Madeira is set to introduce fees to more of its hiking trails in 2025 to help with conservation efforts and promote sustainable tourism . The Portuguese island is a popular destination for hiking enthusiasts, with plenty of mountains, viewpoints, waterfalls and green forests to traverse along the archipelago. Popular trails on the island range from 3km to a 17.
4km. Hikers can reach various altitudes by climbing through leafy forests and up to panoramic views of the coast. In October 2023, a €3 access fee was put in place for some of Maderia’s most sought-after trails, such as the 6km Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço, 5.
6 km Vereda do Pico Ruivo and the 10.6 km Levada do Rei. Children up to 12 years old and residents of the area can still hike the trails for free.
The trails are looked after by the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation, which uses fees to uphold public services in the areas. Over a year after their introduction, Madeira is reported to have plans to extend this fee to at least 30 of its other hiking routes by January 2025. Hikers will be able to pay for their walks through the regional government portal Simplifica or through on-site payment options.
Those who do not pay for access to the trails could be hit with a €50 fine. The move to expand the fees is part of efforts to encourage sustainable tourism, with all proceeds going towards conservation efforts and maintenance of the trails. Madeira’s Regional Secretary of Agriculture, Fisheries and.