The ‘Hawaii of Europe’ with 1,800 miles of hiking trails is charging extra

With its rough mountains, lush slopes and breathtaking natural scenery, Madeira is a mecca for hiking lovers, and its scenic trails are one of the island’s biggest draws. 

But it’s about to get a bit more complicated for tourists planning to explore the Portuguese archipelago. 

Starting January 1, 2025, visitors will need to pay to hike across its popular trails managed by the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (ICNF) in Madeira.

The fee currently applies to the archipelago’s seven most popular trails: Pico do Areeiro, Pico Ruivo, Levada do Risco, Levada do Caldeirão Verde, Balcões, Levada do Rei and Ponta de São Lourenço, but is soon to be expanded across at least 30 routes. 

It will only apply to non-residents over the age of 12 and will cost €3 (£2.50) but those caught without having paid could face fines of up to €50 (£42).

The move is part of a strive towards sustainable tourism and to enhance conservation.

All hiking costs will go towards cleaning and maintaining the trails, according to Rafaela Fernandes, regional secretary of agriculture, fisheries and the environment for Madeira, The Portugal News reports. 

It is hoped that the charges will encourage tourists to hike the lesser-visited trails on the island. 

Hikers can pay via the regional government portal Simplifica, or with on-site payment options available at ICNF stations along the trails. 

The website currently offers 2,000 passes for the seven included trails, though it hasn’t been confirmed if this is a daily cap.

Located off the west coast of Africa, TikToker @thechaosdiaries has compared Madeira to epic bucket list destinations such as Hawaii, Peru, and Croatia, thanks to the rugged cliffs and volcanic scenery, while @destinationinspiration dubbed it the ‘Hawaii of Europe’.

The island is home to nearly 1,800km of hiking trails, and there are countless places to get lost, from the network of trails along the east and west coast to the Central Mountain range. 

On the north coast you’ll find some of the Madiera’s most ‘beautiful levadas – a system of man-made irrigation channels or aqueducts that crisscross the island, visitmadeira.com says. 

While on the south coast hikers can enjoy ‘breathtaking views’ over Funchal, the capital and largest city of the archipelago. 

The Levada Do Caldeirao Verde is the island’s most popular route, according to Tripadvisor. The moderately difficult trail has a distance of 5.4 miles and takes around six and a half hours. 

One review, left by Claudia P, read: ‘You feel like you’re in the wild and the waterfall at the end is nice. We’ve enjoyed every second of this trip.’

Another described it as ‘an experience not to be missed in Madeira’. 

The Levada das 25 Fontes is another popular route with tourists, around 2.6 miles long and an estimated duration of three hours. 

Tripadvisor reviews describe it as a ‘beautiful walk but busy with tourists’ and advise visitors to get there early to avoid the crowds. 

Madeira’s new hiking fee follows a wave of regulations and measures to combat overtourism in Europe including restrictions on where they can and can’t take selfies, tourist tax hikes, fines for hogging sun loungers or hiking in flip flops, and limited access to certain beaches.

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