Book first, then walk
A levada in Madeira is a narrow irrigation channel with a path beside it. Most levada walks follow the water at an even gradient, so these hike trails on Madeira are easier than the height of the island suggests. Hiking on Madeira has a booking rule: since 1 January 2026 every classified trail (the PR trails) must be reserved online before you start, for all visitors, with or without a guide.
You book on the regional SIMplifica portal. It needs an account. You choose the trail by its PR number, the date and a 30-minute entry window, list everyone in your group and pay online. You must start inside your window. Keep the confirmation on your phone or on paper, because it can be checked on the trail. This guide is independent and not the official tourism site.
Fees and trail status, October 2026
Status as of 19 October 2026. It changes with weather, fire risk and rockfall.
What you pay
€4.50 per person and trail. With a guide from an operator that has an agreement with the forestry institute (IFCN) the fee is €3. Residents of the region walk free but must still register and reserve. Day passes for two or more trails (not PR1) cost €9.00, three days €22.50 and seven days €52.50.
Children
The official trail pages say children aged 12 and under pay no fee. The forestry institute still requires a registration for every visitor, so book a slot for them too.
Open, restricted, closed
Open on 19 October 2026: PR 1, 1.1, 1.2, 6, 6.1, 9, 11, 13 and 18 among others. Restricted: PR 8 (Ponta de São Lourenço), PR 1.3, PR 4 (Levada do Barreiro) and PR 12. Closed: PR 7 (Levada do Moinho), PR 20, PR 27, PR 28 (Levada da Rocha Vermelha) and PS PR 3 on Porto Santo.
Rules to know
Entering a PR trail without a valid reservation is an offence, and you can be told to leave. Refunds or rebooking are documented only when the forestry institute itself restricts access. I found no rule for bad weather, so check the forecast before you pay. In March 2026 all classified trails closed for a time after storms.
Madeira weather →Our picks: levada walks
A guided walk, a self-guided transfer and a trail with the fee included.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided levada walk in the Rabaçal valley
Hotel pick-up, transport and a guide. The nature fee is not included and is paid to the operator on the day.
Check availability →Rabaçal: 25 Fontes and Risco hiking transfer
Transfer from several south coast towns with a route description and map, and help with the trail permit. No guide, and the trail fee is extra.
Check availability →
Ponta de São Lourenço PR8 with ticket
With the transport option: a van from Funchal, Caniço or Machico, a small snack and the trail fee. You walk without a guide.
Check availability →Levada walks and guided hikes in Madeira
Guided levada walks and mountain hikes with transport, so the one-way routes and the car park questions are solved. Live prices and availability.
The best levada hikes in Madeira: 10 trails at a glance
Distances are one way unless noted. Times are the official figures.
| # | Trail | Length | Time | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PR 9 Caldeirão Verde | 8.7 km | 6.5 h | Medium | Open |
| 2 | PR 6 25 Fontes | 4.3 km | 3 h | Medium | Open |
| 3 | PR 18 Levada do Rei | 5.3 km | 3.5 h | Medium | Open |
| 4 | PR 11 Balcões | 1.5 km | 1.5 h | Easy | Open |
| 5 | PR 13 Fanal | 10.8 km | 4 h | Medium | Open |
| 6 | PR 6.1 Levada do Risco | 1.5 km | – | Easy | Open |
| 7 | PR 1 Arieiro to Pico Ruivo | 6.1 km | 3 h | Medium | Open, one way |
| 8 | PR 8 Ponta de São Lourenço | 4 km | 2.5 h | Medium | Restricted |
| 9 | PR 1.2 Pico Ruivo to Achada do Teixeira | – | – | – | Open |
| 10 | PR 1.1 Vereda da Ilha | – | – | – | Open |
The 10 trails in detail
Numbered as in the table.
1. PR 9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde
Starts at the Queimadas forest park and passes four tunnels to the waterfall lake of Caldeirão Verde. The official page gives 8.7 km one way to the Caldeirão do Inferno, about 6.5 hours, highest point 1,020 m. Secondary guides give about 13 km return and 4 to 5 hours for the waterfall alone, and report the extension to the Caldeirão do Inferno as closed after rockfall. Plan for the waterfall only unless the status says otherwise.
2. PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes
4.3 km one way from Rabaçal (road ER 105) to the lagoon of the 25 Fontes, about 3 hours, between 1,288 m and 964 m. Secondary guides count 10 to 11 km return and 3.5 to 4 hours when you start from the café in Rabaçal, because of the longer approach from the car park.
3. PR 18 Levada do Rei
5.3 km one way (10.6 km return), about 3.5 hours, from the sewage plant at São Jorge to Ribeiro Bonito and the São Jorge water mill, which still works. The altitude stays near 550 m. The status list shows it open, but one cached copy of the page showed it closed, so check it live.
4. PR 11 Vereda dos Balcões
The easy one: 1.5 km one way, about 1.5 hours, from road ER 103 at Ribeiro Frio along the Levada da Serra do Faial. In clear weather you see Pico do Areeiro, Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo. Afterwards you can visit the Ribeiro Frio forest park with its trout farm.
5. PR 13 Vereda do Fanal
10.8 km in one direction, about 4 hours, from Assobiadores on Paúl da Serra to Fanal, both on road ER 209. The path runs through UNESCO laurel forest with very old til trees. The municipality of Porto Moniz gives 11.4 km and 4 to 4.5 hours. Fog is common at Fanal. You need a taxi, a transfer or two cars to get back.
6. PR 6.1 Levada do Risco
A short, easy side trip from Rabaçal, 1.5 km. The status list shows it open. I give no walking time because the figure on the official page looks too long for the distance.
7. PR 1 Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo
6.1 km, about 3 hours, from 1,857 m down to 1,491 m and back up to the Pico Ruivo hut. Tunnels, steep rock steps and a hard final climb. €10.50. After the Pedra Rija viewpoint it runs one way only.
Full PR1 guide →8. PR 8 Ponta de São Lourenço
4 km one way (about 8 km return), about 2.5 hours, from Baía d'Abra to Casa do Sardinha, where you can swim. A treeless nature reserve with views of both coasts, sea birds and, with luck, monk seals. €4.50. Status is restricted because of small temporary diversions, so follow the signs strictly.
9. PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo
The way down from Pico Ruivo to Achada do Teixeira near Santana, and one of the exits from PR1. It is open. My sources give no length, and you need a taxi or transfer back to your car.
10. PR 1.1 Vereda da Ilha
The second open exit from the PR1 ridge. My sources give no length or time. PR 1.3 (Vereda da Encumeada) is restricted, with no reopening date.
Levada trails in Madeira: choosing your walk
Matching the trail to the day.
Pico do Arieiro
The one-way PR1, early start windows and what to expect.
Weather and best time
Rain and temperature month by month.
Tours compared
When a guided walk with transport is the easier choice.
Car rental
Steep roads to the trailheads.
For a first day among the easy Madeira walks, choose PR 11 at Balcões or the 25 Fontes. For a full day and a waterfall hike in Madeira, choose Caldeirão Verde. Trails with a different start and end (PR 13, PR 1) need a lift back, which is where a tour helps.
Levada walks in Madeira: what to expect
Among the Madeira levada walks, the trails differ mostly in how they end. PR 11 at Balcões and PR 6 at Rabaçal are walks out and back to the same point. PR 13 at Fanal and PR 1 run in one direction, so you need a lift back. Some levada hikes in Madeira also pass through tunnels, for example four on PR 9 to Caldeirão Verde.
The levada trails in Madeira that are open on the status list can still change overnight. Check the status the evening before and keep your booking confirmation with you.
Levada walks: frequently asked questions
Do I need to book a levada walk in 2026?
Yes. Every classified PR trail needs an online reservation through the SIMplifica portal, including PR1, PR 1.2, PR 6 and PR 8. You choose a 30-minute start window and pay when you book.
How much does a levada walk cost?
€4.50 per person and trail in 2026. Guided groups of operators with an agreement with the forestry institute pay €3. The full PR1 from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo costs €10.50.
Which levada walk is easiest?
PR 11 at Balcões, 1.5 km one way and about 1.5 hours, rated easy. PR 6.1 near Rabaçal is also short and easy.
Is the Caldeirão Verde walk open?
The official status list showed PR 9 as open on 19 October 2026. The extension to the Caldeirão do Inferno is reported as closed after rockfall, so check the status the evening before.
Where do I check whether a trail is closed?
Each trail is listed as open, restricted or closed on the official regional tourism site. Heavy rain, wind, fog, fire risk and rockfall can close trails at short notice.