Levada das 25 Fontes and Levada do Risco (PR6 and PR6.1)
Madeira’s most famous levada walk from Rabaçal to the 25 Fontes pool and the Risco waterfall: route, the shuttle and parking, booking, timing and how to avoid the crowds.
Two of Madeira’s best-loved walks start from the same place, the Rabaçal forest house in a green valley below the Paul da Serra plateau. One leads to a waterfall plunging into a cauldron of ferns, the other to a pool fed by dozens of little cascades.
Getting to Rabaçal
Rabaçal is on the ER110 road across the Paul da Serra. Private cars cannot drive down the access road to the forest house. Park at the car park on the main road and either:
- walk down the paved road, about 2 km and 25 to 30 minutes, steep on the way back up; or
- take the shuttle minibus that runs between the car park and the forest house during the day for a small fee.
The car park fills up early in summer and at weekends.
Levada do Risco (PR6.1)
- Distance: about 1.5 km one way from the forest house
- Time: 30 to 45 minutes each way
- Difficulty: easy
A wide, flat path along the levada through heather and laurel to a viewpoint facing the Risco waterfall, a 100-metre fall into a green bowl. The end of the path is fenced for safety.
Levada das 25 Fontes (PR6)
- Distance: about 4.5 km one way from the forest house
- Time: about 1.5 hours each way
- Difficulty: moderate, mostly level with some steps and narrow, slippery sections
The path drops to a lower levada and follows it through forest to the 25 Fontes, the “25 springs”, a pool where water runs down a mossy cliff in many small streams.
Doing both
Most people combine the two: Risco first, then back and on to 25 Fontes. With the walk down from the car park, the whole loop is about 11 km and takes four to five hours with stops.
Booking and fees
Both are classified trails, so each needs its own booking slot on SIMplifica, and non-residents pay the trail fee for each. See trail fees and booking.
Avoiding the crowds
25 Fontes is the busiest walk on the island. Narrow sections can get congested in the middle of the day.
- Book an early slot and arrive at the car park before 9:00.
- Weekdays are quieter than weekends, and winter is quieter than summer.
- Be patient on narrow stretches and let people pass at wider points.
What to bring
Shoes with grip (the path is often wet), a waterproof jacket, a warm layer, water and food. It is cooler and often foggy up here even when the coast is sunny.
Sources: IFCN, PR6 and PR6.1, SIMplifica, trail booking