Madeira is a special island when it comes to Nature, therefore “levadas” and “veredas” (both trails) are one of the best ways to enjoy the island.

Visiting Madeira and not walking any of its trails would be a shame. There is a trail for everyone and for all kinds of physical conditions 😊

“Levadas” are irrigation channels surrounded by walking trails. These channels were built in Madeira over the years (the most recent during the 1940s) and serve to carry the water that is more abundant in the northern part of the island to the south, which is more populous and where most of the plantations are located.

“Veredas” are what we usually refer to as trails.

The truth is that I am far from being familiar with all the trails in Madeira. This is not an easy task either, as the island is full of these paths. In fact, there are about 30 trails, counting more than 2000 km in length.

On my most recent trip to Madeira I walked 3 incredible trails and it’s these ones that I’m going to tell you about right now!

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you are planning a trip to Madeira and are not sure yet what to visit, take a look at my post with the complete 6 days itinerary on Madeira island.

This was the first “levada” (trail) I walked on the island and I quickly fell in love. The route is lush green and therefore the path is almost always done under the shade (perfect for hotter days).

We parked the car near the Rabaçal viewpoint and then walked down to Casa de Abrigo do Rabaçal, where 25 Foutains Trail (Levada das 25 Fontes) begins. Until Casa de Abril do Rabaçal, the trail is not very interesting and it is 2 km long).

At Casa de Abrigo do Rabaçal you will easily find the correct direction of 25 Fountains Trail (Levada das 25 Fontes). The trail is very well marked and it is quite easy to reach the 25 Foutains Waterfall. This “levada” (trail) goes down some stairs, so coming back might be a little tiring. But I promise it’s worth the effort 😉

On the way back, always following the direction of Casa do Rabaçal, you will find a sign pointing to the Risco Trail (Levada do Risco). The trail from there is about 1 km long and it is always flat. In the end, you will be presented with a waterfall – Risco waterfall.

Here the names are very literal: 25 Fountains Waterfall because 25 small waterfalls fall forming this amazing “lagoon” and Risco Waterfall because the waterfall consists only of one waterfall.

From the Risco waterfall, we headed back towards Casa de Abrigo do Rabaçal. Here we opted to take a minibus provided by the City Hall that took us to the car park (near Rabaçal Viewpoint).

The minibus is available every day from 10h to 18h and costs 5€ round trip (3€ one way). This service works on a first-come, first-served basis and has an average frequency of 15/20 minutes. This is an excellent option to save a few kilometres for your legs, as it also passes through the least interesting part of the route.

As we opted to return by minibus, we walked 9 km in total.

💡 EXTRA TIP: In my opinion, it is preferable to walk the 25 Fountains Trail (Levada das 25 Fontes) first and then the Risco Trail (Levada do Risco), since the first is much more tiring. If you prefer a shorter route, you can even just walk Risco Trail, as it is much easier to access.

Useful information about the trail

• Starting/Ending point: Rabaçal Viewpoint (or Casa do Rabaçal if you choose to take the minibus)
• Total distance: 11 km (can be shortened to 7 km if you choose to go and come back through the minibus)
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (easier if you choose to use the minibus)
• Linear route
• The minibus is a very interesting option on the way back (as it is uphill), but perhaps it can be discarded at the beginning as it is always downhill
• Average duration: 3 hours (includes some photo stops along the way and a stop for a snack at the 25 Fountains Waterfall. Remember we also skipped the final 2 km)

The Alecrim Trail (Levada do Alecrim) is kinder on the legs as the total route is shorter (7 km round trip) and not too steep. However, if you walk this “levada” (trail), I highly recommend taking a small diversion to the Vento Waterfall (Lagoa do Vento), which was the waterfall I liked the most in Madeira 😊

Similarly to 25 Fountains/Risco Trails, the trail begins next to the car park at the Rabaçal viewpoint. From there, instead of going down to Casa de Abrigo do Rabaçal, we can observe a sign indicating the beginning of the Alecrim Trail (Levada do Alecrim).

Once again, the path is easy to follow and it is covered with vegetation for the most part. 3,5 km after starting the trail, we reach Dona Beja Waterfall. This waterfall is more impressive than the others, but in the end, the access has to be done through small stones. It’s not difficult but you should be more careful.

After a short break to rest and have a snack, we headed back. When heading back, you will find a sign for Vento Waterfall (Lagoa do Vento).

The trail to Lagoa do Vento is only 1 km (one way), but it is always downhill (you have to walk down some stairs). When we arrived at Vento Waterfall (Lagoa do Vento), I was totally surprised. The surrounding area is beautiful and it really makes you want to stay there and contemplate the landscape for a long time – and so we did.

It was then time to return. Although we have gone down quite a few steps during that 1 km diversion to Vento Waterfall (Lagoa do Vento), it’s not mandatory to come all the way back up. We still have to climb some steps, but at a certain point, there is a diversion to Casa de Abrigo do Rabaçal. We opted to follow that direction. Besides saving almost 1 km of the route and all of those stairs back up, when we got to Casa do Rabaçal, we opted again to ride the minibus to the car park.

💡 EXTRA TIP: During high season, these trails are highly visited, so it is recommended to start your trail early. The car park tends to get very full and you may even have a hard time finding a parking space. In our case, we started both walks (Levada das 25 Fontes/Risco + Levada do Alecrim) at 9h30 and, at the time, there was no minibus to drive you to Casa de Abrigo do Rabaçal. However, as going to Casa de Abrigo do Rabaçal is always downhill (2 km), it’s quite easy.

In total, we covered 8 km and it took us 3h25 with stops to rest and enjoy both waterfalls.

Useful information about the trail

• Starting/Ending point: Rabaçal Viewpoint
• Total distance: 9 km (can be shortened to 8 km if you choose to go from Lagoa do Vento to Casa do Rabaçal in the minibus)
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (easier if you choose to return from Lagoa do Vento to Casa do Rabaçal)
• Linear route
• To return from Lagoa do Vento, it may make sense to head towards Casa do Rabaçal and from there take the minibus to the car park
• Average duration: 3h30 (includes some stops along the way and at both waterfalls, but we skipped 1 km and the full ascent from Lagoa do Vento)

Balcões trail (Levada dos Balcões) may be one of the shortest in Madeira Island but possibly one of the most surprising.

The route is only 3 km long (round trip), completely flat and can be easily covered in 1 hour.

In the middle of the trail, you can also find a small café/restaurant, which serves some light meals.

Arriving at the end of the trail, we are rewarded with one of the most beautiful landscapes of Madeira – Balcões Viewpoint! Here you will find privileged views over the Laurissilva Forest – one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal. There is no need for words, am I right? This is definitely one the most beautiful trails in Madeira!!

Useful information about the trail

• Starting/Ending Point: Ribeiro Frio (just write on Google Maps “Levada dos Balcões”)
• Total distance (roundtrip): 3 km
• Difficulty: Very Easy
• Linear route
• Average duration: 1 hour

And, now that I’ve found this incredible trails, I already have some other trails on my wish list for my next visit to Madeira island:

• Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço (PR8)
• Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR9)
• Vereda do Areeiro (PR1)

In short, you should choose the trails (“levadas” or “veredas”) that you feel are most appropriate for your level of experience and physical condition. Walking any of these trails is an unforgettable experience, so if you are planning a trip to Madeira I think it is an excellent idea to set aside some of your available time to add at least one trail in your itinerary. 

Anyway, there are always some points you should take into consideration before walking along Levadas/Veredas in Madeira:

• Always carry water and some food as some trails are quite long and most do not have any support facilities.
• Wear suitable footwear.
• Collect all your rubbish!
• Bring a warm coat and/or raincoat. The weather in Madeira is very uncertain and you should be prepared.
• Apply sun cream. Even on the trails which are mostly in the shade, there are some stretches of the trail in the sun.
• Avoid walking the trails on rainy days. Some paths are quite slippery when wet and consequently more dangerous. 
• For high-altitude trails (as is the case of Vereda do Areeiro, for example), check the weather conditions beforehand. The weather, besides being unstable, varies depending on the area of the island. Before starting your trail, you should definitely check the weather conditions at that moment. Thankfully, there is a website you can check out with real time webcams for many places around the island. 

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