This is as local as you’re going to get. The Levada do Bom Sucesso isn’t that easy to find and unless you know a local in Funchal, do enough research, or get lucky, it’s pretty hard to find this Levada walk that starts right in Funchal.
Madeira is full of coastal walks, Levada trails, and mountain hikes so it’s no surprise that there’s an actual hiking trail that starts right in Funchal.
In all honesty, the Levada do Bom Sucesso is actually one of the harder hikes we’ve done in Madeira because of the elevation gain! It’s over 800 meters in just over an hour of hiking so it is a nice climb!
You’re going to have a blast on this trail that takes you from coastal city Funchal to a proper hike up in the mountains within minutes.
Levada do Bom Sucesso is hands down one of the biggest hidden gems in Funchal!
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What to expect when hiking Levada do Bom Sucesso
⚠️ Important notice: This hike is officially closed due to erosion. Please proceed at your own risk ⚠️
For an alternative hike in the same area, you can try Curral dos Romeiros via Levada dos Tornos.
To get straight to the point, you can expect a lot of elevation and stairs! The stairs don’t come until about halfway into the hike but there are quite a few of them and a lot of elevation.
It’s a fairly hard hike but the rewards at the end make it totally worth it.
It may seem a little weird to get to the actual trailhead for Levada do Bom Sucesso because you’re basically just walking in a random neighbourhood until you stumble upon a Levada.
As you get on the trail, though, you’ll slowly see how it turns into an actual hiking trail.
The trail isn’t dangerous but there are sections where, if you are afraid of heights, then you might get a little scared.
Thankfully, there are railings wherever there are ledges with drop-offs and there’s enough room that if you stay on the side close to the mountain you shouldn’t be too scared.
To save the best for last! There are a few amazing cafes and restaurants when you get to the end of the hike in Monte. Right under one of the chairlifts, you can find Land Food & Coffee and it’s absolutely delicious.
Actually, it was because of them that we stumbled upon Levada do Bom Sucesso. We were looking if there was a hiking trail to get up to Monte where the cafe is located and then ended up finding this hike! So expect some good coffee and food at the end of this hiking trail!
Practical information about hiking the Levada do Bom Sucesso
Official trail name: Levada do Bom Sucesso e Zona Velha
Distance: 4.2 km to the top/ 2.6 miles to the top
Elevation: Roughly 768 m / 2520 ft. elevation gain
Type: One way
Length: 1.5-2 hours total (from downtown Funchal)
Difficulty: Moderate
Rating: 4/5
Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Levada do Bom Sucesso.
Starting anywhere in Funchal to the Levada do Bom Sucesso trailhead
The beauty of this trail is you can start from anywhere in Funchal and walk to the “trailhead”. Thankfully, we were in the old town near the cable car so it’s not that far of a walk from there to the trailhead.
It depends where in Funchal you are but you’ll most likely be able to get to the Bom Sucesso district quite quickly!
If you’re staying in Sao Martinho, Lido, or any other district a bit further from downtown Funchal it may be best to take a bus downtown and then walk to the trailhead so it doesn’t turn into an extremely long day!
Once you’re in Funchal it’s only about a 15-minute hike up on the busy roads to get to Bom Sucesso and then to the trailhead where you’ll be on an actual hiking trail away from the business of Funchal!
From the Levada do Bom Sucesso trailhead
Now the real fun begins! After zig-zagging up and down streets to actually get to the Levada do Bom Sucesso trailhead you’ll get away from all the loud noise and cars you find in Funchal.
It may feel like you’re not on the right trail because you’re going to be walking on this little path next to some houses for the first bit but don’t worry.
As long as you’re going up and you see a dried-out Levada next to you then you’re heading the right way.
If you haven’t seen a Levada before it’s basically a man-made irrigation system that helps funnel water around the island. Most levadas do have water in them but when we hiked Bom Sucesso it was completely dry.
So if you see a dried Levada then you’re set and just keep hiking up! This section can be a bit scary if you’re afraid of heights.
The path does get a little bit narrow and there is a bit of a drop-off on the left side. However, there are railings and the drops aren’t that crazy – but it’s something you should be prepared for.
There’s also a sign at least at the end of the trail saying that this trail is to be done at your own risk.
There’s a good amount of other people that do this Levada hike daily so we decided to go for it and found it to be fine!
We just want to let you know that if you are afraid of heights it’s good to be prepared for it in advance so you know what you’re getting yourself into. It is only the beginning that’s like this though!
Past the waterfall and up the stairs
One of the things we were completely surprised by about this trail is that you truly feel like you’re out in nature and away from the city.
Even though Funchal is right behind you when you hike you really feel like you’re on a proper hiking trail out in the mountains.
It’s not like this is just a casual hiking trail either. As you twist and turn past some of the bends, beautiful landscapes will pop up! Our favourite part is the few waterfalls you see along the way.
As you get further into the hike, the trail widens and there are no drop-offs like earlier in the hike. Instead, there are stairs and many of them! It’s probably the hardest part of the hike but after you pass a waterfall you’ll come to what feels like 1000 stairs.
I guess that’s where all the elevation comes from! But seriously, it’s a great workout! You feel like the last stair is coming and then *bam* a bunch more and then a few more after that. But it’s totally worth it.
The food and coffee at Land Food & Coffee will be waiting for you.
Take left at the fork and follow Levada do Bom Sucesso
This Levada trail is super easy to follow and there’s only one section where you need to take the correct turn to make it to the end of the hike.
Once you’ve survived all the stairs, taken in the view of the other waterfall you’ll come to a fork in the road.
You can see the Levada do Bom Sucesso trail map here. You’ll just continue left towards Babosas which will lead you to the top of the cable car where the restaurants and cafes are.
You’ll cross a small bridge and have one last uphill climb before getting to all the restaurants and cafes.
There are quite a few options so if you’re hungry or looking for a drink then you can explore your options. We’ve only ever been to Land Food & Coffee (and it’s absolutely delicious) but you can also find Pátio das Babosas which is VERY popular as well as Local Shop (where they get coffee from the same place as Land Food & Coffee, Odd Coffee Roastery).
Some of our friends have gone to the other two places and said they were excellent as well.
Enjoy specialty coffee while overlooking Funchal
Once you’ve decided where to go for coffee and food, it’s time to start thinking about what you want to do next…
The Monte area is actually a really popular area because of the beautiful gardens. If you have the time and want to spend some time up in Monte after the hike then you should consider checking out Madeira Botanical Garden and the Monte Palace Madeira (rated amongst the top 10 best things to do in Funchal).
There’s a lot to explore up in Monte so don’t just head straight back down after the hike or you’ll miss out on a bunch of stuff!
Back down to Funchal
Once you’ve seen everything there is to see up in Monte you can make your way back down. This way is even more fun since there are multiple ways to get back to Funchal.
If you enjoyed the hike and don’t mind walking then your best bet is to take the same Levada do Bom Sucesso trail back to Funchal.
If you’re a little stuffed from the food and don’t feel like hiking back then a Bolt or Uber will cost you around 7 Euro.
If you’re feeling super adventurous and up for a little adrenaline rush then look into the Monte toboggan. It’s one of the most unique things we’ve ever seen and it’s famous here in Funchal.
You basically ride a toboggan down the crazy steep hills from Monte to Funchal.
There are two locals per toboggan who help steer and guide the toboggan. We’ve never seen anything like it and it looks like an awesome time!
You can either book a 3-hour Monte sightseeing tour with the toboggan sled ride at the end or you can just book the toboggan without the sightseeing.
What to bring on the trail
You’re going to be so close to home, Funchal, and the restaurants so you really don’t need to bring too much. A backpack with a full water bottle and a few snacks should be more than enough.
You don’t need hiking shoes for this Levada hike. We didn’t bring ours since the hike was a very last-minute decision but it definitely wouldn’t be a bad idea to wear them if you have a pair.
The one thing to consider is that the weather can be slightly different in Monte than down in Funchal. For that reason, we recommend bringing a waterproof jacket.
We’ve done the hike twice now and both times it was raining up in Monte.
Best time to hike Levada Bom Sucesso
The thing about Levada Bom Sucesso is that it’s not a very touristy trail and not too many people know about it so it’s never too busy or crowded.
The best time to hike this trail is when you’re looking to go on a proper hike but don’t want to travel too far.
If you’re wanting to do something spontaneous one day but don’t want to rent a car in Funchal or take the bus somewhere you can literally walk out your front door and walk to the trailhead.
Even though the hike starts in Funchal it is a proper hike and you’ll definitely experience what it’s like to hike in Madeira on this trail.
Check the weather in Monte here before you go. You probably don’t want to go hiking up to Monte in the pouring rain.
Even though Funchal and Monte are so close the weather can be somewhat different up there so it’s good to see what the weather is like before deciding to go on the hike or not.
You may also like…
- Hiking the Beautiful Alecrim Waterfall Trail
- The Best Sunrise Spot in Madeira: Pico Ruivo
- The Most Famous Hike in Madeira – Pico do Arieiro (PR1)
- Hiking the Coastal Trail in Madeira – Vereda do Larano
- Hiking the Dragon’s Tail in Madeira – Ponta de São Lourenço
Recap of hiking Levada do Bom Sucesso
Levada do Bom Sucesso is the perfect spontaneous thing to do if you’re looking for a bit of adventure in Funchal. Or if you’re just looking for something outdoorsy near the city.
You’re going to get your sweat on with all the incline but the waterfalls and the food at the end make it worth it.
If you’re feeling extra adventurous then give the Monte toboggan a go since it’s something you can only do here in Madeira!
We hope you enjoy this hidden gem of a hike in Funchal that takes you up to Monte. If you have any questions feel free to DM us on Instagram or comment on this post and we’ll get back to you asap!
Have fun!
Dom & Jo
Red White Adventures
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We tried to do this walk as it was convenient to get to from central Funchal. Unfortunately the route is closed at the entrance to the levada. There is a notice that says it is closed due to safety issues dated November 22. All the best!
Hey David,
We actually had the hike planned to do yesterday (February 23rd 2023) again for the first time this year and we saw the notice at the beginning and end of the hike. So thank you for that we ended up hiking Levada dos Tornos Monte hike and that brings you from the east side of Funchal to Monte and it’s equally as beautiful.
The hike starts near the Jasmine Tea House in Funchal and makes its way towards Monte. If you want more questions regarding the hike let us know!
-Dom
Just to say we did it on November 14th 2023, going downhill from Monte to Funchal, and it was open and absolutely fine – and gorgeous.
Anna
Hey Anna, that is great to know! There was no sign or paper by the Monte trailhead saying the hike is closed due to erosion?
– Jo
Hiked down today. There is a proper ‘no pedestrian ‘ sign at the downhill end but nothing at the top.
The sign for the trail at the top has been removed as well.
There is a 5 metre section fallen away that has a dodgy iron sheet (that flexes) across the gap and also a few trees down and broken path sections. Not difficult or dangerous compared to some other levadas.
Some reports of occasional police action and taking of names but not seen.
Hey Steve,
Thanks for sharing this information it’s good to know. Will be back in a few months and will check it out again. I was about to say there’s some other way more dangerous levada walks out there but thanks for the heads up.
-Dom