Would you pay a fee to go hiking?

Throughout the year, many people resort to activities in nature in their free time to disconnect from the daily hustle and bustle they face. Thus, practices such as hiking or mountaineering have become ideal options for enjoying a wide variety of environmental gems thanks to the simplicity and richness of the alternatives they offer.

Whether enjoying a free space on the weekend or planning a walk during the holidays, hiking routes have become a must for many lovers of rural and outdoor tourism; which complete the visit to towns and villages with the discovery of the surrounding natural heritage.

This is why the routes along greenways, historical monuments or natural sites stand out not only for their definition as simple alternatives and of great environmental interest, but also for their accessibility, presenting themselves as viable options for any hiker. However, this is not the case in all destinations.

The tourist destination that charges for some of its hiking routes

The island of Madeira, one of the main tourist attractions in Portugal, has for less than a month presented an important peculiarity that distinguishes it from the rest of the holiday destinations on the European continent. Thus, on October 22, 2024, Ordinance No. 556/2024 was approved, which decreed fees for all travelers who wanted to enjoy certain roads and trails.

In this way, the recently approved legislation contributes to defining a basis on which “the respective rates and amounts that will be charged by the Institute of Forestry and Nature Conservation, for the provision of public services and the issuance of licenses, authorizations and similar titles” to all tourists who wish to enjoy one of the many routes that can be taken on the island.

Concretely, to access certain payment methods in Portugal, it is necessary to pay an amount of €3 through a reservation process on the official website. However, the fare distinguishes between adults and young people, so the price should only be applicable to all travelers over 12 years old.

In addition, the rate only concerns “classified pedestrian routes”, which are several routes dependent on the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (ICNF). Thus, payment is made according to the following methods:

However, this fee will be expanded for non-residents from January 1, 2025, when more than 30 territories and routes managed by the ICNF of Madeira will become chargeable.

Levadas, payment methods in Madeira

Some of the paid routes in the island territory of Madeira are called levadas, U-shaped and sloping irrigation canals or aqueducts that are used to collect rainwater or water derived from water currents that exceed their natural channels.

These were created in the 16th century, due to the need to supply water to the south of the island, which was considerably drier despite greater agricultural production. Thus, these constructions were designed with the aim of diverting water from the west and northwest of the territory, where precipitation was more abundant.

Madeira, one of the most important tourist destinations

In recent years, the Portuguese island of Madeira has established itself as one of the most notable international destinations for the quality of its natural landscapes. The territory of volcanic origin, located in the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the most visited regions by residents from all over Europe.

Among other visitors, different historical figures such as Empress Sissi, Emperor Charles I of Austria, Emperors Maximilian and Carlota and Winston Churchill, among others, have passed through the enclave.

Although they were already known to the Romans, the islands gained importance after their rediscovery by the Portuguese navigators Tristão Vaz Teixeira and João Gonçalves Zarco, who helped to populate them and make them a tourist standard, with multiple forests, destinations and more than 2,000 inhabitants. kilometers of hiking trails.