Madeira hiking permits 2026: official fees and booking

Madeira hiking permits in 2026 use the official SIMplifica portal for classified walking routes managed by IFCN. Visitors without an operator protocol pay €4.50 for an individual route other than PR1. The temporary PR1 walk to Pedra Rija is €4.50; the full PR1 rate after reopening is €10.50. Everyone must be registered in the reservation, including people who qualify for an exemption.

Those facts come from IFCN’s English fees and reservations FAQ, updated 2 June 2026 and checked here on 14 August 2026.

2026 visitor fees

For visitors without an economic-operator protocol, IFCN lists:

• individual classified route other than PR1: €4.50;
• PR1 from Pico do Areeiro only to Pedra Rija and back while the full route remains closed: €4.50;
• full PR1 after reopening, including the specified connected PR1 routes: €10.50;
• two or more non-PR1 routes in one day: €9.00;
• combined non-PR1 routes across three days: €22.50;
• combined non-PR1 routes across seven days: €52.50.

The portal applies the economically favourable option after the selected routes move through the reservation process. IFCN notes that there is not currently a separate button to buy a generic multi-day pass first.

Operator rates differ. Do not compare the price in a guided-tour package with the individual visitor rate without checking what the tour includes.

Exemptions still require registration

The official classified-route page lists exemptions for Madeira residents who prove that status, children aged 12 or under, and certain people with a documented disability of at least 60% plus an accompanying guardian where applicable.

An exemption from payment is not an exemption from the reservation. IFCN says every visitor must be registered so route capacity can be controlled.

Check the current official wording and required evidence before relying on an exemption.

Use the official booking channel

The official payment and reservation service is SIMplifica. IFCN describes it as the single platform for reservation and access control.

The basic sequence is:

1. open the current IFCN route-status page;
2. confirm the route is open and managed under the booking system;
3. open the official SIMplifica service;
4. select the route, date, and available entry slot;
5. enter every visitor required by the form;
6. provide exemption evidence where applicable;
7. review the calculated fee;
8. complete payment through the official process;
9. save the confirmation so it is accessible offline.

Do not use a third-party workaround because an old article recommends it. If the official service fails, retry later or contact the official service through its published support channel.

Time slots and capacity

The 2026 system distributes capacity across 30-minute entry windows from sunrise to sunset. A slot can become unavailable when its capacity is reached.

A reservation is for the selected route and entry arrangement. It is not a general promise that every connected path is open or that the day’s weather is safe.

Select a realistic arrival time. Include the drive, parking, walking from the parking area, and any queue. Do not book the first light slot when the transport plan cannot reach it safely.

Why a route may not appear

IFCN explains two common reasons. A route may not be subject to this reservation regime, for example because it is not a classified route managed by IFCN, or it may be closed and therefore unavailable to book.

Absence from the portal does not prove free and open access. Find the route on the current IFCN classified walking routes page and identify its status and managing authority.

PR1 needs special care

As of the IFCN status update checked on 14 August 2026, PR1 is open only from Pico do Areeiro to the Pedra Rija viewpoint, at kilometre 1.2, and back. The full traverse remains closed.

That status can change. The €10.50 full-route fee is not evidence that the full route is open today. Check status immediately before the planned hike and obey the physical closure.

Read the PR1 guide for route context, but take current status from IFCN.

Fees do not replace safety checks

Before leaving:

• check IFCN status;
• check IPMA warnings and destination weather;
• confirm the entry time and transport;
• carry the confirmation offline;
• bring equipment suited to the route;
• keep a legal, open backup plan.

A paid reservation does not make fog, fire, wind, rockfall, or a closure safe. The PR11 Vereda dos Balcões guide shows how the live-status check applies even to a shorter classified route.

Planning several hikes

Choose a small set of routes in different landscapes. Put the exposed route on the best forecast day and use the combined fee only when the real itinerary supports it.

The Madeira hiking hub links individual routes and repeats the live-status rule. A scheduled levada overview will add a route-style comparison when it is published.

Banana House is a year-round, seven-room coliving in Ponta do Sol, normally designed around stays of one month or longer. A longer stay can make weather flexibility easier, but hiking permits, transport, equipment, guides, and excursions are not included. See the rooms if a work-and-hiking base fits.

The permit rule to remember is simple: status first, official SIMplifica booking second, conditions again on the day.