Madeira’s PR1 trail reopens

Madeira’s PR1 Vereda do Areeiro is set to reopen to the public on April 27, 2026, after roughly two years of closures and repairs. (ifcn.madeira.gov.pt) The Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation, known as IFCN, said the reopening will come after the Madeira Island Ultra Trail race on April 25 and 26. The agency said PR1 will reopen in phases, with full public access planned after the event. (ifcn.madeira.gov.pt) The route is changing as it returns. IFCN said PR1 will operate one-way from Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo, while the short section between Pico do Areeiro and Pedra Rija will remain open in both directions. (ifcn.madeira.gov.pt) PR1 is Madeira’s best-known mountain walk, linking Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 meters, Pico das Torres at 1,851 meters, and Pico Ruivo at 1,862 meters. Visit Madeira lists the trail at 7 kilometers with a typical duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes, though other hiking guides describe the full crossing as longer depending on the route used. (visitmadeira.com) The trail has been only partially accessible in recent months. Visit Madeira currently lists PR1 as restricted, with walkers allowed only as far as the Pedra Rija viewpoint at kilometer 1.2 until the full reopening takes effect. (visitmadeira.com) Madeira also changed how hikers access its classified trails on January 1, 2026. IFCN says the island now uses a reservation-and-fee system, and the SIMplifica government portal is the booking platform for those permits. (ifcn.madeira.gov.pt, simplifica.madeira.gov.pt) Visit Madeira says the standard fee for most individual trails is 4.50 euros, while PR1 has its own pricing because of its restricted status and special management. Independent Madeira hiking outlets and Euronews report the reopened PR1 will cost 10.50 euros per person, with a lower 7 euro rate through partner operators. (visitmadeira.com, euronews.com, madeirahiking.org) The closure followed wildfire damage in 2024 that affected the path and surrounding mountain landscape. Madeira tourism and hiking sites say the rebuild focused on safety works, traffic control, and limiting pressure on fragile terrain in the island’s central massif, part of the Natura 2000 network. (euronews.com, visitmadeira.com, ifcn.madeira.gov.pt) Visit Madeira has folded the reopening into its “Explore. Respect. Preserve.” campaign, which asks visitors to stay on marked trails and reduce their impact on wildlife and vegetation. The relaunch brings back Madeira’s signature ridge walk, but under tighter rules than the version many hikers knew before 2024. (visitmadeira.com, visitmadeira.com)