Around Madeira

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.

On 14th March IFCN announced the temporary closure of walking route PR 10 ( Levada do Furado) owing to a rock fall. The present list of closed routes includes:     PR 1 - Vereda do Areeiro - Vereda Este (via Pico das Torres)     PR 4 - Levada do Barreiro     PR 7 - Levada do Moinho     PR 10 – Levada do Furado     PR 15 – Vereda da Ribeira da Janela     PR 16 - Levada Fajã do Rodrigues     PR 19 - Caminho real do Paul do Mar     PR 20 - Vereda do Jardim do Mar     PR 23 - Levada da Azenha In addition, there are partial closures of routes PR 3 (Vereda do Burro) and PR 12 (Caminho Real da Encumeada). The full list of the current state of walking routes can be found on the  IFCN website. The temporary partial closure of PR 3 is described here . The partial closure of PR 12 for work on the hydroelectric plant continues. These closures are for the safety of visitors and it is an offence to use the routes when they're closed.

The ferry service to Porto Santo is back in operation following its annual maintenance, but the future of the air service remains unclear. Binter Canarias had a concession from the (national) government to operate the air route which has been the subject of last-minute and short-term extensions. The concession was most recently supposed to end on 24th February, but has now been extended until April 21st. The long-term arrangements are still unknown.

A number of walking routes have reopened as the bad weather has passed. The routes that remain closed are:     PR 1 - Vereda do Areeiro - Vereda Este (via Pico das Torres)     PR 1 - Vereda do Areeiro - Pico do Areeiro – Pico Ruivo     PR 3 - Vereda do Burro (between Poço da Neve and Pico do Areeiro)     PR 4 - Levada do Barreiro     PR 6.2 - Levada do Alecrim     PR 7 - Levada do Moinho     PR 15 – Vereda da Ribeira da Janela     PR 16 - Levada Fajã do Rodrigues     PR 19 - Caminho real do Paul do Mar     PR 20 - Vereda do Jardim do Mar     PR 23 - Levada da Azenha The full list of the current state of walking routes can be found on the  IFCN website. The partial closure of PR 3 is described here . These closures are for the safety of visitors and it is an offence to use the routes when they're closed.

Just a reminder that the vessel Lobo Marinho is out of service for its annual maintenance and so there are presently no sailings between Funchal and Porto Santo. The service resumes on 10th February. The air service continues to operate at present, though it is presently only possible to book flights up to 23rd February. Flights are operated under a concession from the national government which was temporarily extended until this date, but the longer term situation has yet to be resolved.