Top European destination set to charge tourists on free hikes
MADEIRA will soon charge tourists to walk some of its most popular hiking trails in a bid to manage the number of visitors.
Often described as Europe‘s Hawaii, Madeira is known for its ties to football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and its stunning landscapes.
Many holidaymakers to the Portuguese island head to its more rural parts to tackle some of its 1,200 miles worth of trails.
Hiking holidaymakers over the age of 12 will soon need to pay a €3 (£2.50) fee to walk some of the island’s top routes.
The initiative hopes to promote sustainable tourism and enhance conservation.
The tourist charge already applies to seven walking routes, including Pico do Areeiro, Pico Ruivo, Levada do Risco, Levada do Caldeirão Verde, Balcões, Levada do Rei, and Ponta de São Lourenço.
From January 2025, the charge will be expanded to at least 30 of the routes managed by the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation.
It is hoped that holidaymakers will hike lesser-visited trails on the island, balancing the flow of tourists.
Non-residents will need to pay the charge using Simplifica (a regional governmental portal), with on-site payment options also available.
Holidaymakers who don’t pay the charge, will be fined up to €50 (£42).
Located off the west coast of Africa, Madeira is often compared to Hawaii thanks to its volcanic landscape, sprawling mountains and luscious green scenery.
Most people head to Funchal, which is the capital of the island and home to most of the hotels.
Funchal is home to one of the best botanical gardens in the world – tourists can get the cable car up to the gardens, then toboggan back down.
Along with restaurants, bars and museums, the Avenida do Mar shopping region is compared to Paris’ Champs-Élysées.
Even in December and January, the weather remains around 18C while this goes up to 24C in the summer months.
Flights are as little as £24 each way – taking around 3hr45, with Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways and Wizz Air operate direct flights.
The local language in Madeira is Portuguese although most people speak English.
There is no time difference in Madeira to the UK so you don’t have to change your watch.
Madeira uses the euro, with £10 getting around €11.
There are currently no Covid restrictions and Brits can stay in Madeira for up to 90 days without a visa.
What's it like to visit Madeira?
JO Madden recently visited Madeira – here’s what he thought about the Portuguese island…
IT’S a moment every football fan dreams of. I’m standing alongside one of the greatest players of all time – Cristiano Ronaldo.
Towering over me, the Portugal captain has a formidable stance — legs spread, arms stretched down by his sides, hair immaculate.
I inch closer, mirroring the sporting hero’s pose.
The only let down is the fact that my teammate is actually a 10ft bronze statue of the man himself.
I’m in Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira.
Here, on February 5, 1985, the soccer star was born.
The former Man U and Real Madrid player is worshipped like a god in Madeira — as well as a statue, the island’s airport is named after him and the CR7 Museum is dedicated to his career.
But with Hawaii-like scenery and world-class wine, there’s more to Madeira than Ronaldo.
I grab glimpses of the rugged landscape on the 20-minute drive from the airport to my hotel Barcelo Funchal Old Town, but the views of the Atlantic Ocean are even better from the balcony of my bright, contemporary room.
Made up of six 17th-century buildings, the renovated hotel still has a traditional charm.
The panoramas get even better from the 5* hotel’s rooftop pool and bar area — a stunning backdrop of tropical parks, flowering jacaranda trees and the cobbled streets of the old town.
I head here the following morning, swimming 50 lengths to work up an appetite for breakfast.
The food doesn’t disappoint, with everything from yoghurt and eggs to local delicacies like honey cake and Madeira bread (like flatbread, made with flour and sweet potato).
All of this is washed down with a free glass of bubbly.
Next I jump into a jeep for a safari into the hills.
Our driver Ivan takes visitors on tours through the BraveLanders group.
Venturing out of town, he takes us past the marina with Ronaldo’s statue and his mansion that’s chiselled into the hillside.
We stop at the Laurel Forest, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At around 20million years old, this subtropical forest is sun-drenched and bursting with colour.
Back on the road, we arrived at a rural roadside shop where I had my first taste of traditional “poncha”, a boozy blend of Aguardente de Cana (distilled alcohol made from sugar cane juice), honey, sugar and orange juice.
This frothy drink packs a real punch.
Thank goodness I’m not the one behind the wheel!