OFFICIAL WARNINGS IGNORED: Madeira’s Closed Trails Flooded by Tourists as Police Move In

MADEIRA (November 13, 2025) – In a shocking display of disregard for safety, hordes of tourists are ignoring official warnings and flocking to Madeira’s mountains, packing closed trails despite clear directives from the Regional Civil Protection Service.

Despite all recommended routes being officially closed due to hazardous conditions, popular high-altitude areas are reportedly “infested” with tourist vehicles, particularly private cars.

Key hotspots include:

• The Rabaçal levada areas
• Achada do Teixeira (the main access to Pico Ruivo)
• Pico do Arieiro

Surveillance images confirm that these parking areas are full, with visitors proceeding to hike in defiance of the closures.

It remains unclear whether the tourists are simply uninformed or are willfully ignoring the danger, possibly to stick to a “tight schedule” of planned hikes.

Total Information Blackout

Compounding the crisis, the official IFCN (Institute of Forests and Conservation of Nature) website has been down all morning.

Tourists attempting to find reliable, up-to-date information on trail status are met with error messages. Furthermore, the institute’s official Facebook page has not been updated with any closure warnings, with its last post hours ago being about flowers.

Breaking: Police Dispatched to Mountains

In a major development, sources indicate that authorities are losing patience. In response to the widespread and reckless behavior, police are reportedly on the way to the restricted areas to intervene.

This crackdown aims to stop tourists who are ignoring safety barriers and closures. This behavior not only puts their own lives at risk but also endangers Madeira’s rescue teams, who may be forced to intervene in avoidable situations. Visitors are strongly urged to cancel all hiking plans and respect the official closures immediately.