You’re going to feel like you’re in a completely different world hiking here in Madeira. Being down by the coast in Funchal you’d have no idea that a short drive away you’d find some of the most amazing hikes in the world.
Madeira is famous for its Levadas that you’ll see all around the island and on this hike you’re going to explore one of them.
Thanks to some huge waterfalls, water makes its way around the island via these man-made irrigation systems also known as Levadas. Because of those, some of the best hiking trails were born around the island. And the PR6 – Levada 25 Fontes e Risco is one of our favourites!
On this hike, you’re going to be surrounded by a lush, green mountain range in the center of Madeira where you’ll find blueberry and dandelion bushes bigger than humans.
The Portuguese people joke that everything on the island grows tenfold except the bananas and the Portuguese people themselves.
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What to expect when hiking the Levada 25 Fontes Trail
Firstly, let’s explain what exactly Levadas are exactly. The term is known all around the island and very specific to Madeira.
As we quickly mentioned in the intro, Levadas are basically a man-made irrigation system that spreads all over the island of Madeira.
There’s a good chance that on a lot of the hikes you’ll be doing on the island, these man-made streams will be parallel to you.
Because of these Levadas, the island gets drinking water, energy, and electricity. It’s a super interesting concept to learn about especially how you’ll see them all over a lot of your hikes on the island – because there are a ton of beautiful Levada walks in Madeira.
On top of this cool irrigation system that will follow you on the Levada 25 Fontes, you’ll also run into the prettiest waterfall called Risco. Risco is the largest waterfall on the island of Madeira.
It doesn’t end here though… As you’ll continue on well-marked trails you will head towards the incredible 25 Fontes. Once you reach 25 Fontes, we recommend you hang out and have your lunch break here in front of this beautiful waterfall.
From there you’ll continue with views of valleys and peaks and then all of a sudden out of nowhere you’ll run into a big dark cave that you’ll have to walk through.
Make sure you have some battery on your phone because you’ll definitely be needing it for this almost 1 km dark tunnel!
Going on this hike is an experience you’ll never forget. It’s one of the most famous hikes in Madeira for a reason!
Practical information about hiking the Levada 25 Fontes Trail
Official trail name: PR6 – Levada 25 Fontes e Risco
Distance: 10.1 km return / 6.27 miles return
Elevation: Roughly 755 m / 2477 ft. elevation gain
Type: Loop trail
Length: 3-3.5 hours return (depending on how long you admire the waterfalls)
Difficulty: 3/5
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Levada 25 Fontes trail.
Here’s a picture of the beginning of the Levada 25 Fontes Trail:
Trail guide for the Levada 25 Fontes Trail
Starting at the Levada 25 parking lot
As soon as you get out of your car you’ll instantly be welcomed with some of the freshest air in the world.
It feels like you’re on top of the world and can see the whole island. It’s a pretty amazing feeling. Especially seeing how the scenery is so different than down by the coast. Up here it’s all big green trees and lots of rolling mountains all over the place.
This car park is a popular starting point as some of the other popular hikes like Levada do Alecrim, Risco Waterfall hike, and a few others start from here as well. So there’s a good chance after hiking the Levada 25 Fontes trail you’ll be back here to hike some of the other Levada trails nearby.
As you embark on the trail, you’ll actually be walking on a road for the first little part. In this section, you’re slowly getting into the forest and onto the actual trails.
On this first part of the hike, you’ll get a good feel for the hike as you’ll slowly see little waterfalls on the side of the road as you make your way down into the forest.
There are also some great viewpoints along the way that are worth stopping at as you make your way down!
Down to the Risco Waterfall
Now it really starts to get fun! Hiking down to Risco is where you’ll get your first taste of the “Levadas” and how this awesome man-made irrigation system works.
As you hike down towards the Risco Waterfall you’ll see a stream on your right-hand side (there are over 3000 km of these on the island).
It’s a pretty easy trail to follow since lots of the trail has been man-made because of the Levadas – and because of the amount of tourists that come on this hike (up to 1000 a day during peak season).
As you hike down you’ll slowly start to see this enormous waterfall come into view. That’s the famous waterfall Risco! An amazing spot to take some awesome pictures.
If you think Risco is cool then make sure to hike Levada do Alecrim on a different day where you actually get right under Risco Falls and can even swim in the Lagoa do Vento which is right underneath upper Risco Falls.
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Head towards the famous Cascata das 25 Fontes
This is a beautiful but challenging stretch of the hike. After admiring the Risco Falls, you head back in the same direction you came from to continue on the 25 Fontes Levada walk.
Once you reach the stairs, you stop, and then you head down. On this stretch, you have to walk down 300 stairs to get down to one of the lowest points on the hike. This might be the hardest part of the hike.
On the stairs, there aren’t many places to stop. It’s likely going to be hard on your legs and knees – but it’ll be worth it! If it’s slippery, walk sideways to minimize the risk of falling.
Once you’ve smashed out the stairs, the trail is relatively flat and zig-zags around following the Levadas towards the most famous part of the hike: La Cascata das 25 Fontes!
There’s plenty of room to take pictures and enjoy a nice little picnic in front of the Cascata das 25 Fontes.
Since this is fairly close to the halfway point of the hike it’s a nice place to sit back and relax for a bit. Especially with the beautiful waterfall right in front of you.
On towards the tunnel of darkness
Hopefully, you still have some phone battery left for this stretch of the hike. If not, it’s going to be real dark! So make sure to pack a power bank.
After enjoying all the waterfalls, the hike continues following the Levadas all the way to this tunnel of what looks like eternal darkness.
The tunnel was actually man-made with explosives and dynamite so that the locals could put a big water pipe to help funnel the water to the other side of the mountain.
So as you walk through this dark and narrow tunnel you’ll see a big pipe on your left-hand side. That’s the water pipe.
Just to prepare you, the tunnel is just around 800 meters long and pitch black for the most part. So you really need a head torch or a smartphone with a flashlight or else you really won’t be able to see.
The tunnel is also quite narrow so Dom especially had to watch his head at certain parts so he wouldn’t crack my skull on the rocks sticking out (a little extreme but you get the point).
With all that said, it’s a pretty unique and cool experience walking through this tunnel!
As you come to the end of the tunnel hopefully the sun will start shining and you’ll come out to this cute little house up in the mountains overlooking this valley, mountains, and far in the back of the Atlantic Ocean!
The plants and nature on this side of the mountain compared to the other side make it feel like you’re in a completely different place. So even though the tunnel is a little dark and narrow, it’s such a cool experience coming out on the other side.
📍 Want to know about all the best spots in Madeira?
Then check out our Madeira Maps with +135 locations around the island that we have personally visited and love! 🗺️
Back up to the Levada 25 parking lot
Unfortunately, the last part of the hike is one of the hardest as it’s basically only uphill from the end of the cave to the parking lot.
Thankfully, you’ll have amazing views all around you and the ocean in the background whenever you need a little breather.
It’s uphill but the zig zags make it a little easier as the trail isn’t insanely steep. Soon enough you’ll be back at the car park where it’ll feel like you’re on top of the world.
Once you’re back to the start you’ll actually be able to kind of see the whole loop trail of Levada das 25 Fontes that you just completed.
Somewhere deep below you will be that deep dark tunnel that you had to walk through! 😉
It’s a unique hike and definitely one of Madeira’s best waterfall hikes!
What to bring on the Levada de 25 Fontes Trail
Since the Levada 25 Fontes trail is way up in the mountains the weather is going to be completely different than in Funchal or any other coastal city.
It can get really windy up there and since you’ll be hiking in the forest for a good chunk of the hike it can also get quite chilly.
You’ll also be exposed to the sun during certain parts of the hike so you might have to bring a few layers in your bag and switch back and forth depending on the weather.
We mentioned it before but a head torch and/or a power bank is crucial or else make sure you have enough battery on your phone so you don’t walk through the tunnel in pitch black!
Packing list for Levada 25 Fontes:
- Water! The water in the Levada’s is unfortunately not drinkable even though it looks really clean. You can refill your bottle at the waterfalls but that’s it. We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before hikes.
- Sunscreen is highly recommended when hiking in Madeira. Even if you go early in the morning or late in the afternoon and feel like you’re covered. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Bring some lunch for a nice picnic. Under the Levada 25 Fontes or at one of the viewpoints you can have lunch with an incredible view!
- Hiking poles are also a good idea for the ascents and descents throughout the hike.
- Wear proper hiking shoes. It gets slippery – especially when it’s raining!
You can check out this great list of hiking gear to get some more inspiration!
The best affordable camera for beginners
If you’re looking for the best and most affordable camera for beginners, check out the Sony Alpha a6000 Camera.
This is the camera we’ve been using for years and still use to this day.
It’s perfect for travelling and super easy to use – even if you’re a beginner.
Before you hike the Levada 25 Fontes Trail
Check the weather
No matter where you hike, you should always check the weather before you go. This is the best way to prepare for the hike ahead of you.
You can check the weather near Levada 25 Fontes here.
If you’re flexible with your timing, try to go on a clear day. There are so many amazing viewpoints that it would be a bummer to not see half of the views because it’s extremely cloudy that day.
Check if the trail is open
PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes is one of the official trails in Madeira which means it is maintained by the Regional Government.
This also means that if for some reason (erosion, crazy weather, maintenance) the trail is closed, they will announce this.
Before embarking on the trail, you should always check if the trail is open. You can do that right here by checking the bottom left corner where it says “Access” and then hopefully it says “open” after.
We’ve only ever seen this trail closed once after a bad storm so it’s very likely that it will be open.
Wear hiking shoes
We did this hike in our hiking shoes and it was definitely the right decision. The trail is really well maintained but there are sections that can get pretty muddy and wet from all the water in the area.
Plus when you walk in the dark tunnel there are a lot of puddles so it really is nice to have proper hiking shoes.
You just never know what can happen on a hike and having proper hiking shoes with ankle support is always the better choice.
Best time to hike PR 6 – Levada das 25 Fontes
One thing to know about this hike in Madeira is that it is one of the busiest hikes on the island.
Lots of tours with big groups also come here (which we can totally recommend). So it’s best to try and come as early as possible to beat the crowds. Especially during peak season.
If the weather looks good and the sun is supposed to shine, try to be at the trailhead around 8:30 am – 9:00 am to beat the crowds of people.
This way you’ll also have Risco Waterfall and 25 Fontes mostly for yourself. You’ll have a chance to get some awesome photos this way.
If you’re travelling during the winter or during shoulder season then timing isn’t as important. It will still be busy but nothing crazy like summer.
How to get to 25 Fontes Madeira
The 25 falls are located in Rabaçal which is located slightly west of the centre of Madeira.
It is an area you will very quickly be familiar with if you’re into hiking as a lot of incredible hikes are located near here (such as Levada do Alecrim and Vereda do Fanal).
The road to get there is mostly good on the highway and then as you get closer you will get on a really steep stretch with about 32% incline.
All drivers here are really good so there’s nothing to be afraid of but the 32% incline can be slightly uncomfortable to drive on if you’re not used to it!
Here are the distances and timeframes to the Levada 25 Fontes parking lot where the hike starts from:
From Funchal to Levada 25 parking lot: 50-minute drive (40 kilometres)
- You can follow the directions from Funchal to Levada 25 Fontes here.
From Ponta do Sol to Levade 25 parking lot: 30-minute drive (20 kilometres)
- You can follow the directions from Ponta do Sol to Levada 25 Fontes here.
Rent a car in Madeira
For this specific hike in Madeira, it’s a lot easier to get to by renting a car rather than by using public transport.
You’re also going to save a ton of time having your own car and it’s actually quite nice not having to wait for buses and timing them perfectly.
It can get fairly expensive renting a car in Madeira but if there are at least 2 of you then the costs shouldn’t be that much more than public transport.
You can compare all the different rental prices for cars in Madeira here.
Your best option is probably renting a car for 2-3 days minimum and exploring all the waterfalls and hiking in Madeira you can during that time. Especially the hikes that are hard to get to by public transport.
If you rent a car for more days, it usually becomes a bit cheaper per day!
Also read: What It’s Like Driving in Madeira 🚘
Hike 25 Fontes on a guided tour
We actually ended up going on a guided tour and even though most hikes we plan and do ourselves we really felt like doing this one as a part of a guided tour.
This was partly because it was our first hike in Madeira and didn’t really know what to expect and partly because we really wanted to get to know the area and learn more about the island.
We went with a company called Lido Tours and honestly, we were super impressed with the whole experience.
Sarah, our guide was really sweet and professional. She taught us so much along the way about the flora, Levadas, and just about Madeira Island itself.
She also gave us tons of recommendations for other hikes to do on the island, places to visit, and food to try. This was a great way to kickstart our Madeira trip!
If you don’t want to plan anything and have a tour company do it all for you then book a trip with Lido Tours.
They were super personal and professional and you don’t get that everywhere but you can tell they truly are passionate about what they do and their island so it really made the trip memorable!
Other related questions to the PR6 Levada 25 Fontes
How do I get to 25 Fontes Madeira?
The easiest and best way to get to 25 Fontes Madeira is either by taxi, rental car, or by guided tour.
A guided tour of Levada 25 Fontes is the most convenient for the price. You won’t actually save much money by going by taxi or rental car.
How long does 25 Fontes take?
The 25 Fontes hike takes roughly 3-4 hours assuming you take breaks, enjoy the view, and spend some time admiring the falls.
The 25 Fontes hike isn’t hard by any means since the trail is really nice but there is some incline and decline.
Give yourself 4 hours to hike the 25 Fontes and you will have enough time to see it all and enjoy the views along the way. Especially at the falls where you can get some amazing pictures.
Are there snakes in Madeira?
There are no wild snakes in Madeira and you won’t see any on your hikes on the island.
Madeira is quite special and unique in that sense. There are basically no pests, dangerous bugs, and dangerous insects.
It’s one of the many reasons why we absolutely love hiking in Madeira.
What does Levada mean in English?
Levada is basically the Portuguese word for irrigation channel/system.
Levadas are unique to the island of Madeira. So in English, it means irrigation channel and you can see these channels all over the island.
It’s a fascinating thing to see the water get transported from up in the mountains to the farms all over Madeira.
📍 Want to know about all the best spots in Madeira?
Then check out our Madeira Maps with +135 locations around the island that we have personally visited and love! 🗺️
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Recap of hiking Levada 25 Fontes
We hope you enjoy this amazing waterfall hike in Madeira. The island of Madeira may be small but there’s an endless amount of amazing hikes to do on the island and the Levade 25 Fontes is just scratching the surface.
Enjoy the waterfalls, the dark tunnel, and the breathtaking views all throughout the hike.
Whether you go by yourself or on a guided tour we’re sure you’ll have an amazing time and there’s a good chance you’ll be chasing more hikes on the island right after.
We’d love to hear what you think of the hike and how you manage through the tunnel, so don’t hesitate to reach out on Instagram or leave a comment below. Enjoy the famous Levada 25 Fontes hike!
Have fun!
Love it? Share it!
I love the concept of levadas! This hike looks so stunning and fun with all the tunnels and viewpoints!
Yeah, the levadas are pretty cool! And it’s a good way to know what to expect on a hike since those never really have much incline 🙂 We can definitely recommend this hike if you come to Madeira one day!
– Jo