I think it is time to talk about something that has been discussed by many in recent years: The irresponsible behaviour of many tourists who visit Madeira. Though this includes people who pass barriers and go too close to the sea when the sea state is rough, or people who decide to go swimming in unsuitable areas or adverse conditions, it mostly concerns those who venture into the mountains of Madeira to walk one of the many spectacular trails the island has to offer.
foul weather
Though every time the weather turns foul, official warnings are published, we see that there are always tourists who ignore the warnings and hike on trails that have been announced closed. This does not only happen in bad weather conditions, but also if a certain passage is closed after a rock fall or a mud slide, not uncommon in Madeira.
In the unlikely case they are caught, they will mostly say that they did not know about the closure of a specific trail. Untill last year, they were likely to get away with it. But since the introduction of the hiking fees for all official Madeiran PR trails, it would not be very clever to try this excuse. Not only did they ignore an official warning, but they obviously did not pay the hiking fee for the trail. If they had tried to pay, which is done online (see my article about that here), a warning would have appeared on-screen, informing of the closure of that specific trail.
tourists rescued
These past days, we read – again – that tourists had to be rescued off an official trail that was announced closed due to bad weather. Many have already suggested that the bill for such a rescue should be presented to the tourists in question. And lo and behold: in January 2025, a new policy was adopted by the Civil Protection entity, allowing them to charge tourist with the cost of their rescue under certain circumstances. These circumstances include hiking closed trails, ignoring warnings, hiking with unsuitable gear (the best example is wearing flip-flops on a mountain trail) and passing behind safety barriers.
I still can’t believe it escaped my attention at the time, but now that I read about it, I can’t help but gloat and think ‘serves you right’ for not listening.
The cost of a rescue was even published: activation of the helicopter service €753.25 plus cost of flight time €7.50 per minute, and cost of a rescue specialist €105. Note that normally, at least two rescuers are needed. Personally, I think these fees are quite reasonable, but one should remember that a simple rescue easily requires half an hour flight time, so the bill would be around €1200.
Now, we can only hope that this rule will be actually applied. It would make tourism in Madeira a little more sustainable. It would also reduce the pressure on taxpayer’s money. The policy is only applicable for non-Madeira residents. I am not sure if that is fair. Irresponsible behaviour is just that, and whether the perpetrator lives in Madeira or elsewhere should be irrelevant.
Having said all this, if you are careful, use the right gear, and keep an eye on the weather, walking in Madeira is a fantastic experience. Upon paying your hiking tax, you will see if the trail of your choice is open.
