Dozens of tourists voiced frustration on Sunday morning after the gate at Pedra Rija, on the walk connecting Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo, stayed closed beyond 8:20 am. Many hikers had arrived early to watch the sunrise, which took place shortly after 7 am, before beginning their trek. The delay was especially upsetting for visitors whose tickets showed an entry period from 8:00 am to 8:30 am, and some said the lack of punctuality showed little respect for those who had paid the required €10.50 fee and followed the rules. Similar delays have happened before and have even prompted some frustrated tourists to climb over the gate. In this latest case, the situation created confusion because visitors with later tickets for 08:30 – 09:00 were allowed onto the trail section beyond Pedra Rija before those with earlier reservations. The section between Pedra Rija and Pico Ruivo reopened on the 25th of April with restrictions, nearly two years after the fire of August 2024 caused major damage, and the full trail is currently open only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. In response, the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN) said the official entry point for authorised routes is Pico do Areeiro, where access opens at 8:00 am, and explained that the Pedra Rija gate is only a temporary management and security measure. The IFCN also confirmed that the Pico do Areeiro – Pico Ruivo route will fully reopen from the 26th of June, when the current restrictions linked to ongoing works will end and normal circulation will resume.
