Ribeiro Frio - Portela

Days: Monday & Friday
Distance: 11 km
Duration: 4 hours
Grade: 3 Moderate

To really appreciate Madeira’s natural heritage, you have to do this walk. Set deep in the Laurisilva forest on the eastern side of the island you will marvel at display of light and shade filtering through the laurel and heather trees. The trout swimming in the levada alongside the path dash for cover as they perceive our approach.You will love the tranquility and peace of your surroundings as your eyes feast upon sensational views at the vast array of flora and bird life. Another levada walk not to be missed!

The Lakes of Madeira

This is a walk unlike any other. Many of our guest tell us it is the walk they have enjoyed the most. Deep in the valley of western plateau, you will marvel at the rock pools, that over millions of years have been carved out by the waters as they rush towards the sea, forming magnificient waterfalls and cascades. In summertime bring your costume and enjoy a cool crisp swim in these crystal clear and invigorating mountain waters.

You will experience a diversity of walking terrain from the flatness of the levadas to the gradients of the mountains tracks, as we make our way up the valley. From forest trekking, along unmarked roots, to scrambling up to the oldest levada in the west of the island. An unforgettable experience.

Dif.Grade 3 – Moderate walk.
Walking time: ±4,5 Hours.
Distance: 10 Km.

Rabaçal & 25 Fountains

Distance: 12 km
Duration: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Beware: Tunnels & Vertigo

In the bewitching valley of Rabaçal we come across to one of Madeira’s most popular levada walks. We walk along stretches of 3 Levadas, each with its own character, but all of them with a large number of waterfalls. Here at the head of Madeira's greatest valley, the houses of Rabaçal seem tiny beneath the enormous emerald-green mountains.

For nature lovers it is simply a unique and awe-inspiring paradise. Rabaçal is an enchanted fairyland of cascading waterfalls, singing fountains and small lakes. A really great Madeira walk!

Pico do Areeiro / Pico Ruivo Footpath

Dificulty Level: Medium

Distance: 7 Km

Start: Pico Areeiro

Finish: Pico Ruivo

Time(going): 3:30 hrs

Time(back): 3 hrs

Highest point: 1861 m

Lowest point: 1542 m

There are crowds at the top of Pico do Arieiro (1,817 m), by the busload. And it's easy to see why, the access is easy by car or by coach tour and the scenery is stunning. The rugged rocks look like they’re from another world but the sea is also visible on a clear day. You can't see Pico Ruivo (1,861 m) from here though, as it's hidden by craggy peaks. There's only one footpath here so you can't go wrong - it's the one with all the steps leading downwards. With open views to left and right, the path plunges bravely downward. Fifteen minutes later you reach a turnoff where the right-hand path leads a short distance to a lookout point. From here you get great views out over the valley to the right, often blanketed in cloud.

Back at the fork and continuing on the main path, you reach a second lookout point. Soon Pico Ruivo also appears. After this, the path begins to descend more sharply, dropping to enter the first tunnel.

Shortly after emerging from the tunnel, the path splits and offers two options - the left-hand path (the westerly of the two) is flatter but negotiates more tunnels. The right-hand path to the east has no more tunnels but requires a lot more climbing and descent. Both paths have the same destination though, they meet up and lead to Pico Ruivo, so it doesn't matter which one you take.

Climbing in switchbacks, the path soon reaches the Pico Ruivo hut, where you can buy canned drinks but no food. There is also a water tap outside the hut, useful for refilling your bottles in the heat. The path then cimbs the last 90m or so towards the summit, ignoring the turnoff to Encumeada and heading straight for the wooden summit platforms and the panoramic views. There are three of these wooden lookout platforms, with the middle one being the highest of the three.

After reaching a low point of 1540m, the path then climbs back up to the junction of the paths and passes back through the first tunnel, before the long long climb back up the steps to Pico Arieiro where the hike started.

Suggested Equipment: hiking boots; warm clothing / windbreaker; a torch and drinking water, camera

Levada

Walking has long been a favourite pastime for those on holidays in Madeira. The levadas (irrigation channels) form a network of trails that take you through spectacular volcanic landscapes.

In the sixteenth century the Portuguese started building levadas to carry water to agricultural regions. Madeira is very mountainous, and building the levadas was often difficult. Many men even lost their lives in the process.

Today, the levadas not only supply water to the southern parts of the island but provide hydro-electric power. There are over 1,350 miles (2,170 km) of levadas and they provide a remarkable network of walking paths. Some provide easy and relaxing walks through beautiful countryside, but others are narrow, crumbling ledges where a slip could result in serious injury or death.

A popular levada walk is the Levada do Caldeirão Verde, a 37-kilometre long waterway which may cause hikers to suffer vertigo. There are also several tunnels for which flashlights and helmets are essential.

The Levada do Caniçal is a much easier walk. This 11-kilometre levada is known as the mimosa levada due to the numerous mimosa plants which can be found all along the route.