It’s been a hot minute since my last blog post… mostly because I’ve been out doing what I love most: hiking all over Madeira. And while I’ve been busy posting trail vlogs on Instagram and TikTok, there’s one question that pops up over and over again in my DMs:

“Wait — do I need a reservation now to hike in Madeira?”

Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer: Yes, but don’t panic. Let’s talk about it.

If you’re overwhelmed, confused, or frantically Googling how to book trails while holding a pastel de nata in one hand — breathe. We’re all figuring this out together, including the employees at the trail entrances. I’ve shown up without a reservation before (yes, me, the person writing this post), and they were honestly so nice and helpful. So, step one: don’t let this ruin your excitement.

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If you find this post helpful, you can support me with a coffee (or a Poncha):
https://buymeacoffee.com/your_madeira

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Why is there a fee now? What is this new Madeira trail booking system?

If you’re thinking “what do you mean I need to book to go walk in nature?” — fair. But also: have you seen the number of tourists coming to Madeira lately?

But even with the fee, the crowds kept growing. I remember seeing traffic jams at São Lourenço on the news last summer like it was Funchal rush hour. Parking lots overflowing, narrow roads gridlocked, and too many people on delicate paths that weren’t designed for Instagram fame.

So, the government said: Let’s add a reservation system to manage how many hikers are out at a time. The goal is to prevent chaos, protect nature, and honestly — make the experience more enjoyable for all of us (because nobody likes to wait in line at a hike…). Do I love having to pick a 30-minute start time for my spontaneous hikes? Absolutely not. Do I understand the reasoning? Kinda, yeah.

What trails require a reservation?

Here’s the not-so-fun part: most official trails now do. Specifically, all PR trails managed by IFCN require a reservation and a fee. PR stands for pequena rota (little route), or sometimes percursos recomendados (recommended trails). These are the marked trails you’ll see everywhere, with red and yellow signs, all under 20 km. IFCN is a government agency – the institute of forests and nature conservation on the island

You can find a full list on the IFCN site, but here are the exceptions — aka the “rebel” trails that don’t currently require booking because they are managed by local municipalities instead of IFCN:

• PR3 & PR3.1 (Vereda do Burro & Caminho Real do Monte)
• PR4 (Levada do Barreiro)
• PR23 (Levada da Azenha)

Where do I make a reservation?

Online, via the IFCN’s not-totally-user-friendly-but-it-works platform:
https://simplifica.madeira.gov.pt/services/78-82-259

Scroll down, pick your trail, and start the form. If you’re not a Madeira resident, no need to go through the hassle of creating an account. You’ll still be able to book just fine.

Who needs to pay?

Here’s the breakdown:

• Non-Madeira residents aged 13+: €4.50 per trail (PR1 will have a special price once the full trail is open again)
• Children under 12 and Madeira residents: free — BUT you still need a reservation.
• Booking for a group? Great! You can do that in one go. You’ll just need to specify the number of adults, kids, and Madeira residents (for residents you need their NIF/tax ID).

What if a trail is closed?

Happens all the time — thanks, unpredictable mountain weather and steep terrain. If a trail is closed, it simply won’t show up in the booking list. Already booked and then it closes? You should get an automatic refund. If not, reach out to: ifcn@madeira.gov.pt

Can I hike multiple trails in a day? Are there multi-day passes?

Yes! (And I love doing this — especially in places like Rabaçal where the trails connect beautifully.)

Here’s how pricing works if you’re planning to hike multiple trails:

• 1-day pass: €9
• 3-day pass: €22.50
• 7-day pass: €52.50

BUT — and this is important — you can’t just buy a pass. You need to book all your trails at the same time for the system to apply the discount automatically. So when you’re reserving your first trail, hit “Add another reservation” before checking out. Add all the PR trails you want for that time window, and the best price will be applied.

But how do I time that if each trail has a specific 30-minute window? Excellent question. Honestly… it’s tricky.

The more popular the trail, the stricter the start times. São Lourenço, for example, has tight 30-minute slots. Others, especially the lesser-known levadas, are more relaxed and have longer time slots. My advice: book your slots as best you can and don’t stress too much. This is still Portugal. Island time is a thing. They say 8:30? If you start at 8:45… probably no one is going to tackle you mid-trail.

Can I pay at the trail?

Nope. All payments are online. If you show up without a reservation, the trail staff will kindly ask you to go online and book — which is fun if you’re standing in a levada valley with zero bars of service.

So, book ahead. It’ll save you the headache. You can pay by credit card or MBWay (if you know what that is, you’re probably Portuguese).

How far in advance do I need to book?

This is the million-euro question — and honestly, no one really knows yet. It’s a new system.

Right now (early February = low season), things are still calm. Tonight I checked availability for Pico do Arieiro tomorrow morning: the 8am slot was full, but 8:30am still had space. The next day? Nearly empty (yes, you can see the occupancy for each trail by hovering over the time slots online).

But summer? All bets are off. I’m German, so I’m fully expecting my people to treat this like beach loungers in Mallorca — booking their trails 6 weeks in advance, just in case. But to be honest, only time will tell.

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I know it’s annoying. I wish we could just show up and walk too. But given the chaos of high season — and the damage that happens to Madeira’s beautiful trails — I do get the point.

If the system feels clunky now, that’s because it is. It’s new. We’re all adjusting. But we’re still hiking in Madeira. So it’s worth it.

If you’re still confused or unsure which PR trails to book (or want to avoid the super crowded ones), grab my PR Trail Guide — it’s packed with personal trail recommendations and underrated gems.