Trail Fee Brought in Hundreds of Thousands in From October to December 2024
Between October and December 2024, the Madeira Forestry and Nature Conservation Institute (IFCN) collected €351,000 by charging a €3 fee for walking on specific hiking trails. This fee applied to certain trails that the government officially recommends to tourists. The money collected supports maintenance, waste management, and environmental protection along these popular routes.
All 38 PRs Now Require Payment, The Revenue Will Make Millions in 2025
The fee was first introduced on seven selected trails, but since January 1, 2025, it has been extended to all thirty-eight recommended routes in the Madeira archipelago. With these numbers in mind, it is safe to say that Madeira will earn millions in 2025, only by charging hikers. Only visitors over the age of 12 have to pay; residents of Madeira do not. People can pay the fee online using the regional government's 'Simplifica' platform or in person at official IFCN points.
Safety Incidents Draw Attention to Trail Risks
In 2024, IFCN reported 24 accidents on these classified trails. These included one death and 23 people who were injured. In the first three months of 2025 alone, four more accidents happened. One of them led to the death of a young tourist from Germany. Officials say he has left the marked path to take photos and fell more than 200 meters off a cliff in the Pico do Areeiro area.
Source: RTP Madeira
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