Around Madeira

All camping was prohibited while the recent wildfires were in progress and in their aftermath. However, some camping opportunities have been reinstated. All camping on Madeira requires a permit for an approved location on specific dates. Permits are obtained via the SIMplifica website . Look under "Culture and Leisure" and then "Camping Licence". Note that if you have chosen to access the site in English, the names of the various sites will be "translated" into English (so Pico Ruivo becomes Red Peak ), so you might want to set the language to Portuguese so the place names are recognisable.

The IFNC has updated its advice on the trails around Pico do Areeiro/Pico Ruivo. From 4th September, the PR1 walking route will now be open as far as the Pedra Rija viewpoint (1.2km stretch). PR 1.1 will be open from the Pico Ruivo "Casa de Abrigo" to Ilha and PR 1.2 will be open from Achada do Teixeira to the Pico Ruivo "Casa de Abrigo". This means that a slightly longer stretch of trails will be open than previously envisaged. However, barriers are in place to prevent access to areas that remain dangerous and visitors are asked to respect them for their safety,

From 26th August , the IFCN has announced the following walking routes re-opened to the public:     PR 3 - Vereda do Burro     PR 3.1. - Caminho Real do Monte     PR 13 - Vereda do Fanal These join the routes whose re-opening was announced on 25th August: PR 9 - Levada do Caldeirão Verde PR 18 - Levada do Rei  ... and the routes around Rabaçal that reopened on the 23rd: PR 6 - Levada das 25 Fontes PR 6.1. - Levada do Risco PR 6.2 - Levada do Alecrim PR 6.3 - Vereda da Lagoa do Vento PR 6.4 - Levada Velha do Rabaçal PR 6.5 - Vereda do Pico Fernandes PR 6.6 - Vereda do Túnel do Cavalo PR 6.7 - Vereda da Câmara de carga do Rabaçal PR 6.8 - Levada do Paul II – Um caminho para todos PR 13.1 - Vereda da Palha Carga However, the following routes remain closed: PR 1 - Vereda do Areeiro PR 1.1 - Vereda da Ilha PR 1.2. - Vereda do Pico Ruivo PR 1.3 - Vereda da Encumeada PR 2 - Vereda do Urzal PR 4 - Levada do Barreiro PR 7 - Levada do Moinho PR 12 - Caminho Real da Encumeada PR 17 - Caminho do

From today, 23rd August, the IFCN has announced the following walking routes re-open to the public: PR 6 - Levada das 25 Fontes PR 6.1. - Levada do Risco PR 6.2 - Levada do Alecrim PR  6.3 - Vereda da Lagoa do Vento PR 6.4 - Levada Velha do Rabaçal PR 6.5 - Vereda do Pico Fernandes PR 6.6 - Vereda do Túnel do Cavalo PR 6.7 - Vereda da Câmara de carga do Rabaçal PR 6.8 - Levada do Paul II – Um caminho para todos PR 13.1-  Vereda da Palha Carga  However, the following routes remain closed: PR 1 - Vereda do Areeiro PR 1.1 - Vereda da Ilha PR 1.2. - Vereda do Pico Ruivo PR 1.3 - Vereda da Encumeada PR 2 - Vereda do Urzal PR 3 - Vereda do Burro PR 3.1. - Caminho Real do Monte PR 4 - Levada do Barreiro PR 7 - Levada do Moinho PR 9 - Levada do Caldeirão Verde PR 12 - Caminho Real da Encumeada PR 13 - Vereda do Fanal PR 17 - Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal PR 18 - Levada do Rei PR 20 - Vereda do Jardim do Mar PR 23 - Levada da Azenha PR 27 - Glaciar do Planalto PR 28 - Levada da Rocha Vermelha

Until recently, Madeira's public transport was delivered by various companies, each with their own separate branding, ticketing and websites. This has now been reorganised under the ambit of SIGA - the public transport organistation for Madeira. However, although many buses (and some transport passes) changed on 1st July, the SIGA website (and the mobile app) were missing much of the vital information and it was still necessary to rely on the former websites of the individual operators for timetable and fare information.  Those websites are now starting to disappear. The former EACL website now redirects to SIGA, the homepage of the SAM website still exists, but most of its pages now give 404 errors. The Rodoeste website still seems to be functioning, as is that for Horários do Funchal. Unfortunately, the SIGA website is still sorely lacking in functionality - the "journey planner" doesn't work at all and if you select " Timetables " you have to select

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