Madeira trail fees go up from 1 April 2027: what changes for families
From €7.50 to €18 per trail for non-residents over 12, and €75 for the Madeira crossing. Children aged 12 and under and Madeira residents stay exempt.
The Regional Government of Madeira has updated the access fees for the island's classified walking trails. The new amounts apply from 1 April 2027, 150 days after the joint ordinance is published, so that visitors and tour operators can plan the spring and summer season.
Who pays and who doesn't
- Children aged 12 and under do not pay, whether or not they live in Madeira.
- Madeira residents remain exempt.
- Non-resident visitors over 12 pay per person, per trail.
Today the general fee is €4.50 per person, according to Visit Madeira. Booking and payment are done online on the SIMplifica platform (simplifica.madeira.gov.pt), and the signs at the start of the trails show the QR code.
New fees per person (non-residents over 12)
| Trail | Fee |
|---|---|
| All classified trails without a specific fee | €7.50 |
| Vereda do Areeiro up to the Pedra Rija viewpoint | €7.50 |
| Pico Ruivo, Ponta de São Lourenço (PR8), Caldeirão Verde, Balcões | €15 |
| Vereda do Areeiro (Pico Ruivo and Encumeada routes), Fanal circuit | €18 |
| Rabaçal network: one fee covers 25 Fontes, Risco, Alecrim, Lagoa do Vento and the other Rabaçal routes | €18 |
| Travessia da Madeira (long-distance route) | €75 |
There will also be passes for several trails: €20 for one day, €45 for three consecutive days and €105 for seven days.
What it means for a family
For a family with two adults and two children under 13 visiting Ponta de São Lourenço, only the adults pay: €30 from April 2027, compared with €9 at the current general fee. With a 13-year-old, that becomes €45. If you are planning several walks on the same day, the €20 day pass per person may work out cheaper.
For the 25 Fontes and Risco levadas, the most popular walks with children, a single €18 fee covers the whole Rabaçal network, so you can do both routes on the same visit.
Where the money goes
According to the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), the revenue goes to trail cleaning, repairs, safety and waste management. Over the next 365 days the government plans to invest €2.8 million: half in new trails, such as the Fanal circuit and the Achada do Teixeira to Queimadas route, and half in improving existing ones, including about €487,000 for Ponta de São Lourenço. It is also recruiting 40 forest police officers and forest firefighters.
Diving fees also change: €12.50 per person per day for a sunken-wreck site or a marine protected area.
Our tips
- Visiting before 1 April 2027? You still pay the current fee.
- Always book on SIMplifica before you leave: the platform shows the time slots and the trails that are closed.
- Bring proof of age for children aged 12 and under, and proof of residence if you live in Madeira.
- Check the weather and the IPMA warnings on our weather page before any walk.
Sources: RTP Madeira and Funchal Notícias, 10 November 2026; current fee: Visit Madeira. Amounts may change once the ordinance is published.