from the title; ask the operator what route is planned for your date and group.
View the private two-peak tour
Which premium is worth paying?
For two people, the stargazing dinner totals €140 and is the least expensive private experience here. The 4x4 becomes competitive for a larger family because the price is per vehicle, while the €340 tour buys three extra hours and a mountain-first itinerary. None is a sensible upgrade if you merely want a quick summit photograph; a shared transfer does that for less.
None of the three descriptions names a minimum age. Check the chosen page for children, and ask about the walking involved rather than assuming “private” means easy. Weather can change a mountain plan, so treat flexibility as useful, not as a promise of a clear summit.
Our recommendation
Choose Private Stargazing at Pico do Arieiro with Dinner for the most distinctive private outing and the only reviewed option. A group of five or six should choose the 4x4 for variety or the two-peak day for mountain time; the latter’s extra €100 is worthwhile only when those extra three hours are the point.
