The name might have given it away but the spectacular Levada das 25 Fontes has, you guessed it, 25 water sources! The trail culminates towards one of Madeira’s nicest waterfalls; the Risco waterfall. This levada is for everyone of all ages.
Keep reading to learn all there is to know about planning your visit to this levada.
SKIP AHEAD
- What is the Levada das 25 Fontes?
- What is the Risco waterfall?
- How to get to the Levada das 25 Fontes and Risco Waterfall
- THE EASY WAY – Levada das 25 Fontes and Risco waterfall
- A FULL-ON ADVENTURE – Levada das 25 Fontes, Lagoa do Vento and Pico Fernandes ou Rabaçal
- Best time to visit
- What to bring
- Our tips for Levada das 25 Fontes
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What is the Levada das 25 Fontes?
Levada das 25 Fontes is one of Madeira’s most popular levadas, and for a good reason! In fact, the trail is one of the easiest making it a perfect choice for all travellers, and the views are among the island’s most stunning.
What is a Levada? Levadas are walking trails in the lush vegetation of Madeira. Most times, the trails are flat and follow a water channel, so you can almost always hear the sound of calm trickling water. These channels were built as a means to transport water from one side of the island to the other in order to provide it with the water necessary for agriculture. The trails we can explore today were used for maintenance purposes.
Levada das 25 Fontes itself is a 3.6km walk (one-way) with a 320m elevation gain, both negative and positive. Most of the elevation difference is towards the beginning of the hike, on a tarmac road that connects the parking lot with Rabaçal House. The rest of the trail, which is quite narrow at some points, is very easy and suitable for anyone.
There is a minivan that you can take for the first 1.8km of the trail and connects the parking lot on ER 110 with Rabaçal Houe. This shuttle bus is quite convenient on the way back if you don’t feel like hiking all the way up yourself. More details below on the shuttle.
The levada ends at one of the major landmarks of Madeira, the 25 Fontes waterfall and is it just breathtaking!
What is the Risco Waterfall?
The Risco waterfall is composed of two impressive cascades located on two different levels in the heart of Madeira’s dense forest. The lower level is reachable if you take the easier route of the hike, while the upper level requires more effort. We explain how to get to both levels down below.
By itself, you are looking at a 3.0km hike, part of which is shared with the Levada das 25 Fontes. The height difference is 240m, both negative and positive.
The Risco waterfall is truly impressive. Each of the two drops is about 100m high, creating a unique scenery. Because you’re enclosed with such high “green” lush walls, there’s a great echo here, the overall feel when you’re here is something quite special.
What is Lagoa do Vento?
Between the two waterfalls is a small lake called “Lagoa do Vento“. The lake is formed by the Risco waterfalls and it is accessible by foot. Skip ahead to the detailed guide for a full adventure to find out how to get there.
How to get to the Levada das 25 Fontes and Risco Waterfall
The starting point for all the hikes described in this post is the same one. It is a parking lot located on the ER 110, the main inland road on the western side of Madeira. Check the map below for the exact location and directions from Funchal.
How to get to Levada das 25 Fontes and Risco Waterfall
🚗 BY CAR: The starting point of Levada das 25 Fontes is located 40km from Funchal. There is a parking lot on the side of the road, at the beginning of the trail. The parking lot is free of charge.
🚍 BY BUS: There is no bus that goes to the starting point of the trail of Levada das 25 Fontes. The closest stop is Estreito da Calheta, which you can reach with bus n°142, n°80, n°115 and n°107, all operated by Rodoeste. The bus ticket costs €4.70 EUR ($5 USD).
Then, you’ll need to take a taxi from Calheta to the levada trail.
THE EASY WAY
Levada das 25 Fontes and Risco waterfall – Detailed Guide
This is the easiest way to visit 25 Fontes Falls and Risco Waterfall. Overall, the elevation gain is not too bad, except for at the staircase towards the end of the trail as you head back to the cafè. However, the staircase is quite large compared to other narrow areas on the trail so you can stop and take a break without a problem here and go at your own pace.
All in all, the trail is fairly easy and suitable for all, even for older kids (just to give you an idea), to catch the main highlights. You can also skip the last part of the trail on your way back to the parking by taking the shuttle bus.
We visited Risco first and 25 Fontes second, but you can do the opposite if you like as there is no big difference.
Keep in mind that this is the busiest version of the hike and by far the most crowded levada in Madeira, as it’s enjoyed by tourists on a daily basis. Summer months are definitely the busiest, so consider the “full-on adventure” version of the hike if you’re visiting Madeira during this period.
🥾 HIKE DETAIL:
Difficulty: very easy
Length: 8.2km (loop trail)
Duration: 4h
Elevation difference: +320m / -320m
The starting point of the hike is the parking mentioned in the previous chapter, on the side of the ER 110. From here, take the paved road towards the Rabaçal House. The trail goes downward for the first 1.8km, with a negative 200m elevation difference. Despite being a paved road, it’s super nice and calming, you instantly feel like you’re in the forest.
Your first stop – Rabaçal House – is a cafè, ideal for a stopover on your way back after a fun hike. They also have rooms and they make delicious cakes! It’s also the only place along this hike where you can find services.
From Rabaçal House, take “PR 6.1 – Levada do Risco“. As for most Levadas, the trail from here is generally flat and the Risco waterfall is a pleasant 1.2km walk from the cafè. The trails here are well marked and there are signs at every crossroad, however, we recommend using maps.me to never get lost even while offline.
After 1.2km you will finally arrive at the second stop of this hike, the viewpoint at the lower level of Risco waterfall. You will be at the bottom of a stunning 100m cascade. From here you can also spot the upper Risco waterfall in the distance, another 100m drop located just above the lower one.
The trail is incredibly lush and dotted with smaller waterfalls along its way. At the end of it, you will find a small area where visitors can sit down, rest and have a snack admiring the view.
🚯There are no trash bins so bring keep your garbage with you and help keep this natural haven clean.
After Risco, you’ll have to backtrack for about 500m before turning right. You will take a shortcut that connects Levada do Risco with Levada das 25 Fontes. There are signs along Levada do Risco indicating “PR6 – Levada das Fontes“, so you can’t go wrong.
From this sign, the third stop – 25 Fontes waterfall – is just 1.2km away. As you approach the waterfall you hear the sounds of the water increasing. When you’re there, you see its grandeur and it looks like it’s slicing the cliff in half. You look up to try and catch a whole glimpse of it but it’s just too high up to see everything up close….it’s truly stunning.
Everything around the water is so green and alive and feels incredibly peaceful. There are large rocks by the basin where the water collects. You can take a closer look by climbing the rocks (wear suitable shoes that you don’t mind getting wet!) and you’ll probably feel just as small as we did in comparison to this grand beauty!
During high season this place can be extremely crowded, as Levada das 25 Fontes is the most visited levada in Madeira. However, since we travelled during low season we were lucky enough to have some windows in which we had the place to ourselves.
From the 25 Fontes waterfall, you will have to backtrack all the way to Rabaçal House, which is now a 1.8km walk.
The final part of the hike connecting Rabaçal House with the parking lot is on a paved road and it is the steepest of the whole trek. This is why most people opt to skip it and take the shuttle bus, which only costs €3 EUR ($3.20).
A FULL-ON ADVENTURE
Levada das 25 Fontes, Lagoa do Vento and Pico Fernandes ou Rabaçal – Detailed Guide
Are you the backpacker that’s looking to avoid the crowds? We got you!
Read this next section on how to have a full-on adventure through the levada. The scenery along the way is just as beautiful and varied. You won’t be disappointed.
🥾 HIKE DETAIL:
Difficulty: moderate
Length: 11km (loop trail)
Duration: 5-6h
Elevation difference: +580m / -580m
This hike begins at the same parking lot of the previous route, on the 110 road. However, instead of taking the paved road to Rabaçal House, take the small path on the right. There is a sign indicating PR6.2 Ribeira do Lajeado and Lagoa do Vento, while the same trail is referred to as Levada do Alecrim on maps.me.
NOTE: On the left, you can see the paved road which is the shortest way to the Rabaçal House, the one mentioned in the EASIER WAY. On the right is the beginning of the trail to Lagoa do Vento, the path for your FULL-ON ADVENTURE.
Get to Lagoa do Vento
Lagoa do Vento is a small lake in the middle of the two drops of the Risco Waterfall. It is formed by the upper waterfall of Risco, and it is only accessible by this trail.
Lagoa do Vento is the first stop of the hike, and it’s located 3.5km away from the starting point. To get there, look for the sign along the Levada do Alecrim which indicates the direction to Lagoa do Vento.
For the final 900m before reaching Lagoa do Vento, the trail descends in a steep way into the valley, as the lake is located about 200m below the levada. Afterward, you will have to backtrack this steep part, as that part is a dead-end and the trail continues on the levada do Alecrim.
The trail isn’t in great condition, some of the steps are huge and it can be slippery at some points. However, it’s highly worth the effort as Lagoa do Vento is surprisingly beautiful and relatively unknown. In fact, large groups of tourists don’t make it here and only visit Risco waterfall from the bottom.
You’re on top of the Risco waterfall, admiring its second, higher drop. The basin is much larger, but just like the previous one, you can climb the rocks are a closer look to soak it all in! The mountain is less green but to see the grooves and layers of the rock with the gentle water is nothing short of breathtaking.
From Lagoa do Vento to Lagoa do Lajeado
The next stop of the hike is another waterfall and its lake, referred to as Lagoa do Lajeado. It’s 1.7km from Lagoa do Vento, and the trail is mostly flat once you get back to Levada do Alecrim. The waterfall at Lagoa do Lajeado is a minor one, but still a very pleasant stop on your trek.
Hiking Pico Fernandes ou Rabaçal
The next 1.3km leading to Pico Fernandes ou Rabaçal are the most confusing of the whole trek. The path isn’t marked very well, the vegetation is quite wild which is why it might be misleading at some points. Stick to maps.me and to our map to find the right way.
While this might sound like a deterrent it isn’t – it’s still a doable trail.
The trail climbs for another 100m up the mountains before reaching the summit. Once you start approaching the top, the dense vegetation opens up and makes room for smaller shrubs and a rocky landscape.
Fernandes ou Rabaçal peak sits at 1403m above sea level, offering staggering views over the valleys of central Madeira.
From Pico Fernandes ou Rabaçal to the 25 Fontes waterfall
Get ready to descend for over 400m in height in just 2km, going deep into the heart of Madeira. In fact, the trail from Pico Fernandes ou Rabaçal goes all the way down with almost no winding curves until the 25 Fontes waterfall.
The trail is a mix of stairs and gravel, and it’s relatively well maintained. The most exposed parts are protected by wire fences, making it an overall safe hike.
You will finally see the Levada das 25 Fontes at the end of the descent. What’s cool about it is that this trail intersects the levada at just 200m from the main waterfall.
The 25 Fontes waterfall is a unique waterfall, with one main stream in the middle and several smaller drops that fall in the lake circularly. 25 Fontes means, in fact, 25 “water sources”.
Heading to the lower level of the Risco waterfall
After spending some time at the 25 Fontes waterfall, it’s time to hit back the track and head to the lower level of the Risco waterfall. This part of the trek is the same as the one shown on the easy version of this hike, just the other way around.
The Risco waterfall is 1.7km from the 25 Fontes waterfall, with a positive elevation gain of 180m. It’s crazy to think a few hours before you were on top of this impressive waterfall, and now you’re admiring it from its lower level.
The last stop before going back to the parking lot is Casa do Rabaçal, where you can have a much-needed break after such a strenuous hike. To get there, follow the Levada do Risco all the way to the caffè.
At Rabaçal House you can get anything from coffee, tea, fresh juices, sandwiches, homemade cakes and other sweets. Despite being hidden in the forest and hard to reach, prices at Rabaçal House are overall fair and affordable.
The last part of the trail can be done both on foot and by taking the shuttle bus.
- ON FOOT: If you going by foot, you’re looking at a 1.6km road with another 200m of positive elevation gain until the parking lot.
- BY SHUTTLE BUS: The minivan stop is located next to Rabaçal House and the ticket, which costs €3 EUR ($3.20), can be purchased on board (with cash). There is a max of 6 people per shuttle, so if there is a queue, you may have to wait for the next one.
Best time to visit
There is no such thing as the best time to visit this part of Madeira. Levada das 25 Fontes, as well as the other places mentioned in this guide, can be visited all year round.
ON A RAINY DAY: As for any levada trail in Madeira, the path can get quite muddy and more challenging (slippery). However, it’s also true that the waterfalls are more scenic after some days of heavy rain and the grennery around it seems even more lush.
BEST TIME OF THE DAY: During low season, there is no need for an early alarm to visit this place. If you’re an early bird we’d recommend enjoying the sunrise elsewhere (possibly in Bica da Cana or Lombo do Mouro which are nearby) and beginning your hike later on.
During high season, however, you may want to start hiking quite early to see this place without large groups of tourists.
What to bring?
Bring with you your levada essentials, like a raincoat, a bottle of water, some snacks (especially if you’re going for the long version of the hike), hiking boots and some extra clothes.
Our tips for Levada das 25 Fontes
SERVICES: The only toilets are at Casa Da Rabaçal, and it’s also the only coffee shop and restaurant nearby. Other than that, you’ll be in the forest for the entire time of the hike without any services.
BEWARE OF THE SHEER CONGESTION: While this is a place that is still worth visiting all year round, Levada das 25 Fontes and Risco waterfall are incredibly touristy, especially during summer time. It is a very beautiful place and among the easiest on the island, attracting all kinds of tourists. It is also one of the most popular in Madeira, being recommended literally everywhere.
Some parts of the trail are quite narrow and you will need to wait for people in the opposite direction to pass if you meet them at the wrong spot. The more people, the more chances you’ll have to wait. We went during low season and the trail was still pretty crowded.
A good tip for visiting this place during high season would be to either opt for the “full adventure” version of the hike or to hit the trail early in the morning.
Did we convince you to visit the Levada das 25 Fontes and Risco waterfall? If you go to Madeira and hit up a trail, tell us about your experience. We love hearing from you!
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