Mandatory Registration, No Refunds, and New “Entry Taxes” Hit Madeira’s Trails.

The days of simply parking your car and walking into nature are officially over. In a drastic move to control tourism, the Regional Government has imposed strict new regulations that will fundamentally change how you visit Madeira.

Strict 30-Minute “Entry Windows” Forget about going at your own pace. The government is now enforcing a rigid “slot system.” Access to trails is being sliced into 30-minute windows from sunrise to sunset. If you miss your slot, you might miss your hike.

Pay Up or Stay Out The costs are rising, and they are rising fast. The new standard fee for the general public is now set at €4.50 per person, payable immediately upon booking. There are no refunds and no rescheduling allowed unless the government itself decides to close the trail.

The PR1 Nightmare: Closed Until 2026! If you were planning to hike the famous Pico do Areeiro (PR1) anytime soon, cancel your plans. The trail will remain completely closed until April 2026. And the shock doesn’t end there—when it finally reopens, the price for independent hikers will skyrocket to a staggering €10.50 per person.

Mandatory Tracking for Everyone Even if you are a resident, you are not exempt from the red tape. While locals don’t pay the fee, they must still register and book a specific time slot in the central system. No one enters without being tracked in the database.

It is a new era for Madeira tourism, where every step is monitored, scheduled, and monetized.