Levadas Things to Do

Start out early with a packed lunch, waterproof boots, and make sure to pack an anorak and torch in your rucksack.
From Queimadas to Caldeirao Verde is 6 km (3.7 miles) or an hour and a half’s walk.
The first tunnel is a short one slightly curved. Soon after the second tunnel which is 200 metre long, comes a third short tunnel with a window in the middle. It is low and its floor is often wet, so proceed with caution.
The fourth and last tunnel is short and Caldeirao Verde is one kilometre the other side.

Start your walk after the forestry house right below the restaurant on the right towards east. Follow the levada until the first waterhouse. Descend left to Portela.
Breathtaking nature scenes. Great!

Start about 100m after the forestry house in Ribeiro Frio and follow the Levada towards west until the viewpoint in balcoes. It is a long short walk. Take light footwear and appropriate clothing according to the weather.

Start in Rabaçal on the west side of Paúl da Serra, Madeira island’s big plateau. Wear the right shoes, take along a picnic, and put a sweater and anorak in your rucksack. Don’t forget you are going up to about 1,000 metres above sea level, where it rains a lot more than in Funchal and the average temperature is 6ºC less than on the south coast.

The Levada da Central da Ribeira da Janela is one of the best-kept levadas on Madeira. This large levada almost flowed over with water, and the Levadeiros (levada keepers) were busy with putting up new wire ropes and mending the levada wall. Still, don't expect an easy, eventless walk. Seven tunnels and a waterfall are waiting to be passed, and the upper valley offers some spectacular views.

The way along the Levada do Norte starts as a popular, easy stroll through a forest and small villages perched over the deep valley of the Ribeira Brava, and ends at a vertical rock wall where the path gets too dangerous to continue.