- Cumulative ascent: 350 meters
- Duration: 4 hours
- Low point: The 25 fountains (986 m) / High point: Rabaçal parking lot (1276 m)
- Difficulty: 1/5 / Technique: 1/5
The levada of the 25 fountains (levada das 25 fontes e Risco) is one of Madeira’s best-known and, above all, most popular. Its name derives from the plethora of small waterfalls at the end of the route. The starting point is accessible only by car, but round trips are organized by tour operators from Funchal (Flora Travel, for example) for around €25 with an English-speaking guide.
From Rabaçal, we begin by contemplating the magnificent view of the green mountains that surround us, a landscape radically different from that found in Funchal on the coast, just a few dozen kilometers away. By the time we set off early in the morning, fog had taken possession of the mountains and the view. A light rain accompanied our departure from the parking lot and our leisurely descent along the small hiking trail. It has to be said that Madeira could be the capital of hiking, so perfect are the facilities.
We soon follow the levada, one of the irrigation canals so famous and useful for providing fresh water to the four corners of the island. We push on a little further to contemplate the Risco waterfall, a magnificent trickle of water that falls between stones covered in moss and lichen. It has to be said that this hike is a great opportunity to admire Madeira’s endemic flora and fauna. We retrace our steps and continue on to the 25 fountains, a sort of arc of a circle where numerous small waterfalls fall, making the place an ode to the water so present all around us. The return journey takes the same route.
The hike to the 25 fountains was made on August 16, 2018.
The route is not available on Google Maps for this hike.
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We recommend you take along the 1:50000 paper Kompass map of this hike (234 – Madeira). Always exercise caution when hiking. Topexpos Voyages and the author of this fact sheet cannot be held responsible for any accident or inconvenience that may occur on this tour.
