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Madeira Wander
PR 6 Open · checked 28 Oct 2026 Rabaçal · Calheta · West

Open (IFCN list updated 2 Oct 2026) with one-way circulation: out to 25 Fontes along the levada, back to Rabaçal on the alternative 'Bypass' section. Official IFCN list →

Levada das 25 Fontes

A moderate levada walk of 4.3 km each way to a spring-fed lagoon, suited to most walkers without vertigo issues; the one thing to know is that it is one-way in sections, so you come back on the signed Bypass, not the way you went.

Levada das 25 Fontes
Distance
4.3 km
Time
3 h
Difficulty
Moderate
Route
Out and back

Map and elevation

The GPX track and elevation profile will appear here once we have walked and recorded it.

Directions to the start

PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes is a levada trail in Rabaçal, in the west of Madeira, that ends at the Lagoa das 25 Fontes, a pool fed by springs that seep out of the rock wall above it. IFCN, which manages the trail, lists it at 4.3 km each way from the ER 105 road at Rabaçal, with an official time of 3 hours; Visit Madeira rates it moderate. It is the classic way to see laurel forest and a historic irrigation channel on one walk.

Is PR 6 open, and why is it one-way?

IFCN lists PR 6 as open (list updated 2 October 2026) with controlled one-way circulation:

  • Outbound: Rabaçal → 25 Fontes along the Levada das 25 Fontes.
  • Return: 25 Fontes → Rabaçal on an alternative section called the Bypass, reopened after recovery works.

The official panel adds that the stretch between km 3.3 and km 4.1 must be walked in one direction only. Follow the signs rather than retracing your steps.

What does it cost and do I need to book?

Yes. Booking an entry slot on the SIMplifica portal is mandatory for everyone, including exempt residents and children aged 12 or under. In 2026 the fee for visitors is €4.50 per trail. If you also walk the neighbouring PR 6.1 Levada do Risco that day, book both; the system applies the most favourable rate automatically. See trail booking and fees.

What will I see?

According to the IFCN panel, PR 6 and PR 6.1 start together on the ER 105 and descend to the Rabaçal shelter, where they split onto two parallel levadas at different heights. PR 6 continues down to the lagoon.

  • The levada itself. Also known as the Levada Nova do Rabaçal, its construction began in 1835 and water first ran in it on 16 September 1855.
  • Vegetation. At this altitude the panel describes upland heath of tree heather (Erica arborea), Erica scoparia subsp. maderensis and Madeiran blueberry (Vaccinium padifolium), with views over the Ribeira da Janela valley and its Laurisilva. Madeira's Laurisilva has been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since December 1999 and is part of Natura 2000.
  • The lagoon. Water descending from the Paul da Serra plateau appears from behind the rock wall in more than 25 springs.

What do people misjudge?

  • The climb back. The trail drops from 1,288 m to 964 m (official figures), so the return gains about 324 m — the hardest part comes at the end.
  • Vertigo. IFCN warns that PR 6 can cause vertigo and asks walkers not to lean on the protective railings.
  • Daylight and company. IFCN's code asks you not to walk alone, to carry a charged phone and to check you can finish before dark.

Getting there

The trailhead is on the ER 105 regional road at Rabaçal, in the municipality of Calheta, with parking and a bus stop marked on the IFCN map. We could not confirm a public bus timetable to Rabaçal; for options without a car see getting around Madeira without a car. The IFCN panel lists Calheta taxis on +351 291 822 129.

Nearby

Make it a western day with the Fanal forest or the Porto Moniz natural pools. More ideas in the west region.

The route, step by step

  1. 1 Rabaçal trailhead on the ER 105 (1,288 m)Start at the IFCN panel on the regional road, where PR 6 and PR 6.1 begin together.
  2. 2 Rabaçal shelterBoth trails descend to the Rabaçal shelter, then split onto two parallel levadas at different heights.
  3. 3 Levada das 25 FontesFollow the Levada Nova do Rabaçal (water first ran in 1855) through heath and Laurisilva, with views over the Ribeira da Janela valley.
  4. 4 One-way section (km 3.3–4.1)Signed one-direction stretch on the approach to the lagoon; keep to the marked direction.
  5. 5 Lagoa das 25 Fontes (964 m)Spring-fed lagoon at the foot of the rock wall; rest here before the climb back.
  6. 6 Return via the BypassHead back to Rabaçal on the signed alternative section, then climb to the ER 105.

Before you go

Getting thereThe trailhead is on the ER 105 at Rabaçal (Calheta), with parking marked on the IFCN map. Calheta taxis: +351 291 822 129 (IFCN panel).
BookingBook an entry slot on SIMplifica before you go (€4.50 in 2026). Residents and children aged 12 or under are exempt from the fee but must still book.
Combine with PR 6.1Levada do Risco shares the start and the descent to the Rabaçal shelter. Book both trails for the same day if you plan to walk them together.
Vertigo and railingsSome sections are exposed; IFCN asks walkers not to lean on the protective railings and to give way safely on narrow stretches.
What to bringSuitable footwear for wet, slippery ground, water, a charged phone and a layer for the shaded valley.

Make a day of it

Within 14 km of the trailhead.

Fanal Forest Photo spot Fanal Forest 6.2 km away Véu da Noiva Viewpoint Viewpoint Véu da Noiva Viewpoint 7.7 km away Seixal Beach (Praia do Porto do Seixal) Beach Seixal Beach (Praia do Porto do Seixal) 8 km away Piscinas Naturais do Porto Moniz Natural pool Piscinas Naturais do Porto Moniz 13.1 km away

Sources and fact-checking

Facts checked against the sources below on 28 October 2026. How we work

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Photos: Jon Kolbert (CC BY 4.0) · muffinn from Worcester, UK (CC BY 2.0)