Do I really need to book hikes in Madeira now?

Only the classified PR routes (PR1, PR6, PR8, PR9, PR11, PR18 and the rest). Since 1 January 2026 each of those requires a paid, timed reservation through simplifica.madeira.gov.pt — €4.50 per person for most trails, €10.50 for the full PR1 (Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo). Hiking a PR without a valid booking can be fined up to €10,000. Everything else on this page is outside that system and free.

Why is the Simplifica portal so hard to use?

It's a Madeiran government services portal that handles dozens of unrelated things — drivers' licences, tax forms, residency — not a tourism site. Account creation often rejects foreign phone numbers, payment fails on some non-EU cards and slots for the popular trails (PR1, PR6, PR9) sell out days ahead in summer. If you can't book, the trails on this page are a perfectly good plan B.

Are unclassified walks safe?

The walks listed here are well-trodden and on local maps — they're just not part of the IFCN PR scheme. Take the usual care: torch for tunnels, proper shoes for levadas (slippery edges), check the weather, tell someone your route. Avoid walking off-trail in the laurel forest.

Can I still see Pico Ruivo without a ticket?

No — the summit walk (PR1.2 from Achada do Teixeira) is part of the PR1 system and needs a booking. The drive up to Achada do Teixeira itself is free and the views from the car park are excellent if the cloud lifts.

What about residents and children?

Madeira residents and children aged 12 or under are free on the paid PR trails, but still need to register a slot through Simplifica. The walks on this page need no registration at all.

Hiking · No ticket required

Madeira hikes you don't need to book

Since 1 January 2026 every IFCN-classified PR trail in Madeira (PR1, PR6, PR8, PR9, PR11 and the rest) requires a paid, timed-slot booking via simplifica.madeira.gov.pt. Plenty of beautiful walks fall outside that system: unclassified levadas, coastal veredas, forest tracks and miradouro paths. You can do them today, for free, with no reservation.

Trail booking & fees →All Madeira hiking trails →Live trail closures →

Easy·Above Funchal

Levada dos Tornos — Monte to Camacha section

6–10 km (pick your turnaround)

Long, gentle, dappled levada path through eucalyptus and gardens. Tea-house stops along the way. Not a PR route — walk freely.

Moderate·Camacha → Ribeiro Frio

Levada da Serra do Faial

Up to 18 km one-way

One of the longest unclassified levadas on the island. Quiet, forested, almost flat. Do an out-and-back of whatever length you fancy.

Moderate·Porto da Cruz → Machico

Vereda do Larano

11 km point-to-point

Spectacular cliff-edge coastal trail on the north-east. Not an IFCN PR — no ticket. Bus back from Machico.

Easy·Paúl da Serra plateau

Fanal forest wanders

1–4 km loops

Ancient laurisilva and the famous twisted til trees. The picnic-area paths and forest tracks around Fanal are unclassified and free to roam.

Easy·Far west

Ponta do Pargo lighthouse coast

3–6 km

Clifftop pasture walks around Madeira's westernmost point. Big skies, no crowds, no ticket booth.

Easy to Moderate·Above Monte

Funchal Ecological Park trails

2–8 km, many loops

Reforested mountain park with marked paths managed by the city, not IFCN. Free entry, free walking.

Easy·Caniço

Garajau cross & cliff path

1–3 km

Short clifftop stroll to the Cristo Rei statue with huge Atlantic views. No booking, no fee.

Easy (cable car) / Hard (walking up)·Far north-west

Achadas da Cruz — cable car & coastal terraces

1–3 km on the terraces below

Ride down the world's steepest cable car to the abandoned farming terraces and walk the dirt tracks along the sea. Cable car has its own ticket; the walking is free.

Moderate·Ponta do Sol

Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova loop

9 km loop

A classic south-coast levada loop through banana terraces and a small waterfall tunnel. Unclassified.

Easy·Machico → Caniçal

Levada do Caniçal

12 km one-way

Dry, sunny, almost flat levada on the east end — the opposite weather of the north coast. Free walking the whole way.

Easy·Central north

Ribeiro Frio to Balcões viewpoint area

Short forest paths

PR11 (the Balcões levada itself) now needs a ticket. The trout farm, the small forest loops and the road-side viewpoints around Ribeiro Frio do not.

Easy·Above Machico

Pico do Facho viewpoint walk

2 km return

Short paved walk up to one of the best east-coast viewpoints. Drive most of the way, walk the last bit. No fee.

Couldn't book on Simplifica?

You're not alone — the government portal at simplifica.madeira.gov.pt handles everything from drivers' licences to tax filings, and tourists regularly hit dead ends with foreign phone verification, card payments and sold-out slots. The walks above are a perfectly good plan B: no slot, no fee, no portal.

If you do want to try a PR trail, book a few days ahead, use a desktop browser, and have a backup card ready. See our full Madeira trail booking guide.

Common questions

Do I really need to book hikes in Madeira now?: Only the classified PR routes (PR1, PR6, PR8, PR9, PR11, PR18 and the rest). Since 1 January 2026 each of those requires a paid, timed reservation through simplifica.madeira.gov.pt — €4.50 per person for most trails, €10.50 for the full PR1 (Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo). Hiking a PR without a valid booking can be fined up to €10,000. Everything else on this page is outside that system and free.
Why is the Simplifica portal so hard to use?: It's a Madeiran government services portal that handles dozens of unrelated things — drivers' licences, tax forms, residency — not a tourism site. Account creation often rejects foreign phone numbers, payment fails on some non-EU cards and slots for the popular trails (PR1, PR6, PR9) sell out days ahead in summer. If you can't book, the trails on this page are a perfectly good plan B.
Are unclassified walks safe?: The walks listed here are well-trodden and on local maps — they're just not part of the IFCN PR scheme. Take the usual care: torch for tunnels, proper shoes for levadas (slippery edges), check the weather, tell someone your route. Avoid walking off-trail in the laurel forest.
Can I still see Pico Ruivo without a ticket?: No — the summit walk (PR1.2 from Achada do Teixeira) is part of the PR1 system and needs a booking. The drive up to Achada do Teixeira itself is free and the views from the car park are excellent if the cloud lifts.
What about residents and children?: Madeira residents and children aged 12 or under are free on the paid PR trails, but still need to register a slot through Simplifica. The walks on this page need no registration at all.

Last updated 2026-06-18.