Hiking is a non-competitive sport carried out on marked footpaths, preferably of a traditional character and located in natural areas. It aims to provide contact with nature and familiarise people with a country through heritage and ethnographic elements characteristic of pre-industrial societies, recovering former communication networks in the process. Walking through large cities can also be defined as hiking when the aim is to emphasize elements of nature and traditional culture still persisting in an urban environment.

	Picnic Area (La Palma - Canarias)

Hiking means enjoyment of the natural environment and traditional culture through exercise in the form of a basic physical activity: walking. It allows recovery of the individual's inner rhythm, restores balance, regardless of age or physical condition, and enables physical and cultural realities to be approached at the primary level: that of the person. Furthermore, as a form of exercise graded to suit each individual, it improves physical and mental condition (Hiking Handbook, June 2001, Spanish Mountaineering Federation: http://www.fedme.es ).

We consider footpaths to be an important part of our common history and heritage. Traditional footpaths provide insights into a people's customs and identity, and the opportunity to approach them in an informed and respectful manner. These ancient communication networks act as a present-day tool, providing the knowledge and pleasures not only of nature, but also full enjoyment of local history, customs and former lifestyles.

The various footpath networks are a gateway to nature and protected areas and an important instrument for regulating the ever-increasing visitor flows through such areas. They help us to conserve the natural environment, with its fragile island ecosystems, while allowing study of the carrying capacity of such ecosystems when exploited for tourism, thus working towards the sustainable development which is aimed at in all corners of the world.

	Footpath marking in Madeira and the Azores

Current trends in tourism are moving towards alternatives involving discovery, offering new active products in the natural environment. This is due to today's new sensitivity towards nature, expressed in conservation and enjoyment. Hiking is thus a specific tourist product which attracts visitors and diversifies the Rural Tourism offer.

Consequently, in areas such as our islands, where local identity, traditional practices and a rich historical and cultural heritage are still preserved, together with unspoilt landscapes, spectacular relief and an enormous wealth and variety of natural heritage, hiking tourism constitutes the best method for promoting local development, acting as the hub for the marketing of goods and services, creating new job opportunities, and revaluing former ones.

Today's eminently urban society seeks to escape from the stress and pressure of large cities, as well as from the hectic, dehumanised lifestyles found there. Hiking is an easy, inexpensive and healthy form of sport requiring minimal training, little equipment and negligible expense. Moreover, it is compatible with other activities in nature, is suitable for families, and is ideal for the weekend. It helps to get fit, eliminate stress and recharge energy. And, being a form of exercise of light to moderate intensity, it is recommended for improving the circulation, the cardio-respiratory system, and the muscles and joints - precisely the problem areas for the over-stressed people of today, with little time to worry about health-care.