A levada is a narrow channel 30-80 cm wide, cut or poured into rock. Water flows from mountain springs to fields, towns, and power stations. Maintenance paths run alongside — and those are now hiking trails.
The main perk of levadas: they're almost always flat — water can't flow uphill. So you can hike across mountains without serious elevation changes. Perfect for those who want big views without alpinist effort.
1. Levada do Rei
Length: 10 km (out and back)
Difficulty: easy
Start: Ribeiro Bonito, ETAR São Jorge
Elevation: 580 m
«King's Levada» — the greenest and most tropical on the island. Laurisilva forest (UNESCO World Heritage), ferns, crystal-clear streams. Ends at a spring where you can swim.
Kid-friendly. One of the best first-day routes — gives a sense of what Madeiran forests are.
2. Caldeirão Verde
Length: 13 km (out and back)
Difficulty: moderate
Start: Queimadas Forest Park, Santana
Elevation: 900 m
One of the island's most popular trails. 4 tunnels (bring a flashlight!), several waterfalls, ending at the Green Cauldron — a crater-shaped pool with a waterfall.
Note: water drips from tunnel ceilings. Easy to get soaked. And it's dark — going without a flashlight is unsafe.
3. 25 Fontes (25 springs)
Length: 11 km (out and back)
Difficulty: moderate
Start: Rabaçal
Elevation: 1,000 m
«25 Springs» — the trail's endpoint where about 25 streams of varying force burst from the rock, forming a pool. Magic. Combine with the nearby Levada do Risco (short, to a 100 m waterfall).
Parking is limited — come early (before 9 am) or after 16:00. Alternative: shuttle bus from Rabaçal Forestry House.
4. Levada do Furado (Ribeiro Frio → Portela)
Length: 11 km (one way)
Difficulty: moderate to hard
Start: Ribeiro Frio
Elevation: 870 m
One of the most scenic long routes. Through wild laurisilva, along canyon edges, with views of the north coast. One-way — needs return transfer (taxi from Portela to Ribeiro Frio ~€25).
Some sections are narrow (60-80 cm) above a drop. Not for serious vertigo sufferers.
5. Pico do Arieiro → Pico Ruivo
Length: 14 km (out and back) or 7 km one way
Difficulty: hard
Start: Pico do Arieiro summit (drivable)
Elevation: 1,818 m (Arieiro) → 1,862 m (Ruivo, island's highest)
Technically not a levada — pure mountain trekking. But the most epic trail on Madeira. Along the ridge between the two highest peaks. Often above the clouds — feels like walking the sky.
Serious elevation — 1,100 m total (up and down). Multiple tunnels. Bring a flashlight, warm clothing (+5°C at peaks even in summer), 2 litres of water.
Better to do one-way with transfer from Pico Ruivo (Achada do Teixeira) back — otherwise you'll be wrecked.
6. Levada das 25 Fontes to Risco
Length: 5 km (out and back)
Difficulty: very easy
Start: Rabaçal
Elevation: 1,000 m
Short version of 25 Fontes — just to the Risco waterfall. Tall (~100 m) waterfall right into the wall, the trail abruptly ends there. Suitable for kids and seniors.
7. Vereda do Larano (Porto da Cruz → Maiata)
Length: 10 km (one way)
Difficulty: moderate
Start: Porto da Cruz
Elevation: 80 m to 500 m
Coastal trail along east coast cliffs. Technically not a levada (it's a «vereda» — a mountain trail), but I include it — views are some of the best on the island. Cliffs, ocean, in good weather you can see far out to sea.
Unlike others — can be very windy with no shelter.
What to bring on levadas
- Hiking boots — rocky trails, mud after rain. Sneakers slip.
- Rain jacket — Madeira weather is changeable, rain possible any day
- Flashlight — for tunnels (Caldeirão Verde and others)
- Water 1.5-2 L per person for routes 4+ hours
- Snack — cafés on routes are rare
- Sun protection + cap — high altitude, stronger sun
- Light jacket — above 1000 m it's cool
- Paper maps or offline maps — GPS signal in the mountains is weak
Season for levadas
| Season | Notes |
|---|---|
| December – March | Greenest, waterfalls full. Rain possible. Temperature 12-18°C. |
| April – June | Blossoming, optimal weather, not hot. |
| July – August | Warm, sometimes hot (up to 25°C on coast), dry. Crowded. |
| September – November | Ideal conditions — warm, off-season, rain rare. |
Hazards
- Slippery trails after rain. Levadas often wet — moss on rocks very slippery.
- Unlit tunnels. Caldeirão Verde, Risco, others — without flashlight, dangerous.
- Narrow paths above drops. Levada do Furado, Pico do Arieiro — not for those with vertigo.
- Rain and fog. Visibility drops to 5 m, easy to get lost.
- Falls. In 2024, 7 tourists died on levadas — all from going off-trail and slipping above drops. Stay on marked paths.
How to allocate time
If you have 6 days on the island, recommended levada split:
- Day 1: acclimatize, Levada do Rei (4-5 hrs)
- Day 2: 25 Fontes + Risco (5-6 hrs)
- Day 3: Caldeirão Verde (5-6 hrs)
- Day 4: east — Vereda do Larano (5 hrs) or Pico do Arieiro (if weather)
- Day 5: Levada do Furado (6-7 hrs) — a serious day
- Day 6: easy route + rest on coast
For Madeira budget and general planning — message us on Telegram. For another similar guide see our northern lights article and Iceland budget.
A levada is a narrow channel 30-80 cm wide, cut or poured into rock. Water flows from mountain springs to fields, towns, and power stations. Maintenance paths run alongside — and those are now hiking trails.
The main perk of levadas: they're almost always flat — water can't flow uphill. So you can hike across mountains without serious elevation changes. Perfect for those who want big views without alpinist effort.
1. Levada do Rei
Length: 10 km (out and back)
Difficulty: easy
Start: Ribeiro Bonito, ETAR São Jorge
Elevation: 580 m
«King's Levada» — the greenest and most tropical on the island. Laurisilva forest (UNESCO World Heritage), ferns, crystal-clear streams. Ends at a spring where you can swim.
Kid-friendly. One of the best first-day routes — gives a sense of what Madeiran forests are.
2. Caldeirão Verde
Length: 13 km (out and back)
Difficulty: moderate
Start: Queimadas Forest Park, Santana
Elevation: 900 m
One of the island's most popular trails. 4 tunnels (bring a flashlight!), several waterfalls, ending at the Green Cauldron — a crater-shaped pool with a waterfall.
Note: water drips from tunnel ceilings. Easy to get soaked. And it's dark — going without a flashlight is unsafe.
3. 25 Fontes (25 springs)
Length: 11 km (out and back)
Difficulty: moderate
Start: Rabaçal
Elevation: 1,000 m
«25 Springs» — the trail's endpoint where about 25 streams of varying force burst from the rock, forming a pool. Magic. Combine with the nearby Levada do Risco (short, to a 100 m waterfall).
Parking is limited — come early (before 9 am) or after 16:00. Alternative: shuttle bus from Rabaçal Forestry House.
4. Levada do Furado (Ribeiro Frio → Portela)
Length: 11 km (one way)
Difficulty: moderate to hard
Start: Ribeiro Frio
Elevation: 870 m
One of the most scenic long routes. Through wild laurisilva, along canyon edges, with views of the north coast. One-way — needs return transfer (taxi from Portela to Ribeiro Frio ~€25).
Some sections are narrow (60-80 cm) above a drop. Not for serious vertigo sufferers.
5. Pico do Arieiro → Pico Ruivo
Length: 14 km (out and back) or 7 km one way
Difficulty: hard
Start: Pico do Arieiro summit (drivable)
Elevation: 1,818 m (Arieiro) → 1,862 m (Ruivo, island's highest)
Technically not a levada — pure mountain trekking. But the most epic trail on Madeira. Along the ridge between the two highest peaks. Often above the clouds — feels like walking the sky.
Serious elevation — 1,100 m total (up and down). Multiple tunnels. Bring a flashlight, warm clothing (+5°C at peaks even in summer), 2 litres of water.
Better to do one-way with transfer from Pico Ruivo (Achada do Teixeira) back — otherwise you'll be wrecked.
6. Levada das 25 Fontes to Risco
Length: 5 km (out and back)
Difficulty: very easy
Start: Rabaçal
Elevation: 1,000 m
Short version of 25 Fontes — just to the Risco waterfall. Tall (~100 m) waterfall right into the wall, the trail abruptly ends there. Suitable for kids and seniors.
7. Vereda do Larano (Porto da Cruz → Maiata)
Length: 10 km (one way)
Difficulty: moderate
Start: Porto da Cruz
Elevation: 80 m to 500 m
Coastal trail along east coast cliffs. Technically not a levada (it's a «vereda» — a mountain trail), but I include it — views are some of the best on the island. Cliffs, ocean, in good weather you can see far out to sea.
Unlike others — can be very windy with no shelter.
What to bring on levadas
- Hiking boots — rocky trails, mud after rain. Sneakers slip.
- Rain jacket — Madeira weather is changeable, rain possible any day
- Flashlight — for tunnels (Caldeirão Verde and others)
- Water 1.5-2 L per person for routes 4+ hours
- Snack — cafés on routes are rare
- Sun protection + cap — high altitude, stronger sun
- Light jacket — above 1000 m it's cool
- Paper maps or offline maps — GPS signal in the mountains is weak
Season for levadas
| Season | Notes |
|---|---|
| December – March | Greenest, waterfalls full. Rain possible. Temperature 12-18°C. |
| April – June | Blossoming, optimal weather, not hot. |
| July – August | Warm, sometimes hot (up to 25°C on coast), dry. Crowded. |
| September – November | Ideal conditions — warm, off-season, rain rare. |
Hazards
- Slippery trails after rain. Levadas often wet — moss on rocks very slippery.
- Unlit tunnels. Caldeirão Verde, Risco, others — without flashlight, dangerous.
- Narrow paths above drops. Levada do Furado, Pico do Arieiro — not for those with vertigo.
- Rain and fog. Visibility drops to 5 m, easy to get lost.
- Falls. In 2024, 7 tourists died on levadas — all from going off-trail and slipping above drops. Stay on marked paths.
How to allocate time
If you have 6 days on the island, recommended levada split:
- Day 1: acclimatize, Levada do Rei (4-5 hrs)
- Day 2: 25 Fontes + Risco (5-6 hrs)
- Day 3: Caldeirão Verde (5-6 hrs)
- Day 4: east — Vereda do Larano (5 hrs) or Pico do Arieiro (if weather)
- Day 5: Levada do Furado (6-7 hrs) — a serious day
- Day 6: easy route + rest on coast
For Madeira budget and general planning — message us on Telegram. For another similar guide see our northern lights article and Iceland budget.