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Levada do Furado (PR 10)

This walking route, which runs along one of the oldest public levadas on the island, is 11 kilometers long and should take 5 hours to complete. Starting from Ribeiro Frio, PR 10 Levada do Furado allows you to contemplate the various shades of green that make up Laurissilva's natural forest.

In addition to the diverse flora, consisting mainly of tree species from the Lauraceae family, it is the Ribeiro Frio Valley that dominates the landscape. In Levada do Furado, walkers can admire the farmlands of Faial, São Roque do Faial and Porto da Cruz, as well as the colossal rock massif of Penha d'Águia.

The Levada do Furado stretches all the way to the water divider, where the Serra do Faial levada ends. At this point the descent to Portela, in the municipality of Machico, begins. After crossing the Lamaceiros forest area, passing the Lamaceiros forest post, the Portela levada, which flanks Lombo das Faias, is on the left, soon after which you will join regional road 102 to complete this moderately difficult walk. On the final leg of the Levada do Furado, take the opportunity to recuperate at the Portela viewpoint.

Details:

Distance: 11 km

Difficulty level: medium

Duration: 5 hours

Start/end: E.R. 303 (Ribeiro Frio) / E.R. 102 (Portela)

Maximum altitude: 880 m / 645 m

Levada do Alecrim (PR 6.2)

Starting from Regional Road 105 in the Rabaçal area, this trail follows the Levada do Alecrim river, located at an altitude of 1,300 meters, to its source in Ribeira do Lajeado. It's 3.5 kilometers (one way) full of cinematic scenery in close proximity to nature.

With an estimated duration of 2h30 and a route considered easy, PR 6.2 Levada do Alecrim offers sweeping views of the Rabaçal Valley and Ribeira da Janela. The green hues are impressive due to the characteristic density of the Laurissilva forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll also find a number of heather tunnels that offer a unique atmosphere while walking. The biggest surprise, however, is reaching the Levada do Alecrim spring, a levada built to power the Calheta hydroelectric plant. Here you can refresh your body at the "Dona Beja" lagoon, which feeds the Lagoa do Vento waterfall.

The return from Levada to Alecrim follows the same route. Alternatively, you can head towards Casa de Abrigo do Rabaçal, following the Vereda da Lagoa do Vento (PR 6.3) and discover the secrets of this green island.

Details:

Distance: 3.5 km (7 km round trip)

Degree of difficulty: easy

Duration: 2h30

Start/finish: Rabaçal (ER105) / Levada do Alecrim source ("Dona Beja" lagoon)

Maximum/minimum altitude: 1339 m/1256 m

Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR 9)

The PR 9 Levada to Caldeirão Verde route of 8.7 km (+ 8.7 km round trip) is moderately difficult and offers tourists the opportunity to explore the interior of the island, known for its monumental landscapes.

The start of the Caldeirão Verde Levada, which is expected to take 6.5 hours, is immediately striking. This is because Casa de Abrigo das Queimadas, in Parque Florestal das Queimadas, retains the original features of typical Santana houses, the triangular shape and traditional thatched roof.

Soon after starting, you'll find the terrace of the Caldeirão Verde levada, where nature reveals itself with exoticism. We are in the middle of the Laurissilva forest, where abundant water is channeled through this historic levada, built in the 18th century, into the farmlands of the parish of Faial.

Along the Levada do Caldeirão Verde, crisscrossed by cliffs and mountains, you will pass through four tunnels carved into the rock. Only then on the left is the Caldeirão Verde Lake, formed by water protruding vertically from the Caldeirão Verde stream bed at a height of about 100 meters.

After recuperating, you can continue to Caldeirão do Inferno, 2,200 meters away, or return via Levada to Caldeirão Verde.

Details:

Distance: 8.7 kilometers (17.4 kilometers round trip)

Degree of difficulty: medium

Duration: 6h30

Start/finish: Queimadas forest park / Caldeirão do InfernoMaximum altitude: 1020 m / 872 m

Levada das 25 Fontes (PR 6)

Starting at Regional Road 105 in Rabaçal, Levada das 25 Fontes is one of the most popular walking routes among tourists and locals alike. With a distance of 4.3 kilometers and an estimated time of 3 hours, this is a suitable trail for anyone who wants to be amazed by the lushness of nature.

Although it runs almost parallel to Levada do Risco (PR 6.1), sharing the same starting point, this moderately difficult route will take you to a variety of interesting sites and scenery. Characterized by its magnificent natural surroundings, Levada das 25 Fontes gives you the chance to discover Lagoa das 25 Fontes, fed by waters that descend from Paul da Serra and which appear here at 25 points.But before you get there, you'll have the chance to marvel at some of the landscapes you'll find along Levada das 25 Fontes.

For example, the views of the Ribeira da Janela Valley are impressive because of the vibrant greenery characteristic of the Laurissilva forest.

Once you reach your destination Levada das 25 Fontes, you can enjoy the beauty of the lagoon and recuperate for the return trip along the same route.7

Details:

Distance: 4.3 km (8.6 km round trip)

Degree of difficulty: medium

Duration: 3 hrs.

Start/finish: Rabaçal (ER105) / 25 Fontes

Maximum altitude: 1288 m / 964 m

Madeira levadas

In today's article, we will deal with the magic word levada, which you are sure to hear more than once whenever there is a conversation about Madeira or you browse websites on the topic of a Madeira trip. So I invite you to read and learn more about this mysterious word that is levada. Its history , use and learn what levadas are worth seeing on the island of Madeira. The Levada is nothing more than an irrigation canal. It brings water to various places on the island, from the rainy northwest of the island to the southeast. They began to be built in the 15th century and their main function was to bring drinking water to other places on the island, as well as to irrigate agricultural land, and above all during the cultivation of sugarcane, which was of great economic importance at the time. Madeira was one of its main suppliers in the 15th century, and today it is also used to generate electricity. Why did these waterways become so famous in Madeira, when they are found in many places on earth? Well, here in Madeira, their popularity and value has been recognized by the local population because of the number of different routes and because of the difficulty of building them over the centuries and only using the hands and strength of man on such a difficult terrain. For it used to be only men secured in ropes, risking their lives in the process, who built levadas using only basic tools, such as: pickaxes, hoes, hammers, shovels, wheelbarrows or rods. For this hard work they deserve admiration and respect for all time. Nowadays, however, the levadas still perform the function for which they were created, but they have also begun to enjoy great popularity among the throngs of tourists to Madeira who want to get in touch with nature and walk a variety of trails. And in 2017 the entire water system was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

According to the Portuguese, as of today there are about 3000 km of levadas, so which levadas are worth seeing? The answer is not so simple, as the best are all possible! However, nature lovers and hikers visiting the island always have limited time, but without visiting these few levadas, you can't just leave the island. After a day spent inland, walking along the murmuring levadas, full of greenery, one can forget that Madeira is barely a crumb of land surrounded by the boundlessness of the Atlantic Ocean. In Madeira, nature always speaks the loudest, and it never hurts to take some time to admire it, to observe it quietly from so close and immerse yourself in its precious natural heritage.

The following set of levadas can be walked on your own, but you can also book a guided tour with us and learn more about each levada.

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