Of all the reasons to visit Madeira, one of the best parts is hiking along all the levadas.
These water channels have a rich history in Madeira. They are still used functionally today to provide water throughout the island. Still, almost all the levadas have concrete slabs wide enough to walk along or trails running next to them, so it isn’t surprising that they’ve become hiking trails.
This has made it significantly easier for tourists to access some of the island’s most beautiful parts, such as Calderio Verde, Miradouro dos Balcões, and a few of Madeira’s best waterfalls.
It’s very, very cool.
So, after spending a couple of weeks hiking through the levadas in Madeira, we want to share our favorites with you. We’ll also give you details on the trail distance, location, and what to expect on your visit!
What are the Levadas in Madeira?
The levadas of Madeira are an extensive series of irrigation channels that carry water from the wet highlands in the north to the drier villages closer to the coast.
Fittingly, the name comes from the Portuguese word levada, which means “to take” or “to carry.” There are actually 3,100 kilometers of aqueducts on the island (which is only 55 kilometers across at its longest point).
Most of these channels were built in the 15th-17th centuries, shortly after João Gonçalves Zarco and Bartolomeu Perestrello discovered Madeira. It’s an incredible feat for its time. The terrain is extremely difficult, with cliffs, trees, and dense vegetation covering every inch of the land.
Building the levadas often involved digging long tunnels or rappelling from ropes to build channels into the side of the cliffs.
Locals used this water primarily for agricultural irrigation to water the island’s largest export, sugarcane. It also provided clean water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.
These channels are still used for their intended purpose today, but Madeira’s largest export is now wine and bananas, which require significantly less water.
So, the levadas have become a part of the tourism industry, and any levades above 1,000m altitude are filtered through hydroelectric plants to produce electrical energy.
1. Levada do Caldeirão Verde
Distance: 11.7 km (7 miles)
Elevation Gain: 93m (305 ft)
Estimated Time: 6-8 Hours
Official Trail Map
Of all our hikes in Madeira, Levada do Caldeirão Verde was probably the most beautiful.
It looks long (11.7km), but there’s hardly any elevation gain, and it offers a little bit of everything!
The hike starts near Queimadas, with some local Santana houses and other cool things to see. Then, for a few kilometers, you’ll pass through a dense forest with lush vegetation, remarkable trees, and quite a few tunnels (Don’t worry– our phone’s flashlight worked just fine).
Then, the trail opens up to a huge valley. The levada seems to cling to the side of the cliff with a small path to follow right next to it. The final few kilometers are full of steep drop-offs and crazy views.
The path eventually reaches Caldeirão Verde waterfall, which gets its name from the ‘green cauldron’ where the waterfall comes off the rock and falls over 100 feet into a small pool.
Even during high season, it’s not crazy powerful, but the scenery around it is what makes it so appealing.
However, this hike gets extremely crowded and is an out-and-back trail, so we recommend getting there early to beat the tour groups and heavy crowds.
2. Levada Do 25 Fontes
Distance: 8.5 km (5.3 miles)
Elevation Gain: 220m (721 ft)
Estimated Time: 1-2 Hours
Official Trail Map
Another must-do hike that makes its way onto most Madeira bucket lists is Levada das 25 Fontes.
This trail takes us through rugged trees, stunning viewpoints, and some of the lushest vegetation on the island. With thousands of unique plant species, we sometimes felt like walking through a botanical garden.
Although the waterfall at the end, 25 Fontes Falls, isn’t the most spectacular—more of a gentle stream than a cascade—the falls sit in a beautiful nook of the forest full of hanging vines, deep green foliage, and lots of birds!
If you have your own car in Madeira, it’s easiest to just drive yourself to the trailhead. However, we did go to the ‘wrong’ trailhead for this hike. We parked here, but the actual parking lot is a couple of kilometers up the road (right here).
The accident added about 2 kilometers to the hike, but it seemed like we had less elevation (that’s not what the trail map says, but I’m almost positive that AllTrails is mistaken). The silver lining of the accident is that it passed through a sweet tunnel that was over a kilometer long!
If you don’t have your own rental car, you can find plenty of guided tours to Levada Do 25 Fontes or hire a taxi to get there from Funchal.
3. Levada do Risco
Distance: 6 km (3.7 miles)
Elevation Gain: 499m (1,637 ft)
Estimated Time: 2-3 Hours
Official Trail Map
Levada do Risco takes you to Risco Waterfall, one of Madeira’s top waterfalls.
It’s typically combined with the hike to Levada das 25 Fontes or Lagoa do Vento (a massive lake at the top of Risco Waterfall, or the Levada do Alecrim waterfall.
The direct hike to Risco Waterfall is about 6 km roundtrip, but when you add one of these other scenic spots to the itinerary, it’s still less than 10 km, which is easy to complete in 3-4 hours.
- Levada do Risco + Levada das 25 Fontes = 9.5 km
- Levada do Risco + Lagoa do Vento = 9.6 km
- Levada do Risco + Levada do Alecrim Waterfall = 8.4 km
- All 4 in one day = 15 km
The waterfall is stunning and one of the few that’s still flowing strongly in September. There’s a lookout with plenty of space for photos, but we couldn’t figure out how to get to the base of the waterfall.
We might have figured it out, but we were busy looking for our drone, which I managed to crash into the side of the mountain. Yup, I flew it right into the rock face.
So, Risco is a bittersweet memory for us. Here’s the only drone pic we salvaged. It’s not the best, but hey, it’s something—haha!
4. Levada Do Alecrim Waterfall
Distance: 4.4 Mile
Elevation Gain: 206m (675 ft)
Estimated Time: 2-3 Hours
Official Trail Map
Alecrim Waterfall is a short but beautiful waterfall. The river leading up to the waterfall has lots of boulders, which is really beautiful and makes for a nice picnic spot to have lunch or some snacks once you get here!
We’ve never seen anyone swim here, but it’s possible (just be aware the water will be freezing!)
As for directions, there are two ways to hike to Alecrim Waterfall.
The most popular hiking trail to the waterfall starts from the Rabaçal Valley trailhead. It’s one of the most popular trailheads in Madeira, but most people are going to Levada Das 25 Fontes or Risco Waterfall. So even if the parking lot is overflowing with cars, that doesn’t mean Alecrim Waterfall is overcrowded.
But there’s also another hike (much less strenuous) that starts farther east. This hike is only 4 km (2.5 miles), and although it requires you to complete a few steep ascents, it’s much shorter than the main hike.
5. Levada Do Moinho to Levada Nova
Unfortunately, as of June 2024, this trail is closed indefinitely due to degradation of the walking path.
Distance: 8.9 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation Gain: 106m (347 ft)
Estimated Time: 3-4 Hours
Official Trail Map
Levada Nova and Levada do Moinho is a lesser-known hike in Madeira close to Ribeira Brava and Calheta Beach. that combines two levadas
The trail combines two levadas into one hike with several waterfalls along the way, including Levada Nova Waterfall, where the path is carved into the rock and goes behind the waterfall!
It’s mostly flat, except for a steep decline at the end (if you go clockwise) or a steep incline at the start (if you go counterclockwise).
I did this hike at sunrise, and it was incredible. It took about 3.5 hours to complete, including spending about an hour at Levada Nova Waterfall, taking pics and enjoying the falls.
I had the waterfall to myself for almost an hour. On the way back, I only saw a couple of other hikers, making this one of the more secluded hikes in Madeira.
There’s another larger waterfall on the trail called Ann’s Waterfall. You can’t get close to it, which was a bummer, but it was a nice pit stop!
6. Levada Dos Balcões (PR11)
Distance: 2.9km (1.8 miles)
Elevation Gain: 112m (367 ft)
Estimated Time: 1-2 Hours
Official Trail Map
Lavada Dos Balcões is most popular for its absolutely insane views and for feeding wild birds near the top. They will literally eat right out of the palm of your hand!
The hike is super short, so you don’t need to hike the trail long, but you should allow extra time to enjoy the birds. It also takes about 30-40 minutes to get here from Funchal or Machico.
We came around sunset after hiking Penha de Águia, and hardly any other people were there. The only downside to making an evening hike is that we couldn’t buy birdfeed at the trailhead (it was closed).
Luckily, there was enough left on the ground that we could pick it up and have the birds land on our hands for a snack!
Even without the birds, this hike is worth it. The balcony is nearly 1000 feet high and has a beautiful view. The only other place like it in Madeira is Cabo Girão Skywalk.
7. Levada Do Rei
Distance: 9.7 kilometers (6 Miles)
Elevation Gain: 72m (236 feet)
Estimated Time: 2-3 Hours
Official Trail Map
Levada do Rei, or the “King’s Levada,” is one of the most popular levadas in Maderia but not the most convenient to reach. The trailhead is in the mountains above Sao Jorge, which is about 45 minutes from Seixial, 35 minutes from Machico, and over an hour from Funchal/Calheta/Ribera Brava.
The reason it’s so popular, despite being out of the way, is because it’s one of the easiest hikes in Madeira and passes through Laurissilva Forest (a Unesco World Heritage Site).
Also, most of the trail follows Ribeiro Bonito (Beautiful River) through the jungle and several tunnels until you eventually reach a waterfall that requires a little bit of scrambling to get to the base.
Admittedly, it’s tiny, but still a nice point of interest to mark the end of the hike. Here, you can relax by the stream and stop for a short picnic before heading back.
This is also one of the few levadas where tour agencies lead guided hikes. So, if you don’t feel confident going alone or need transportation, you can check those out here.
Also, bring a rain jacket because part of the levada walks directly under a small waterfall!
8. Levada Dos Cedros (Fanal Forest)
Distance: 11.1 Kilometers (6.9 Miles)
Elevation Gain: 373m (1,220 feet)
Estimated Time: 3-4 Hours
Official Trail Map
Levada dos Cedros is a lesser-known hike that offers a serene and enchanting experience through the mystical Fanal Forest and through ancient forests filled with Madeira’s endemic cedar trees (that’s where it gets its name; Cedros = Ceders).
The dense forest canopy provides ample shade, making this a pleasant hike even on warmer days.
The official hike is a loop, and this is one of the few trails where we’d follow the AllTrails Map instead of WalkMe. If you follow the official route (PR14) on WalkMe, you’ll spend 2-3 kilometers hiking on the road. However, the AllTrails route cuts through the forest for this section and makes for a more enjoyable (and slightly shorter hike).
It’ll probably be pretty busy in the Fanal Forest, especially since public bus routes serve the entrance, but the rest of the hike is quite peaceful, with a few lookouts, waterfalls, and lots of shade.
There’s also not much incline, so it’s easy to pair with another hike, an afternoon at the Porto Moniz Natural Pools, or a day exploring Seixial!
9. Levada Do Castelejo / Furado
Distance: 7.4-17 kilometers (4.4-10.5 miles)
Elevation Gain: 275m (902 feet)
Estimated Time: 2-6 Hours
Official Trail Map
One of our favorite hikes in Madiera is Penha de Águia, which overlooked Porto da Cruz in northeast Maderia.
But if you’re up for a longer hike, there’s a levada that starts near Porto da Cruz called Levada do Castelejo. This levada connects to another trail called Levada do Furado, which starts near Ribeiro Frio.
You can hike either trail on its own. Levada do Castelejo is 10.1 km (Using AllTrails, not WalkMe), and Levada do Furado is 7.4 kilometers.
So, if you combine them, it’s about 17 kilometers roundtrip.
The hike gives you a crazy vantage point of Penha de Águia at the beginning, then leads to more remote areas of the forest where you’ll see a few small lakes, waterfalls, wooden bridges, flora, and fauna.
This hike is perfect for those looking to escape the more crowded trails. However, it is less maintained than other trails in the area, and landslides often damage parts of it.
10. Levada Fajã do Rodrigues
Distance: 8.1 kilometers (5 miles)
Elevation Gain: 95m (311 feet)
Estimated Time: 3-4 Hours
Official Trail Map
Levada Fajã do Rodrigues is a captivating hike near São Vicente that offers a perfect blend of lush greenery, impressive tunnels, unmarked waterfalls with turquoise pools, and beautiful flowers.
Like almost all the levadas, you’ll also be treated to wild views of the mountain ridges and small villages below the trail.
The hike begins with a gentle walk along the levada, but as you get deeper into the forest, you’ll have to navigate several long tunnels and narrow walkways. We know that people bring flashlights or headlamps, but after hiking through countless tunnels, we found that our phones worked fine (even for tunnels that surpassed a kilometer long).
This is another one of the least visited levadas on the list, but it’s well-marked and very flat, making it a great option to see more of Madeira’s unspoiled landscapes when your legs could use a break from the more challenging hikes!
11. Levada Dos Tornos (from Monte)
Distance: 7.5-14.4 kilometers (4.6-8.9 miles)
Elevation Gain: 200-700 meters (650-2,200 feet)
Estimated Time: 2-6 Hours
Official Trail Map
There are two ‘Levada dos Tornos‘ in Madeira. One is a relatively short levada hike near Funchal/Monte. The other starts in Boaventura and is one of Madeira’s longest and most versatile levadas.
While both are incredible places to visit, we’re talking about the shorter hike near Funchal.
We thought it was a good idea to add this hike to the list because it’s the most convenient levada you can see near Funchal, which is awesome for people who don’t have their own transportation or cruise passengers who only have 24-48 hours in Maderia.
The shortest route runs from Jardim Monte Palace Madeira in Monte to the Palheiro Gardens (about 7.5 kilometers).
But if you want to make it longer, you can continue along the levada all the way to Camacha (14.4 km). The levada walks along the ridge overlooking Funchal for most of the way!
Closing Thoughts
Levadas are one of Madeira’s most unique aspects, so we tell everyone who asks for our advice to try to add a couple of them to their itinerary.
We include a few on our curated plan for 4 days in Madeira.
You should also look into other hikes around the island! Some of our favorite trails in Madeira, like Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço and Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo, don’t follow any levadas but are well worth the effort!
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