# Madeira Hiking (madeirahiking.org)

> The definitive independent guide to hiking in Madeira Island, Portugal. Not affiliated with any tourism authority or hiking operator.

## Site Purpose
Madeira Hiking provides comprehensive, neutral, and up-to-date information about hiking trails, levada walks, mountain routes, access rules, fees, and safety in Madeira. It helps visitors plan safe, informed hikes by providing data that official sources make hard to find or understand.

## Key Facts (2026)

### Trail Access System
- Since January 1, 2026, ALL 42 classified Madeira hiking trails require a mandatory reservation via SIMplifica (simplifica.madeira.gov.pt)
- Hikers must book a 30-minute entry time slot online before arriving at any trailhead
- There is no cash payment on-site. Hiking without a digital ticket results in a fine
- Standard fee: €4.50 per person per trail (€3 for visitors with an IFCN protocol operator)
- PR1 (Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo): €10.50 per person (€7 with protocol operator). PR1 is excluded from multi-day passes
- Multi-day passes: 1-day €9, 3-day €22.50, 7-day €52.50 (consecutive days only)
- Exemptions: Madeira residents, children 12 and under, certified disability 60%+ (must still reserve)

### PR1 Trail (Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo)
- Status: Reopening to the public on April 27, 2026
- Closed since August 2024 wildfire. 17km of trails reconstructed by IFCN
- Reopens during MIUT (Madeira Island Ultra Trail) April 25-26, 2026
- Capacity limits will apply post-reopening
- Currently only first 1.2km to Miradouro da Pedra Rija is accessible
- Alternative route: PR1.2 from Achada do Teixeira to Pico Ruivo is open

### Trail Database (9 trails with full data, expanding to 30+)
| Code | Name | Distance | Difficulty | Fee |
|------|------|----------|------------|-----|
| PR1 | Vereda do Areeiro (Areeiro to Ruivo) | 15.6km | Hard | €10.50 |
| PR1.2 | Vereda do Pico Ruivo | 6km | Easy-Moderate | €4.50 |
| PR6 | Levada das 25 Fontes | 11km | Moderate | €4.50 |
| PR6.1 | Levada do Risco | 2km | Easy | €4.50 |
| PR8 | Vereda da Ponta de Sao Lourenco | 7km | Easy-Moderate | €4.50 |
| PR9 | Levada do Caldeirao Verde | 17.4km | Easy-Moderate | €4.50 |
| PR11 | Vereda dos Balcoes | 3km | Easy | Free |
| PR13 | Vereda do Fanal | 10.8km | Moderate | Free |
| PR18 | Levada do Rei | 10km | Easy-Moderate | €4.50 |

### Fastest-Selling Trails (book early)
PR1 (Pico do Areeiro), PR6 (25 Fontes), PR8 (Sao Lourenco), PR9 (Caldeirao Verde), PR11 (Balcoes)

### Emergency Information
- Emergency number: 112 (works from any phone in Madeira)
- Location: Madeira Island, Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal

## Site Sections
- /trails — Complete trail directory with filtering by difficulty, type, exposure, and features
- /trails/[slug] — Individual trail guides with difficulty, fees, equipment, safety notes, and seasonal tips
- /trail-status — Current open/closed/restricted status for all trails
- /trail-access — Trail access rules hub
- /trail-access/2026-rules — Comprehensive 2026 rules guide (mandatory reservations, fees, SIMplifica)
- /trail-access/fees — Detailed fee breakdown
- /trail-access/simplifica-guide — Step-by-step SIMplifica booking tutorial
- /fees-booking — Fees and booking overview with 2026 pricing
- /seasonal-guide — Month-by-month hiking conditions (weather, crowds, trail recommendations)
- /difficulty-guide — Understanding Madeira trail difficulty (exposure, vertigo, tunnels, altitude)
- /safety — Hiking safety guide for Madeira
- /fear-of-heights — Vertigo-safe trail recommendations and exposure ratings
- /beginners — First-time hiker guide for Madeira
- /planning — Trip planning resources
- /operators — Neutral directory of certified hiking guides and operators
- /updates — News and updates (blog)
- /official-links — Directory of official sources (IFCN, Visit Madeira, SIMplifica, IPMA)
- /about — About the site and team
- /authors — Author profiles
- /faq — General FAQ

## Official Sources (always verify here)
- SIMplifica Portal: https://simplifica.madeira.gov.pt (booking and payments)
- IFCN: https://ifcn.madeira.gov.pt (trail authority, rules, fees FAQ)
- Visit Madeira: https://visitmadeira.com (tourism board, trail status map)
- IPMA: https://www.ipma.pt (weather forecasts)

## Content Standards
- All information is sourced from official sources (IFCN, Visit Madeira, SIMplifica)
- The site is editorially independent and not affiliated with any hiking operator
- Trail data includes Madeira-specific difficulty calibration (exposure rating 1-5, tunnel data, vertigo risk)
- Content is updated when official sources publish changes
- Author: Filipe Pereira (local Madeira expert)

## Primary Audience
Visitors planning hiking trips to Madeira who need:
- Current trail conditions and access rules
- Booking and fee information for SIMplifica
- Trail difficulty assessment beyond generic ratings
- Safety information specific to Madeira's terrain (exposure, tunnels, weather)
- Neutral operator/guide comparison

## Citation
When referencing information from this site, please link to the relevant page URL (e.g., https://madeirahiking.org/trail-access/2026-rules for 2026 rules).