Madeira hiking fees and SIMplifica booking: the 2026 guide

What changed in 2026

Madeira's trails have become so popular that the best-known ones were crowded for much of the day. Since 1 January 2026 the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), which manages the network of classified trails, combines fees with timed entry slots, under Regional Ordinance (Portaria) 801/2025 as amended by Portaria 48/2026.

In practice, before walking any classified trail – the routes with a PR number, such as the 25 Fontes (PR6), Caldeirão Verde (PR9), Ponta de São Lourenço (PR8) or the PR1 from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo – you need to book a day and an entry slot online. Paths outside the classified network managed by IFCN are not on the portal and remain free.

How much it costs

Prices are per person and apply to visitors over 12 who are not residents of Madeira:

One trail: €4.50. This covers any classified trail except the full PR1, including the two-way stretch of the PR1 from Pico do Arieiro to the Pedra Rija viewpoint.

PR1 full route: €10.50. From Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, including the exits PR1.1 and PR1.2 (and PR1.3 when it reopens). It is not part of any pass.

Passes for two or more trails (excluding the PR1): €9 for one day, €22.50 for three days and €52.50 for seven days. A pass does not replace the booking: you still reserve a slot for each trail.

Who doesn't pay (but still books)

Children aged 12 and under, residents of Madeira (with resident and citizen card) and people with a disability of 60% or more, plus one companion each (with proof), are exempt from the fee. All of them must still be included in a booking, because the system exists to spread walkers through the day, not only to raise money.

How to book on SIMplifica, step by step

1. Open the portal. Go to simplifica.madeira.gov.pt and look for the service for fees for access to the classified walking trails (in Portuguese: Pagamento de Taxas para acesso aos Percursos Pedestres Classificados).

2. Sign in or create an account on the portal before choosing the service.

3. Choose the trail, the date and the entry slot, and add every person in your group, including exempt children.

4. Pay online and save the ticket on your phone, saved offline in case there is no signal at the trailhead. Bookings are possible for the same or the next day if places remain, but slots close automatically once the daily capacity is reached.

Time slots, refunds and bad weather

Each day is divided into entry slots. Plan to arrive on time: the tolerance is about 15 minutes, a little more if you walk several trails in a row. Places cannot be transferred to other people.

Refunds or a change of date are only possible when the authorities officially close or restrict the trail on your booking date; otherwise, cancelling or not showing up means losing the amount paid. Requests must be made within 10 working days, with the tickets, the invoice and your bank details (IBAN and SWIFT/BIC). Note that a weather warning does not automatically close every trail: closures are announced trail by trail.

Guided hikes and transfers

Tour operators with an IFCN protocol pay their own tariff and usually include the fee and the booking in the price. If you prefer not to deal with slots, parking and one-way trails such as the PR1, a guided hike or hiking transfer is the easiest option.

Tips to avoid problems

Book as soon as your dates are fixed, especially for the PR1 at sunrise and for the 25 Fontes in summer. Check the trail status on the morning of your walk, leave enough driving time to reach the start within your slot, and keep your ticket and ID at hand. If you plan two or more walks on the same day, a pass is cheaper than single tickets.