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Levada da Serra do Faial
Levada da Serra do Faial: walk in Madeira
Levada da Serra do Faial is a 18 km out-and-back walk in Santo da Serra, rated moderate. It climbs about 200 m in total and takes about 5 hours to walk.
Long, gently sloping levada around the eastern flank of the central massif. Many entry points, good for half-day walks.
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Route line (GPX)
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A 8.8 km route line for your watch, phone or GPS. It is the mapped line of the trail, not a track we recorded ourselves, so treat it as guidance and follow the signs and closures on the ground.
The line covers the route one way; on an out-and-back walk you return along the same path.
Download the GPX fileRoute data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the ODbL. This file is published under the same licence. Source.
About Levada da Serra do Faial
Levada da Serra do Faial sits in Santo da Serra and is a moderately demanding hike, good fitness helps but no technical skills required. Over its 18 km point-to-point route, Levada da Serra do Faial climbs around 200 m of cumulative gain. Most walkers take between 5 and 6 hours, depending on pace and how often they stop for photos.
Bring more water than you think you need and pace yourself, the second half is where most people struggle. The route is part of Madeira's signed network of official PR ("Pequena Rota") trails. It sits outside the official PR network, so it is less obviously waymarked, bring a downloaded map and treat the route description as your primary source.
Levada da Serra do Faial is less a single trail than a 30+ km network running along the eastern flank of the central massif, with multiple entry points between Santo da Serra, Choupana, Camacha and Portela. The most popular short option is a 10 km circular loop from Santo da Serra: about 7 km on flat forested levada path and 3 km on quiet country road, taking 3–3.5 hours. The other classic is the Choupana → Camacha point-to-point, 6.2 km in around 2 hours 15. Both stay between 800 m and 1,000 m altitude with negligible elevation change.
This is the levada to walk when the high peaks are in cloud, sitting at mid-altitude it often escapes the worst of the trade-wind cloud cap, and the eucalyptus and laurel forest cover keeps the wind off. The trade-off is that there are few standout viewpoints; this is a quiet immersive forest walk, not a panoramic one. Surface is wet and muddy almost year-round, navigation can get confusing where the levada crosses farm tracks, and an offline GPS track is genuinely useful. Free parking at any of the trailhead villages.
What to know before you go
- Wear proper hiking shoes with grip, basalt gets slippery when damp, and most levada paths have a drop on one side.
- Pack two litres of water per person, there are no refill points on the route, and a light fleece for the ridge wind.
- A small head torch is useful in case the route enters any tunnel section.
- Mid-morning is fine, but earlier starts mean clearer views and emptier paths.
- Check the official 'Estado dos Trilhos' status before you go, trails close after storms or rockfalls.
- Waterproof boots with grip, the forest path is muddy year-round.
- Offline GPS track recommended; multiple unsigned junctions with farm tracks.
- Free parking at Santo da Serra roundabout, Camacha village, or Portela depending on entry point.
- Best walked on cloudy or rainy days when the high trails are unwalkable, the canopy keeps the worst weather off.
- Carry water; the levada water itself is not potable.
Best time to visit
May, June, September and early October combine long daylight, stable weather and lower trail traffic. Winter is fine for the lower levadas but unreliable on the high ridges.
Location
Santo da Serra, Madeira · Open in OpenStreetMap · Google Maps
32.68281, -16.85531
Conditions log
Dated, first-person notes from people who recently walked Levada da Serra do Faial.
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Frequently asked
How long does the Levada da Serra do Faial hike take?
Most hikers complete Levada da Serra do Faial in around 5 hours, though slower paces or photo stops can push it to 7 hours. The route is 18 km long with about 200 m of elevation gain.
Is Levada da Serra do Faial suitable for beginners?
Levada da Serra do Faial is rated moderate. Beginners with reasonable fitness can complete it, but expect uneven ground, some exposed sections and a few hours on your feet.
Do I need a guide for Levada da Serra do Faial?
No, Levada da Serra do Faial is a signed official trail and most fit hikers walk it independently. Local guides are widely available if you prefer transport, route certainty, or commentary on the landscape.
Which section of Levada da Serra do Faial should I walk?
If you want a circular walk with parking back at the start, do the 10 km Santo da Serra loop (3–3.5 hours). If you have transport at both ends, the Choupana → Camacha point-to-point is 6.2 km of pure levada and the easier option. The full Camacha → Portela traverse is 15+ km and only worth it if you specifically want the distance.
Is Levada da Serra do Faial free to walk?
Yes, it sits outside the IFCN paid-trail network, so no Simplifica booking is required from 2026 onwards. All entry points are free to access with free parking.
Plan around Levada da Serra do Faial
The nearest town, viewpoint and walk: the three things most visitors pair with Levada da Serra do Faial in a day.
Nearby on Madeira
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Plan the rest of your trip
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