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Trails & Levadas
Madeira trail fees and bookings in 2026: the complete guide
The rules changed. Here is how the new system works.
Since 1 January 2026, hiking any classified trail (PR) in Madeira requires an online booking on the official SIMplifica portal, with a 30-minute entry window and a fee. This guide walks through exactly how the system works, what it costs, and the rules that catch people off guard.
In short
Since 1 January 2026, hiking any classified trail (PR) in Madeira requires an online booking on the official SIMplifica portal, with a 30-minute entry window, and a fee of €4.50 per person (€3 with an IFCN-protocol operator). Children under 12 and Madeira residents do not pay, but must be included in the booking. There is no cash payment at the trailhead, and rangers do check.
What changed
Madeira went from open-access trails to a full capacity management system in two years. First with fees on selected routes, then, from 2026, with mandatory booking and timed entry across the entire network of Recommended Trails (PR) managed by IFCN, the Institute for Forests and Nature Conservation. The stated goal is to limit crowding on narrow paths and fund trail maintenance. In practice, for the visitor, it means one thing: the hike starts at a screen, not at the trailhead.
How much it costs
| Situation | Fee per trail / day |
|---|---|
| General public | €4.50 |
| With an IFCN-protocol operator | €3 (usually included in the tour price) |
| PR1 Areeiro to Pico Ruivo | €10.50 (separate fee; €7 with protocol operator) |
| Children under 12 | Free, but must be included in the booking |
| Disability ≥ 60% (plus one companion) | Free, with documentation |
| Madeira residents | Exempt |
| 3-day pass | €22.50 (does not include PR1) |
| 7-day pass | €52.50 (does not include PR1) |
A note on passes: they pay off from roughly five trails in three days, and they still require a time-slot booking for each trail. The pass covers the fee, not the reservation.
How to book on SIMplifica, step by step
Six steps from account to confirmation
1. Create an account at simplifica.madeira.gov.pt (required for everyone, including those travelling with exempt children). The portal has an English version.
2. Search for the Percursos Pedestres service (hiking trail access fees).
3. Choose the trail by its PR code (e.g. PR6 for 25 Fontes) and check availability.
4. Select a date and a 30-minute window. Blue means available, red means full. You can only book one slot per day for each trail.
5. Add every participant, including children (under the exempt category).
6. Pay online and save the confirmation on your phone (screenshot or PDF). Rangers may ask for it at the trailhead, especially on the busier routes.
Before you go
Never enter a closed trail. Closures follow rockfalls or weather events, and fines for serious infractions on trails, including entering closed routes, can reach €10,000.
The rules that catch people off guard
You must start within your 30-minute window. Arriving late means hoping there is a slot free in the next window, and rangers can turn you away.
Popular trails sell out. PR1, 25 Fontes (PR6), Ponta de São Lourenço (PR8) and Caldeirão Verde (PR9) fill up first, especially on weekends and in peak season. Book days or weeks ahead.
Hiking without a valid booking means a fine.
The portal slows down at peak times. If SIMplifica is not loading, try late at night or early morning, or let a protocol operator handle the paperwork for you.
What if the trail closes?
If IFCN closes a route (weather, landslide, maintenance), you are entitled to reschedule or request a refund, provided you contact them before the booked date. This is one more reason to check the official trail status on the IFCN and SIMplifica pages the day before your hike. Those are the only sources with the final word on openings and closures.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book on the day?
If slots remain, yes. On popular trails in peak season, do not count on it. For the rest, booking 24 to 48 hours ahead is the comfortable minimum.
Do children pay?
Under 12, no. But they must be included in the booking, for capacity control.
Do trails outside the PR network also require payment?
The rules apply to classified trails managed by IFCN. Always check the official page for each route before assuming it is free.
Is there a way to skip all of this?
Yes: hike with an IFCN-protocol operator. The booking is handled by them, the fee is lower, and it is already included in the price.
Want the day handled for you? Our guided experiences include the booking, the reduced protocol fee, door-to-door transport and a plan B if the weather turns.
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