Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova
Two-levada loop 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. Mostly flat concrete edge-path with steep drops; easy underfoot but exposed.
About Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova
Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova 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 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, catalogued as PR7. The PR sign at the trailhead is your reassurance, not a promise — weather on the central ridge can shift inside an hour.
PR7 stitches two parallel levadas above Ponta do Sol into a single 11.5 km loop: 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: PR7 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
GPX track
Download a GPX file for Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova to load into your watch, phone or GPS device. Always carry an offline map and follow the painted PR waymarks on the ground — GPX is a guide, not a substitute for navigation.
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Conditions log
Dated, first-person notes from people who recently walked Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova.
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Frequently asked
How long does the Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova hike take?+
Most hikers complete Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova 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 suitable for beginners?+
Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova 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?+
No, Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova 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 PR7?+
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 PR7 Levada do Moinho the same as the Porto Moniz Levada do Moinho?+
No — confusingly there are two. This is the Ponta do Sol loop combining Levada do Moinho with Levada Nova, on the south coast. There's a separate, unrelated Levada do Moinho near Porto Moniz on the north coast.
Plan around Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova
The nearest town, viewpoint and walk — the three things most visitors pair with Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova in a day.
Nearby on Madeira
Other places within easy reach of Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova.
Plan the rest of your trip
The four guides most first-time visitors reach for.