Walking Madeira's Levadas

Today’s optional excursion takes you to the eastern edge of Madeira on the rocky Ponta Såo Lourenço headland. This volcanic peninsula features numerous birds and seals as well as offering amazing views out over the Atlantic. After enjoying the bracing sea spray, you’ll walk westwards to the whaling museum at Caniçal before continuing inland to the town of Machico – where the island was first discovered by the Portuguese in 1419. It’s a relatively easy-going eight-kilometre hike however, there are a few ups and downs, especially so around the furthest extremities of the Eastern Cape.

You’ll be walking within one of Madeira’s greenest regions today as you set off on a 12-kilometre route from the Parque Florestal das Queimadas. This national park is like stepping into a lost valley as lush forest gorges, waterfalls and thickets of giant rhododendrons create an otherworldly adventure. As you explore deeper into the park, you’ll need torches to negotiate some of the narrow rock carved tunnels as well as good hiking boots to climb up and down the rocky pathways. Views across the Ribeira Grande mountain range are quite breath-taking, especially so against the backdrop of the lake filled valleys of the Calerão Verde.

Another 12-kilometre trail lies in store today as you transfer to the hillside trailhead that’s located in the northwest of Madeira. Some of the scenery is superb with views across the Rabaçal valley adding to the sense of peace and calm created by being surrounded by nature. The landscape is intensely green with the Chão da Ribeira forest providing ample opportunities to capture the light of a sun-dappled clearing or take photos of the traditional terraced farmlands. The final leg enroute to Fanal takes you through the sub-tropical realm of the UNESCO-listed Laurissilva forest. This is one of Portugal’s largest old growth laurel forests and thought to date back more than 20 million years.

This week’s final walking trail allows you to compare the island’s coastline and countryside as you follow two separate levadas. Starting from Ponta do Sol in the south of Madeira, you’ll follow the circular Levada do Moinho hiking path as it winds its way in and around the rocky hillside. Several stone tunnels and ruined water mills provide the points of interest alongside varying degrees of waterfall cascading through the valley and down the smooth rockface. Leaving the glorious sea views behind, you’ll follow the Levada Nova circular trail as it ascends into the countryside en-route to the Levada Nova waterfall. It’s the perfect place to complete this wonderful week of walking with stone steps and peaceful farmland providing a moderate challenge set against a rural backdrop.