Can You Get a Same-Day Madeira Hiking Permit?
Sometimes, yes. Same-day permits appear on quieter trails and on trails with a large daily quota, but the most popular routes are usually gone well before the day itself.
A permit is required before you start, so a same-day permit still has to be reserved online, not paid at the trailhead. Because the tourist quota is fixed per day, same-day availability depends entirely on what is left after advance bookings.
Lower-pressure trails and the big levada walks are your best bet at short notice. Summit trails like PR1 rarely have same-day slots in peak season. Availability can also change minute to minute, so a slot you see may be taken before you finish booking.
If you need to hike today and your first choice is full, an afternoon entry or a nearby lower-pressure trail with similar scenery is usually the fastest path to a permit.
Current availability
Trails currently showing same-day tourist availability:
- PR1 Vereda do Areeiro to Miradouro Pedra Rija (Stairway to Heaven) - moderate (5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 13:00
- PR11 Vereda dos Balcões - low (3.2), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde - low (3.2), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 09:30
- PR1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo - low (2.9), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:30
- PR6.2 Levada do Alecrim - low (2.9), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR13 Vereda do Fanal - low (2.7), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR6.1 Levada do Risco - low (2.6), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR10 Levada do Furado - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR1.1 Vereda da Ilha - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR14 Levada dos Cedros - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR16 Levada Fajã do Rodrigues - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR17 Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR18 Levada do Rei - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR6.3 Vereda da Lagoa do Vento - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR6.4 Levada Velha do Rabaçal - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR6.5 Vereda do Pico Fernandes - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR6.6 Vereda do Túnel do Cavalo - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR6.8 Levada do Paul II - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR9.1 Caldeirão Verde (Accessible) - low (2.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR13.1 Vereda da Palha Carga - low (2.1), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR22 Vereda do Chão dos Louros - low (2), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR2 Vereda do Urzal - very low (0.8), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR19 Caminho Real do Paul do Mar - very low (0.5), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR6.7 Vereda da Câmara de Carga do Rabaçal - very low (0.4), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PS PR1 Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã - very low (0.3), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR21 Caminho do Norte - very low (0), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PR5 Vereda das Funduras - very low (0), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
- PS PR2 Vereda do Pico do Castelo - very low (0), earliest Thu 20 Aug at 08:00
Last checked 20 Aug, 01:30 (Madeira local time). Availability is a careful estimate from the official Simplifica system, not an exact spot count. Data and methodology.
Check open slots and reserve on madeira.fun