Levadas Trails of Madeira

PR1 Vereda do Areeiro is a trail connecting three of Madeira’s highest peaks. It starts at Pico do Areeiro (1818 m), crosses Pico das Torres (1851 m), and ends at Pico Ruivo (1862 m). This 7 km trail of moderate difficulty takes about 3:30 hours to complete and is part of the Central Mountain Massif, a Natura 2000 Network area. The trail begins at the Pico do Areeiro viewpoint and includes tunnels, steep slopes, and a challenging climb to the shelter Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo. Hikers will see high-altitude heath and unique bird species along the way.

Roger Tavares, a local from the island of Madeira during his hikes to PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo, one of the most popular hiking trail in Madeira. This trail takes you to Pico Ruivo, which is the highest peak on the island at 1,862 meters tall. Hikers love this trail because of the amazing views and the different types of landscapes you can see along the way.

Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço is a 3 km trail (6 km round trip) located at the eastern tip of Madeira Island. It takes about 2:30 hours to hike and is moderately difficult. The trail offers panoramic views of both the north and south sides of the island and follows an undulating path on a volcanic peninsula made mostly of basalt, with some limestone. At the end, there are two islets: Desembarcadouro and Farol. The area has a semi-arid climate, low vegetation, and no trees, which is different from the rest of Madeira. It is a Partial Nature Reserve, home to rare plants, diverse animals, large colonies of seagulls and protected seabirds.

Levada do Caldeirão Verde is a popular hiking trail in Madeira. It starts at Casa de Abrigo das Queimadas, a traditional thatched house in Queimadas Forest Park. The trail offers stunning views of the island’s interior, lush forests, and dramatic landscapes. It goes through the Laurissilva forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site rich in unique plants and animals. The path follows an 18th-century irrigation channel and passes through four rock-carved tunnels, ending at the beautiful Caldeirão Verde lake with a waterfall cascading from 100 meters above.

Levada do Rei is a 5.3 km trail (10.6 km round trip) on Madeira Island. It takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete and is of medium difficulty. The trail starts at the Water Treatment Plant in Quebradas, São Jorge, and goes through an exotic forest and agricultural landscapes of São Jorge and Santana. Along the way, you can see tunnels formed by diverse vegetation. The highlight is reaching Ribeiro Bonito, a natural sanctuary with dense Laurissilva forest vegetation. The trail ends at the São Jorge Water Mill, a historic mill still in operation that grinds cereals grown in the region.

Levada do Risco is a 1.5 km trail (3 km round trip) located near Levada do Alecrim. It shares its starting point with the Levada das 25 Fontes (PR 6) in Rabaçal. This easy trail takes about 2 hours to complete and stays around 1000 meters in altitude, offering clear views of Madeira’s natural beauty. The trail is surrounded by dense, green nature. The main attraction is at the end, where you reach the Risco viewpoint, featuring an impressive vertical waterfall that creates a striking white streak against dark rocks.