Litter piles up on Madeira's paid Pico Ruivo trail

Hikers and mountain guides in Madeira are criticising litter found along the PR1 trail between Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo, questioning where the 10.50-euro entry fee paid by non-resident visitors actually goes. Tissues, cigarette butts and plastic bags have been spotted along the path, which reopened in April after repairs following 2024 wildfire damage. A two-month cleaning contract awarded by the IFCN to a newly created company expired in early November, after which the institute resumed cleaning with its own resources while a new procurement process was launched.