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Levada das 25 Fontes
Levada das 25 Fontes: walk in Madeira
The Levada das 25 Fontes is an 8.6 km return levada walk in Rabaçal, western Madeira (official IFCN figure: 4.3 km each way), rated easy to moderate and taking about 3 hours along a UNESCO laurisilva water channel to a lagoon fed by 25 natural springs. The trail is signposted PR 6 and starts from the Rabaçal car park at 1,064 m elevation, descending on a tarred service road before joining the levada. Most walkers combine it with the adjacent Levada do Risco (PR6.1) for an ~11 km loop ending at a 100 m waterfall.
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Route line (GPX)
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A 4.6 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.
Getting to the start
Parking
Parking at Rabaçal is limited to the lay-bys on the ER105 above the valley, and a paid shuttle runs down the access road to the trailhead. Space is gone early in high season, we have not re-counted the bays, so treat the number as unconfirmed.
Checked June 2026
Booking and a free alternative
This is a classified PR trail, so a timed slot must be booked in advance on the official SIMplifica portal, €4.50 per non-resident. Residents and under-12s are free but still register.
Nearest free walk with no ticket: Vereda do Fanal
What is Levada das 25 Fontes?
Key facts
- Trail code
- PR 6
- Distance
- 8.6 km return (official)
- Duration
- About 3 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy to moderate
- Start point
- Rabaçal car park (1,064 m)
- Region
- Paul da Serra / Rabaçal, west Madeira
- Elevation gain
- ≈ 250 m
- Habitat
- UNESCO laurisilva forest
About Levada das 25 Fontes
Levada das 25 Fontes sits in the south-west, where the laurisilva spills toward the coast and is a moderately demanding hike, good fitness helps but no technical skills required. Over its 8.6 km point-to-point route, Levada das 25 Fontes climbs around 250 m of cumulative gain. Most walkers take between 3 and 4 hours, depending on pace and how often they stop for photos.
It packs a lot of variety into a relatively short distance, which is why it stays busy through the season. The route is part of Madeira's signed network of official PR ("Pequena Rota") trails, catalogued as PR6. The PR sign at the trailhead is your reassurance, not a promise, weather on the central ridge can shift inside an hour.
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.
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
Calheta, Madeira · Open in OpenStreetMap · Google Maps
32.75430, -17.13314
Conditions log
Dated, first-person notes from people who recently walked Levada das 25 Fontes.
No verified reports yet for this trail. We only publish entries we can stand behind, dated, first-person, and signed. If you've walked it in the last few weeks, use the form above and we'll add it here with credit.
Visitor reviews
Honest first-person notes from people who have actually been to Levada das 25 Fontes. Reviews are moderated before they appear, no account needed.
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Frequently asked
How long does the Levada das 25 Fontes walk take?
Most walkers complete the 8.6 km return route in about 3 hours at a steady pace, including time at the lagoon. Add 45–60 minutes if you combine it with the Levada do Risco extension.
Is the Levada das 25 Fontes walk difficult?
The levada section is flat and easy. The difficulty is the 2 km descent (and return climb) on the tarred road between Rabaçal car park and the levada, a 250 m elevation change. A shuttle minibus runs from the car park if you prefer to skip it.
Where does the Levada das 25 Fontes start?
It starts at the Rabaçal car park on the ER 105 road across the Paul da Serra plateau, roughly a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Funchal. Parking is free but fills by mid-morning in summer.
Do I need a permit for the Levada das 25 Fontes?
PR6 is on the paid IFCN network, since January 2026 non-residents pay a per-route fee and book a time slot via simplifica.madeira.gov.pt. The trail is open year-round; check live conditions before going after heavy rain.
Can I combine Levada das 25 Fontes with the Levada do Risco?
Yes, the two trails share the first 1.5 km from Rabaçal. The Risco extension adds about 2 km return to reach a 100 m waterfall and is the recommended loop, totalling around 11 km.
Do you need a permit for 25 Fontes?
No permit, but parking at Rabaçal is limited and there is a paid shuttle from the road above.
Can you combine 25 Fontes with Risco?
Yes, the Risco waterfall (PR6.1) branches off the same trailhead and adds about 90 minutes.
How long does the Levada das 25 Fontes hike take?
Most hikers complete Levada das 25 Fontes in around 3 hours, though slower paces or photo stops can push it to 5 hours. The route is 8.6 km long with about 250 m of elevation gain.
Is Levada das 25 Fontes suitable for beginners?
Levada das 25 Fontes 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 das 25 Fontes?
No, Levada das 25 Fontes 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.
Plan around Levada das 25 Fontes
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