Around Madeira

The regional government has been making a lot of news lately with various announcements regarding better management of tourist numbers in some of the more problematic hotspots using a combination of carrots and sticks.  In addition to the new shuttle to Pico do Areeiro , nine "new" recommended walking routes will be added to the present list in the hope of dispersing visitors more widely. The eastern alternative route on the Pico-to-Pico trail - which was severely damaged over 10 years ago - will also be restored. However, there will also be more use of charging both as a means of controlling numbers as well as helping to meet the increasing cost of maintaining the various trails - and particularly dealing with the growing amounts of litter. There will be modest charges to use the trails at Pico do Areeiro, at Rabaçal and at Balcões - as well as the current charge at Ponta de São Lourenço . Parking charges will be introduced at Pico do Areeiro and at Queimadas from where the...

The national government has confirmed that a contract is being finalized for Binter to operate the air link between Madeira and Porto Santo until 2027. Their previous contract has been extended for successive periods of only 3 months on multiple occasions, making it difficult for travellers to book flights in advance.

  As the pressure on the island's most popular visitor destinations continues to mount, the Regional Government has announced its intention to introduce a variety of measures to manage demand and ensure the safety and maintenance of popular walking routes. Although the plans are not yet finalised, it is likely that some combination of charging and timed access will be used - a ticket will be issued for admission within a specified time window only. There is already a charge for access to the Ponta de São Lourenço path and likely additional canidates include the popular 'Pico to Pico' route and the walks in the Rabaçal area.  There are also plans for improvements, such as increased parking at Pico de Areeiro and a surfaced path at Ponta de São Lourenço where there have been a number of recent accidents. Access to certain trails may also be dependent on being accompanied with a licensed guide.  It is expected the full plans - and the public tenders for any necessary service...

Headlining the local press is an announcement from the police that they have issued 500 fines over the last two and a half years in relation to obstruction and other traffic offences in the vicinity of Pico do Arieiro.  The popular site has become increasingly notorious for long queues of vehicles - particularly in the early morning - and for visitors leaving their vehicles where they obstruct other traffic. A planned car park for an additional 250 vehicles is currently stalled owing to the ongoing regional government crisis. The bus operator, Horários do Funchal, is said to be assessing the viability of operating a tourist bus route as there is currently no public transport to the location. There are both guided tours and shared transfer options, so visitors are urged to use these where they can.

New charges will be introduced in 2025 for visitors to some popular tourist destinations on the island. This has been in the works for some time - already there are charges at Cabo Girão and Ponta de São Lourenço : the charge for the latter will be increased in 2025. The additional locations likely to be affected are: Balcões Pico do Areeiro Rabaçal  The Rabaçal area is the location of a number of very popular walks including the Levada das 25 Fontes and Levada do Risco. Increasing numbers are causing problems, particular with parking, and it is hoped that the charges will help control numbers and raise revenue to meet the increased level of maintenance required. However, the charges will be very modest - around 2 euros - and local residents will be exempt, so the results remain to be seen. It has also been announced that a 2 euro charge will be levied for each passenger disembarking cruise ships in Funchal from 2025.

Welcome to this site for visitors to Madeira. Check the menu for the full contents. I hope it helps you to find places of interest on the island and to visit them. For general information on transport, see Getting Around and for what you need to know before you set out on foot, see Walking . Information on specific activities and destinations can be found in the menu. The main focus is on places you can visit in a day trip from Funchal, but we'll also look at some further-flung options if you're a repeat visitor or if you're staying for some time.