Those who spontaneously lace up their hiking boots might face an unpleasant surprise on the island of Madeira, renowned as a hiking paradise. Since the beginning of the year, new regulations have come into effect on this Portuguese Atlantic island for many popular trails: hikers are now required to reserve a fixed time slot in advance and pay a fee.
According to the island‘s tourism organization, „Visit Madeira,“ these reservations will be checked on site along the trails.
Other islands are following suit: in the national park on Tenerife, for example, visitors can no longer simply hike the volcano Teide without restrictions. A fee is now charged on certain paths there as well.
Anyone using the designated trails on Madeira without having paid the fee, or who fails to show proof of payment - either digitally on their smartphone or as a printed receipt - commits an administrative offense. Penalties range from 50 to 250 euros.
Booking the time slots and paying the fee for the hiking trails is managed through the platform „simplifica.madeira.gov.pt.“
What it costs – and who hikes for free
The fee is 3 euros or 4.50 euros per person and hiking trail, depending on whether you hike with a certified guide or go it alone. The more expensive is the Vereda do Areeiro high-altitude trail along Madeira‘s highest peaks - at least once the path is fully accessible again, which is planned for April 2026: then it will cost 7 or 10.50 euros per person. Children hike for free, but time slots must still be booked for them. There are multi-day and combination tickets available for various routes.
With the new reservation system, the responsible Forestry and Nature Conservation Institute „IFCN“ aims to better manage visitor flows on the trails, increase safety, and protect nature, it says. According to Visit Madeira, the proceeds are intended to be invested in environmental and conservation measures, including the maintenance of the hiking paths.
Madeira is located about 700 kilometers off the west African coast in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly two hours by plane from Lisbon and four hours from Germany. Known as the „Flower Island,“ this destination offers mild temperatures year-round and primarily attracts active holidaymakers.