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📡 Today's status

The IFCN's official status, read every day. Green only when the IFCN writes « aberto » with no reserve.

● Closed« ENCERRADO » — IFCN

The wild levada between Fanal and Rabaçal, closed in 2026. It starts on the ER 209 at Fanal; you follow PR 13 (Vereda do Fanal) to the left-hand turn that drops to the Levada da Rocha Vermelha: 10.7 km, about 4 h, between 837 and 1,297 m; A steep staircase flanked by the levada shows the force of the water thrown down by the sharp drop. Also called Água do Vimieiro, the levada rises from the Ribeira da Fajã dos Remos and collects on its way the waters of the Ribeira do Vimieiro and of tributaries of the Ribeira da Janela, Ribeira da Calheta and Ribeira do Seixal, down to the small Rocha Vermelha loading chamber on the slope of the Ribeira da Calheta at Lombo da Atouguia — the channel keepers' house marks the finish. Waterfalls and tunnels (torch) give the route its charm; natural viewpoints overlook the Rabaçal valley and the Ribeira da Janela under the green of the Laurissilva. It can also be reached from the Levada das 25 Fontes (PR 6), higher up.

Highlights

  • Água do Vimieiro
  • Staircase beside the levada
  • Tunnels and waterfalls
  • Lombo da Atouguia
  • Closed in 2026
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
10.7 km
Elevation gain
460 m
Duration
4 h
Price
€4.50 (over 12) · SIMplifica booking · free for residents and under-13s
Municipality
Porto Moniz
🎟️ Book on SIMplifica🗺️ See the route on the map📍 Start🏁 End

Track for guidance only.

Places within 2 km of the route

  • 🌿 Nature

    Rabaçal

    On Paul da Serra, the Pico da Urze balcony opens onto the island's largest valley covered in Laurissilva — a UNESCO World Heritage site, a Natura 2000 site, classified as an area of rest and silence by the Parque Natural da Madeira. From the ER 105 car park set off Madeira's most famous trails: the Levada das 25 Fontes (PR 6), the Levada do Risco (PR 6.1), Alecrim (PR 6.2), Lagoa do Vento (PR 6.3) and, below, Casa do Rabaçal, the meeting point with its reception centre on the history of the levadas; the Túnel do Cavalo (1863–1877) and the Túnel das Estrebarias (1855) tell of the first crossing of the northern waters to the south. All trails require SIMplifica booking (€4.50).

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  • 🌿 Nature

    Cascata do Risco

    At the end of Levada do Risco, at Rabaçal: a fall that drops vertically and draws a white line on the dark rock. It is reached by PR 6.1, an easy 1.5 km path one way from the ER 105, about two hours there and back, at some 1,000 m of altitude. The path shares its start with Levada das 25 Fontes (PR 6). The Risco viewpoint closes the route.

    €4.50 per visitor over 12, SIMplifica booking (PR 6.1)
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  • 🌿 Nature

    Lagoa das 25 Fontes

    A pool at the foot of a wall from which the waters coming down off Paul da Serra emerge: the official page counts twenty-five springs, hence the name. The site is classified geosite C01 – 25 Fontes for its scientific value, and it is this underground circulation that made the building of the levadas possible. It is reached by PR 6, 4.3 km one way from the ER 105 at Rabaçal, about three hours, moderate, between 964 and 1,288 m.

    €4.50 per visitor over 12, SIMplifica booking (PR 6)
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  • 🔭 Viewpoint

    Rabaçal (Calheta)

    A viewpoint at Ponto, municipality of Calheta. It stands 1,214 m above sea level; the DROTe 2023 orthophoto shows a platform or a parking area there.

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