Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha)
Long, almost-flat unclassified levada walk linking Monte and Camacha above Funchal, passing the famous Hortensia and Jasmin tea houses. Free to walk — no IFCN booking.
About Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha)
Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha) sits in the sunlit south coast around Funchal and is an accessible walk suitable for most fitness levels. Over its 15 km point-to-point route, Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha) 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 dos Tornos is the long, almost-flat levada that contours the hills above Funchal between Monte and Camacha — around 15 km point-to-point if you walk the whole thing, more often broken into shorter sections starting at one of the tea houses (Hortensia, Jasmin) along the way. Total elevation gain is tiny (around 200 m cumulative); the levada itself drops less than 40 m across the whole route. It is unclassified, free, and outside the IFCN Simplifica system, which makes it the obvious option for a half-day from Funchal that doesn't need a booking.
Most walkers start in Monte (cable car up from the seafront, then walk five minutes to the trailhead near the church) and turn round whenever they've had enough — there's no need to commit to the full traverse. Two short unlit tunnels closer to Camacha need a phone torch. One section between Curral dos Romeiros and the Hortensia tea house is narrow with an exposed downhill drop; there's a signed alternative road detour around it for nervous walkers. Bus 29 from Funchal reaches Camacha if you do want to do the full point-to-point.
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.
- Easiest start: take the Teleférico from Funchal seafront up to Monte (around €18 return), walk five minutes to the levada.
- Bus 29 connects Camacha back to Funchal centre — useful for one-way walkers.
- Headlamp or phone torch for two short unlit tunnels near the Camacha end.
- One exposed narrow section between Curral dos Romeiros and Hortensia tea house — signed road detour available.
- Tea houses (Hortensia, Jasmin) along the route serve lunch and cake — handy turnaround points.
- Trail shoes with grip are enough; the surface is concrete and dirt, generally good underfoot.
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
Funchal, Madeira · Open in OpenStreetMap · Google Maps
32.67600, -16.90100
GPX track
Download a GPX file for Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha) 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.
Download levada-dos-tornos.gpxLoading route preview…
Preview only. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Conditions log
Dated, first-person notes from people who recently walked Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha).
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 dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha). Reviews are moderated before they appear — no account needed.
Loading reviews…
Frequently asked
How long does the Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha) hike take?+
Most hikers complete Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha) in around 5 hours, though slower paces or photo stops can push it to 7 hours. The route is 15 km long with about 200 m of elevation gain.
Is Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha) suitable for beginners?+
Yes. Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha) is rated easy and is suitable for most fitness levels, including families with older children. Sturdy shoes are still recommended.
Do I need a guide for Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha)?+
No, Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha) 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.
Do I need to book Levada dos Tornos?+
No — it's unclassified and sits outside the IFCN paid-trail network. Walk any time, no Simplifica ticket required, no fee.
How long is the Monte to Camacha section of Levada dos Tornos?+
The full Monte to Camacha walk is around 15 km and takes 4.5 to 5.5 hours. Most visitors do a shorter section — Monte to Hortensia tea house and back is around 8 km and 2.5 hours.
Plan around Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha)
The nearest town, viewpoint and walk — the three things most visitors pair with Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha) in a day.
Nearby on Madeira
Other places within easy reach of Levada dos Tornos (Monte to Camacha).