‘Levada’ is the term used to describe the irrigation channels in Madeira that carry water from water-rich areas to agricultural regions, particularly in the south of the island.

Maintenance paths run alongside the channels, and it is these that have gradually become some of the most beautiful walking routes on Madeira. Some levadas are short and almost flat, whilst others take you through tunnels, beneath waterfalls or along narrow footpaths high above deep valleys.

Why were the levadas built?

Madeira is a relatively humid and rainy island, so at first glance the existence of irrigation channels doesn’t make much sense. However, water is distributed very unevenly across the island.

The northern slopes and the central mountain range receive significantly more rainfall than the agricultural areas in the south. Furthermore, the steep, volcanic terrain makes it impossible to distribute the water easily by conventional means.

This is why an ingenious system of narrow stone – and later concrete – channels was created, winding their way from the rainy north and the central mountain range to the small fields in the southern part of Madeira.

The levadas run at only a gentle gradient so that the water flows by gravity. To overcome high ridges, vertical rock faces and deep valleys, numerous tunnels, bridges and sections carved directly into the rock were also constructed.

The first channels began to be built as early as the first half of the 15th century, shortly after the settlement of Madeira. They mainly supplied water to sugar-cane fields and water mills. The main construction boom followed in the 19th and 20th centuries, when new technologies made it possible to excavate long tunnels.

Today, several thousand kilometres of levadas wind their way across Madeira. The exact figure varies depending on whether only the main channels are counted, or all the small branches as well. However, the figure of 3,100 km of levadas is generally accepted.

The longest is the Levada dos Tornos, at 106 km, which also supplies hydroelectric power stations, closely followed by the Levada do Norte at 98 km.

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Hiking trails along the levadas

Levadas are mostly stone or concrete channels, alongside which runs a path used for construction and maintenance.

The width of the footpath usually ranges from 1 to 2 metres, and during the 20th century many of these paths were converted into signposted hiking trails.

Today, trekking along the levadas is one of the main activities in Madeira. However, this does not mean that every levada is automatically accessible or safe for tourists.

Generally speaking, walking along the levadas involves little elevation gain, as the gradient of the water channels is always gentle. However, the actual difficulty is mainly determined by the length and width of the path, as well as any tunnels and exposed sections above the cliff edge.

When walking along the levadas, be particularly prepared for:

• narrow sections where it is difficult to avoid oncoming walkers
• wet and slippery stones, even in sunny weather
• unlit tunnels, where a head torch comes in handy
• rapid changes in the weather between the coast and the mountains
• weak or no mobile signal in deep valleys
• a longer distance than the almost zero elevation gain would suggest

We recommend waterproof shoes with sturdy soles for all longer levadas. For routes with tunnels, take a headlamp with you; don’t rely solely on your mobile phone’s light.

Also check the weather in Madeira and the best time of year for hiking.

Entry fees and bookings

From 1 January 2026, a new booking system will be in place on the trails. For most of the well-known trails marked with the letters PR, you must book a specific entry time online in advance.

Standard admission costs 4,50 eur for visitors aged 12 and over. Children under 12 go free, but a booking must still be made for them.

The fee does not apply to every walk along a levada. Unofficial routes and paths managed by other organisations may not appear in the booking system. Furthermore, officially closed routes are not usually listed, so always check their current status as well.

• Current prices, multi-day rates and the booking process
• Booking and payment via the official SIMplifica portal

Bookings can also be made on the day of the hike, provided there is availability in the selected time slot.

However, we wouldn’t count on this for the most popular Levadas. Paid bookings cannot normally be changed or cancelled; you are only entitled to a rescheduling or a refund if the route is officially closed.

How can you find out if a levada is open?

The condition of the trails in Madeira changes following heavy rain, landslides and during maintenance work. Therefore, do not treat older articles, comments or Google Maps as confirmation that a trail is passable.

Before every hike, check the IFCN’s official list of open and closed trails.

By car, bus or on an organised trip?

Public transport does not serve many of the levadas at all. A hire car therefore offers the greatest freedom, but it does not solve the logistics for every one-way route.

What’s more, parking is often a problem at the most popular spots.

Option	When it makes the most sense	What to watch out for
A hire car	if you want to visit several levadas during your stay and set off early in the morning	Small car parks and the need to return to the car
Guided hike	You don’t want to drive, sort out parking or make your way back from the other end of the route	Check whether the price also includes the booking and the route fee
Public transport	Choose a route with a bus stop at both ends	Few services, poor connections and limited service at weekends

• 🚗 Compare car hire prices at FNC Airport
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Choose an organised trek along the levadas with transport from your hotel
• 🚌 Read detailed information about transport in Madeira

If you’re going on organised tours, the most practical base is Funchal, as this is where most transfers depart from. With a hire car, you can split your stay between the south, north or west of the island. We’ll give you more advice in the section on where to stay in Madeira.

TOP 5 most beautiful levadas in Madeira

The selection is always largely subjective, but these are the 5 routes we most frequently recommend to visitors to Madeira. You can find a detailed description, transport information and a map by clicking on the name of the levada.

Levada	Choose this one if you want to	Main challenges
1. Caldeirão Verde Levada	the most impressive full-day trek, with tunnels and waterfalls	a long route; a head torch is essential
2. Levada do Risco	A shorter, easier route or a combination with 25 Fontes	Route starts from the upper car park and is very popular
3. Levada das 25 Fontes	A Madeiran classic with a small lake and waterfalls	narrow sections and the highest number of tourists
4. Levada do Moinho	An almost circular walk near Ponta do Sol	a more exposed continuation along the Levada Nova
5. Levada do Rei	a dense laurel forest with minimal elevation gain	a longer round trip

By ‘Levada do Moinho’, we mean the popular route near Ponta do Sol. This is not the same route as the official PR 7 Levada do Moinho in the north-west of the island.

Other hiking levadas

However, there are many more levadas in Madeira that are well worth visiting and walking along. In total, around 35 levadas have been developed for tourists. Let’s take a look at a brief list of them and a map. The map below provides more detailed information about each levada; simply click on the route or the link on the map.

• Levada dos Tornos – The longest levada on Madeira; two sections near Funchal are open to walkers, where you can enjoy pleasant walks between villages and fields, and one in the north of the island near the village of Boaventura, where the levada begins and where, in contrast, you can enjoy a trip into the heart of unspoilt, wooded countryside. Take a look at the map of the routes near Funchal, the town of Camacha and Boaventura.
• Levada do Norte – The second-longest levada, winding its way across the island from north to south. The easiest and most accessible section is the long stretch through the peaceful countryside of the south, amongst villages and fields near the towns of Câmara de Lobos and Ribeira Brava (see map). Other accessible sections are high up in the mountains near the Encumeada pass, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding area (map of easy and challengingroutes).
• Levada do Alecrim – A lovely, undemanding route in theRabaçal area through a peaceful green valley, ideal for combining with other shorter levadas in the vicinity; see map.
• Levada do Paul – An interesting route through high-altitude terrain with minimal elevation gain, leading through a landscape entirely different from the rest of Madeira. During the walk, you’ll encounter only low vegetation, scrub and colourful meadows with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside; see map.
• Levada Nova da Calheta – A long levada in the western part of the island, which you can shorten as you wish or simply walk just the shorter sections. Ideal, easy terrain through lovely countryside of small fields, meadows, deep valleys and villages; it follows the contour lines, so the gradient is minimal – see map.
• Levada da Ribeira da Janela – In our opinion, one of the most beautiful levadas in Madeira, winding through dense green valleys with magnificent views of the mountains and the ocean. However, given its length and elevation gain, it is quite challenging and is situated in the rainiest part of the island, so waterproof clothing is essential; see the map.
• Levada Nova – A more challenging and less-visited continuation of the levada to Moinhos takes you through secluded valleys devoid of people and past small villages; see map.
• Levada da Rocha Vermelha – A more difficult route in theRabaçal area, which leads, amongst other things, through a one-and-a-half-kilometre-long unlit tunnel and along a beautiful path through deep, wooded canyons; see map.
• Levada do Caniçal - Machico – A leisurely route in the immediate vicinity of the resort of Machico, offering lovely views of the whole town and the surrounding mountains; see map.
• Levada do Castelejo – A route through lovely countryside very close to the town of Porto da Cruz, which is rarely visited but all the more beautiful for it; see map.
• Levada do Furado – A magnificent route from the Ribeiro Fríovalley through densely wooded valleys with occasional views of the surrounding countryside. A major advantage is that both ends are accessible by public transport, as the route ends in the western suburbs of Machico, see map.
• Levada Nova - Santo da Serra – A virtually unknown route combining a levada with ordinary footpaths; it is almost circular and takes you through the woods and fields amongst the hamlets above the airport; see map.
• Levada do Caniço – A pleasant walk through a deep valley on the outskirts of Caniço, fairly easy to reach by public transport and not very busy, see map.
• Levada da Serra do Faial – A hidden levada in the eastern suburbs of Funchal runs along a hillside above the towns, through countryside and between small fields; both ends are easily accessible by public transport, see map.
• Levada Fajã do Rodrigues – A short, but quite steep levada near the village of São Vicente, featuring a 500-metre-long unlit tunnel, takes you from a peaceful landscape full of small fields and views right into the heart of forested Madeira with its abandoned farms; see map.
• Levada do Lombo do Mauro – A more challenging trek with a steeper gradient through stunning countryside, from high-altitude plateaus down to the green valleys of the south. The northern end cannot be reached by public transport, so you must return via the same route; see map.
• Levada do Cedros – An almost deserted levada linking the town of Ribeira da Janela and the magical Fanal Forest leads through stunning, unspoilt countryside. Due to the lack of public transport, you must return via the same route; see map.
• Levada da Silveira (Santana) – A forgotten trail near the town of Santana leads through terrain that is difficult to traverse in places, but all the more beautiful for it. The trail is very rarely used, but has been made safe at dangerous points; see the map.