Madeira PR trails — you now have to book
Every classified Pequena Rota (PR) trail in Madeira now requires a paid, timed-slot reservation through the official SIMplifica portal. Here's everything you need to know before you head up Pico do Areeiro, into 25 Fontes or along Caldeirão Verde.
Book on SIMplifica (official) →From 1 January 2026 every IFCN-classified Pequena Rota (PR) trail in Madeira — including PR1 Areeiro–Ruivo, PR6 25 Fontes, PR9 Caldeirão Verde, PR8 São Lourenço and PR11 Balcões — requires a mandatory pre-booking with a 30-minute entry slot via simplifica.madeira.gov.pt. Non-residents pay €4.50 per trail (€10.50 for the full PR1). Bookings are non-refundable unless IFCN closes the trail, and hiking without a valid reservation can be fined up to €10,000. Residents and under-12s are free but still register.
Trails that need a booking
IFCN-managed classified PR trails listed on SIMplifica. The portal applies the cheapest applicable rate at checkout — you don't need to pick the multi-day bundle yourself.
| Code | Trail | Price (non-resident) |
|---|---|---|
| PR 1 | Vereda do Areeiro — Pico do Areeiro ↔ Pedra Rija (partial, bidirectional) | €4.50 |
| PR 1 | Vereda do Areeiro — full Pico do Areeiro → Pico Ruivo (incl. PR 1.1 + PR 1.2) Fully reopens 1 May 2026; until 26 Jun 2026 only Fri/Sat/Sun (maintenance). | €10.50 |
| PR 1.1 | Vereda da Ilha | Included in full PR 1 ticket |
| PR 1.2 | Vereda do Pico Ruivo | Included in full PR 1 ticket |
| PR 1.3 | Vereda da Encumeada Currently CLOSED, no reopening date. | — |
| PR 3 | Vereda da Encumeada Currently CLOSED, no reopening date. | — |
| PR 6 | Levada das 25 Fontes | €4.50 |
| PR 6.1 | Levada do Risco | €4.50 |
| PR 8 | Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço | €4.50 |
| PR 9 | Levada do Caldeirão Verde | €4.50 |
| PR 11 | Levada dos Balcões | €4.50 |
| PR 18 | Levada do Rei | €4.50 |
Fees in full
- Single PR trail (non-PR1)
- €4.50 / person
- PR 1 — partial (Areeiro ↔ Pedra Rija)
- €4.50 / person
- PR 1 — full (Areeiro → Pico Ruivo)
- €10.50 / person
- 1-day combined (2+ trails, excl. PR1)
- €9.00 / person
- 3-day combined (2+ trails)
- €22.50 / person
- 7-day combined (2+ trails)
- €52.50 / person
- Madeira residents
- Free — registration still required
- Children aged 12 or under
- Free — registration still required
- Disabled visitors (≥60%) + 1 guardian
- Free — proof required
- Guided groups (operator with IFCN protocol)
- €3.00 standard · €7.00 full PR1
How the booking works
- 1. Go to simplifica.madeira.gov.pt/services/78-82-259 and create an account.
- 2. Pick the trail, your date and a 30-minute entry slot. Capacity is capped per slot.
- 3. Add every walker (name + age). Children ≤12 and residents are free but must still be added.
- 4. Pay by card. You'll get an email with the ticket and invoice — keep both on your phone for the ranger check at the trailhead.
- 5. Arrive within ~15 minutes of your slot. Late arrivals can be turned back and the fee is forfeit.
SIMplifica platform support (technical issues only): freephone +351 800 29 90 90 · WhatsApp +351 926 155 465 · 800299090@madeira.gov.pt (Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00).
FAQ — Madeira PR trails booking
- Where do I book?
- Only online at the official SIMplifica portal: simplifica.madeira.gov.pt/services/78-82-259. There is no walk-up booking at IFCN offices, no phone booking and no third-party platform. Create an account, pick the trail, the date and a 30-minute entry slot, add participants and pay by card.
- When did this start and is it really enforced?
- A paid access fee was introduced on 1 January 2025. Mandatory timed-slot reservations followed on 1 January 2026 under Portaria 801/2025 (amended by Portaria 48/2026). The system is live and enforced by IFCN rangers — hiking without a valid reservation can be fined up to €10,000.
- How far in advance should I book?
- Same-day booking is allowed if slots remain, but in summer (Jul–Aug) and at Easter the popular trails — especially PR1, PR6 and PR9 — sell out two to three weeks ahead. Book as soon as your hike date is fixed.
- Can I cancel or get a refund if the weather is bad?
- No. Refunds are only issued when IFCN officially closes or restricts the trail. Bad weather, illness, missed transport or simply changing your mind do not qualify. Reschedule requests must go to helpdesk.ifcn@madeira.gov.pt within 10 working days and are normally limited to the same trail.
- Do I still need to book if I'm with a guide?
- Yes. Guided groups are not exempt — the operator books on your behalf. Operators with a formal IFCN protocol use a separate system at €3 / person (€7 for full PR1). Operators without a protocol pay the same public rate (€4.50 / €10.50) as individual hikers. Guides themselves do not pay.
- Which trails are still free, with no booking?
- Non-classified paths, levadas outside the PR system, and classified trails managed by individual municipalities (not by IFCN) are not in the SIMplifica system and remain free. IFCN cannot officially recommend non-classified routes; check with the local câmara municipal before walking them.
- What about the early entry tolerance — what if I'm late?
- Roughly 15 minutes early or late on your slot is tolerated at the trailhead; hikers booked on consecutive trails get a slightly wider window. Arrive any later and a ranger may turn you back, and you forfeit the fee.
- Are Porto Santo trails included?
- Madeira regional trails (mainland island) are the system's primary scope. A small number of Porto Santo PRs may be added — check the SIMplifica trail list at the time of booking.
Sources & official links
- SIMplifica — official booking portal
- IFCN — list of classified PR trails
- Visit Madeira — official tourism board
- Portaria nº 801/2025 of 10 December 2025 (fees) · Portaria nº 48/2026 of 13 February 2026 (amendment)
Last reviewed 2026-06-11. Rules and prices change — always cross-check on the SIMplifica portal before booking.