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Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit
Not the classified PR7
This is the established 11.5 km unclassified circuit above Ponta do Sol. PR7 Levada do Moinho is a different one-way 10.5 km route near Porto Moniz with an official IFCN status.
See PR7 Levada do Moinho →Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit: walk in Madeira
Circuito Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova
Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit is a 11.5 km circular walk in Ponta do Sol, rated moderate. It climbs about 320 m in total and takes about 4 hours to walk.
Unclassified two-levada circuit above Ponta do Sol linking Levada Nova and Levada do Moinho, banana terraces, two waterfalls you can walk under, and a short head-torch tunnel. Not the classified PR7 Levada do Moinho in Porto Moniz. Mostly flat concrete edge-path with steep drops; easy underfoot but exposed.
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About Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit
Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit sits in Madeira's sunniest western strip and is a moderately demanding hike, good fitness helps but no technical skills required. Over its 11.5 km loop, Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit climbs around 320 m of cumulative gain. Most walkers take between 4 and 5 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.
This loop stitches two parallel levadas above Ponta do Sol into a single 11.5 km circuit: you climb on Levada do Moinho through banana terraces and farmland, cross over via a short connecting climb, then come back on Levada Nova through a 200 m tunnel and a genuine walk-through waterfall. Around 320 m of cumulative gain, mostly easy underfoot on the flat levada edges, but the connector between the two levadas is a steep stair climb that catches people out. Allow 4 hours including time to get soaked at the waterfall.
The waterfall is the whole reason to walk this loop. About 7 km in on the Levada Nova side, the path passes directly under a 30 m cascade: there's no way around, you walk through it. Bring a dry bag and waterproof your phone. The other reason is the lack of crowds: this walk is overshadowed by the 25 Fontes and Caldeirão Verde headliners and rarely feels busy, even in July. Levada Nova has long unfenced sections with serious drops on the downhill side; the levada itself is 50 cm wide in places and not for vertigo sufferers.
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.
- Bring a headlamp, some sections pass through unlit lava tunnels.
- 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.
- Head torch essential for the 200 m unlit tunnel on Levada Nova.
- Dry bag or waterproof phone case for the walk-through waterfall, you will get wet.
- Start and finish at Lombada church car park in Ponta do Sol.
- Unfenced exposed sections on Levada Nova, not suitable for severe vertigo or young children.
- Skip after heavy rain: the levada channels overflow and the waterfall becomes dangerous.
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
Ponta do Sol, Madeira · Open in OpenStreetMap · Google Maps
32.68969, -17.09169
Conditions log
Dated, first-person notes from people who recently walked Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit.
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.
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Frequently asked
How long does the Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit hike take?
Most hikers complete Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit in around 4 hours, though slower paces or photo stops can push it to 6 hours. The route is 11.5 km long with about 320 m of elevation gain.
Is Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit suitable for beginners?
Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit 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 do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit?
No, Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit 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.
How wet do you get on this walk?
If you walk the full loop you go directly under a 30 m waterfall, there is no way around. Most walkers come out soaked from the shoulders down. A waterproof jacket helps but expect everything you're wearing to be wet.
Is this the same as PR7 Levada do Moinho?
No, confusingly there are two. The official PR7 Levada do Moinho is the Ribeira da Cruz – Lamaceiros route on the north coast near Porto Moniz, and it is currently closed by IFCN. This page is the unclassified Ponta do Sol loop combining Levada do Moinho with Levada Nova on the south coast, which is not covered by that closure.
Plan around Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova circuit
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Plan the rest of your trip
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