This article will provide 1-week itinerary, for those who like hiking and are:
25 Fontes Pico do Arieiro Queimadas-Caldeirão Verde Levada do rei Levada do Alecrim São Lourenço Levada dos cedros
Here it is a Madeira Hiking Tours maps, to help you with the must see places locations.
1. 25 Fontes / Rabaçal Levada Walk
Our number one recommendation is 25 Natural Springs levada walk. Why?
If you are looking for a lush hike along a levada this is a hike for you. It is perhaps the most unique hike you can do in Madeira and the most popular one, because the path reveals many landscapes and along the way it’s possible to admire a wide variety of endemic species of the flora and fauna of the region.
Many travel guides say this hike is a must do and so do we. You start in Rabaçal and going to the 25 Fontes, you can find waterfalls gushing toward a magnificent lagoon. There are even people that dive into the gelid waters.
Here it is some of our options and details for booking this walk with a certified guide : https://madeira.best/category/things-to-do/land/trekking-levada-walks
2. Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo Hike ( the highest Peaks)
The hike number 2 is Pico do Areeiro that leads to Pico Ruivo. And the reason why is just simple.
This one of the most beautiful walk due to its location, above the clouds that, connects two of the highest peaks on Madeira through a web of tunnels and ledges.
Besides being difficult some people say i tis the most impressive hike, because of the stunning landscapes composed by the formidable rock formations and magnificent mountains of Madeira. Still in sunny days, you may have a 360 degree view where you can see some og the villages from Madeira such as: Curral das Freiras, Porto Santo, Desertas, and Ponta de São Lourenço.
Here it is some of our options and details for booking this walk with a certified guide : https://madeira.best/category/things-to-do/land/trekking-levada-walks
3. Queimadas / Caldeirão Verde Levada Walk
Our third advise is to go to Caldeirão verde.
Day 3 is gonna be another day of fantastic hikes to see some of the nicest waterfalls in Madeira. Its the most adventurous hike you can do where the the path is remarkably green and the water is always present along the walk, you pass throught smaller waterfalls, gushing from the walls until you reach 4 tunnels and at the end the mesmereizing huge waterfall falling on the crystalline lagoon.
Along the way you have a magnificent view over the village of São Jorge and the great mountains.
Here it is some of our options and details for booking this walk with a certified guide : https://madeira.best/category/things-to-do/land/trekking-levada-walks
4. Levada do Rei "King" Walk
The Levada do Rei is the fourth levada walk, but also one of the most beautiful trails of Madeira.
What can we say? All of our levada walk are number 1, because of our vegetation and natural waterfalls.
But this one has a special location, in Madeira’s Laurissilva forest where you can enjoy the unique vegetation of this UNESCO natural heritage. Here you can find fauna and flora after the discovery of the Island natural with some birds such as chaffinch. More impressive reasons? It stills remains the same since before its discovery, more than five centuries ago.
Here it is some of our options and details for booking this walk with a certified guide : https://madeira.best/category/things-to-do/land/trekking-levada-walks
5. Levada do Alecrim "The Lakes"
Here we go to the fifht wonderfull levada walk, which is called levada do Alecrim.
This one has also a privileged location, in the middle of Laurissilva Forest where you can explore the mysterious of the Fanal Forest. Once again hikers can enjoy the vast vegetation composed mainly by the Urze, Erica arborea and the Uveira da Serra, as well as several species of local fauna, which highlight the birds and cows. This levada walk still offer you outstanding views over the Rabaçal valley and the Ribeira da Janela, and the small lagoon, best known as Lagoa “Dona Beja”.
Here it is some of our options and details for booking this walk with a certified guide : https://madeira.best/category/things-to-do/land/trekking-levada-walks
6. Ponta de São Lourenço Walk
The next one is Vereda da Ponta de Sao Lourenco is a different hike from all the others, the vegetation is completely unlike.
It is located on the eastern end of Madeira where you will find the peninsulas. In addition the exposure to the strong wind in this region resulted in low vegetation.
Although the low vegetation as you walk along the trail you will see stunning and unique landscapea with the Desertas Islands in the south and the islands of Porto Santo in the north, with dramatic coast landscape and black sand beach due to the volcanic nature of this area and enjoy beautiful samples of unique fauna and flora species, for instance the protected seabirds such as the Cory’s Shearwater, the Madeiran Storm-Petrel, the Bulwer’s Petrel and the Common Tern.
Here it is some of our options and details for booking this walk with a certified guide : https://madeira.best/category/things-to-do/land/trekking-levada-walks
7. Levada dos Cedros Walk
The last but not least is in levada dos Cedros, and it considered one of the oldest built on the Island, built in the 17th century.
What can you see?
The beginning of the levada is the culmination of the beauty of this route. The waterfalls form a pond of pure and crystal water. Along the way you will be surrounded by the lush vegetation, although the cedar(Cedros) stands out in many areas and mostly comprised of Tree Heathers and Madeiran bilberry.
You can observe the evolution in the dimension of the indigenous species, finding tree specimens with 30 to 40m in height, such as the Loureiro (Laurus novocanariensis), Til (Ocotea foetens), Vinhático (Persea indica).
Finally, you will arrive at the levada surrounded by luxuriant forest where you will find a pleasant waterfall and back on track, you will come across a path just to the left that leads you to a small viewing point from where you can observe the surrounding area.
Here it is some of our options and details for booking this walk with a certified guide : https://madeira.best/category/things-to-do/land/trekking-levada-walks
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