Levadinho · Madeira trail answers

Do I need a permit for levada walks in Madeira?

Everyone calls it a permit. Officially it's a timed booking (reserva) plus a fee (taxa), paid on the SIMplifica portal. Whether you need one depends on which kind of walk it is.

The short answer: you need a paid SIMplifica booking only for the classified PR trails managed by IFCN, the Region's forest and nature authority. That covers almost all the famous walks: PR1, PR6 25 Fontes, PR8 São Lourenço, PR9 Caldeirão Verde and more. Classified trails run by other bodies (PR3, PR3.1, PR4, PR23) and non-classified levadas need no booking and no IFCN fee.

Three kinds of walk, three answers

1. IFCN classified PR trails Book + pay

35 trails on Madeira and 3 on Porto Santo. Before you walk, book a 30-minute entry slot and pay on SIMplifica: €4.50 per trail, €10.50 for the full PR1 (or €4.50 for Areeiro–Pedra Rija only). Carry the digital ticket; IFCN staff can ask for it.

How to book, step by step · All 2026 fees and passes

2. Classified trails run by someone else No IFCN fee

PR3 Vereda do Burro, PR3.1 Caminho Real do Monte and PR4 Levada do Barreiro are managed by the Câmara Municipal do Funchal; PR23 Levada da Azenha by the Junta de Freguesia do Caniço. IFCN's own list names these bodies as managers, and its FAQ (1.7) says a classified trail managed by another entity "is not available for booking on the Portal". They are not part of IFCN's booking system, so there is no IFCN fee.

3. Non-classified levadas and paths Free

Most of Madeira's levada network is not classified, for example Levada dos Tornos, Levada do Caniçal or Levada do Norte. There is nothing to book and nothing to pay (IFCN FAQ 1.7). But they are not classified, so they are not maintained or recommended by IFCN (FAQ 6.2): you walk them entirely at your own risk.

What still applies

Walking an IFCN classified trail without a valid SIMplifica ticket is an administrative offence (Portaria 801/2025 art. 10; DLR 24/2022/M art. 13); the law sets fines for individuals of €250–€2,500. Entering a closed trail is an offence under the same article.

Which trails need a booking? The full list

All classified PR trails and whether they need a SIMplifica booking. Source: IFCN list of classified trails (managing-body column, updated 14 Sep 2026) and the SIMplifica service list. Open or closed today: see the live board.
CodeTrailManaged byBook on SIMplifica?
PR1Vereda do AreeiroIFCNYes (2 ticket types)
PR1.1Vereda da IlhaIFCNYes
PR1.2Vereda do Pico RuivoIFCNYes
PR1.3Vereda da EncumeadaIFCNYes
PR2Vereda do UrzalIFCNYes
PR3Vereda do BurroFunchal councilNo
PR3.1Caminho Real do MonteFunchal councilNo
PR4Levada do BarreiroFunchal councilNo
PR5Vereda das FundurasIFCNYes
PR6Levada das 25 FontesIFCNYes
PR6.1Levada do RiscoIFCNYes
PR6.2Levada do AlecrimIFCNYes
PR6.3Vereda da Lagoa do VentoIFCNYes
PR6.4Levada Velha do RabaçalIFCNYes
PR6.5Vereda do Pico FernandesIFCNYes
PR6.6Vereda do Túnel do CavaloIFCNYes
PR6.7Vereda da Câmara de Carga do RabaçalIFCNYes
PR6.8Levada do Paul II - Um caminho para todosIFCNYes
PR7Levada do MoinhoIFCNYes
PR8Vereda da Ponta de São LourençoIFCNYes
PR9Levada do Caldeirão VerdeIFCNYes
PR9.1Levada do Caldeirão Verde - um caminho para todosIFCNYes
PR10Levada do FuradoIFCNYes
PR11Vereda dos BalcõesIFCNYes
PR12Caminho Real da EncumeadaIFCNYes
PR13Vereda do FanalIFCNYes
PR13.1Vereda da Palha CargaIFCNYes
PR14Levada dos CedrosIFCNYes
PR15Vereda da Ribeira da JanelaIFCNYes
PR16Levada Fajã do RodriguesIFCNYes
PR17Caminho do Pináculo e FolhadalIFCNYes
PR18Levada do ReiIFCNYes
PR19Caminho Real do Paul do MarIFCNYes
PR20Vereda do Jardim do MarIFCNYes
PR21Caminho do NorteIFCNYes
PR22Vereda do Chão dos LourosIFCNYes
PR23Levada da AzenhaCaniço parishNo
PR27Glaciar de PlanaltoIFCNYes
PR28Levada da Rocha VermelhaIFCNYes
PR1Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã (Porto Santo)IFCNYes
PR2Vereda do Pico do Castelo (Porto Santo)IFCNYes
PR3Levada do Pico do Castelo (Porto Santo)IFCNYes

Not in the table? Then it is not a classified PR trail: no booking and no fee.

Questions people ask

Do I need a permit to walk the levadas in Madeira?

Only on the classified PR trails managed by IFCN. For those you must book a timed entry slot and pay the fee on SIMplifica before you walk (€4.50 per trail, €10.50 for the full PR1). Classified trails run by other bodies (PR3, PR3.1, PR4, PR23) and non-classified levadas need no booking and no IFCN fee.

Is it really a permit?

Not officially. It is a booking (reserva) of a 30-minute entry slot plus a fee (taxa), paid online on SIMplifica. The ticket is personal and valid for your date and slot. You don't need a guide.

Which levada walks are free in Madeira?

PR3 Vereda do Burro, PR3.1 Caminho Real do Monte, PR4 Levada do Barreiro and PR23 Levada da Azenha are classified but managed by the Funchal council or the Caniço parish, so they aren't on SIMplifica and carry no IFCN fee. Non-classified levadas such as Levada dos Tornos need no booking either, but IFCN does not maintain or recommend them.

My children are under 12. Do they need a booking?

Yes. Children 12 and under, residents and people with a disability of 60% or more don't pay, but they must still be included in the SIMplifica booking.

What happens if I walk a PR trail without a ticket?

Walking an IFCN classified trail without a valid SIMplifica ticket is an administrative offence (Portaria 801/2025 art. 10; DLR 24/2022/M art. 13). The law sets fines for individuals of €250 to €2,500, and rangers may ask you to leave the trail.

Why can't I find a trail on SIMplifica?

According to IFCN, a trail is missing from the portal when it is not classified, when it is classified but managed by another body (PR3, PR3.1, PR4, PR23), or when it is closed.

Next steps

Sources

IFCN FAQ on classified-trail fees (updated 2 Jun 2026: 1.4, 1.7, 2.5, 2.7, 6.2, 6.4) · IFCN list of classified trails (managing bodies, updated 14 Sep 2026) · IFCN trail warnings · SIMplifica service page · Portaria 48/2026 (republishes Portaria 801/2025: art. 5, 9, 10, Annex I) · DLR 24/2022/M (art. 13). Checked 30 Sep 2026.