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

● Open · ABERTO

The historic way into Rabaçal along the old levada. It starts on the ER 105 at Pico Gordo, 5 km, about 2 h, between 1,038 and 1,190 m, to Casa do Rabaçal. After some 800 m of descent you reach the Levada Velha do Rabaçal, or Levada do Risco: to the right the trail carries on to Casa do Rabaçal; to the left opens the imposing Túnel das Estrebarias, known as Furado Velho, bored in 1855 — for the first time in Madeira's history the abundant waters of the north crossed the island to the drier south. The old levada is now only used between its source and the surroundings of Casa do Rabaçal; its water is then passed into the Levada Nova, the 25 Fontes one. From the clearings, deep views over the Laurissilva, a UNESCO World Heritage site since December 1999 and a Natura 2000 site. The route lets you avoid the road closed to traffic between the ER 105 and Casa do Rabaçal.

Highlights

  • Túnel das Estrebarias (1855)
  • Pico Gordo
  • Casa do Rabaçal
  • Laurissilva
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
5 km
Elevation gain
152 m
Duration
2 h
Price
€4.50 (over 12) · SIMplifica booking · free for residents and under-13s
Municipality
Calheta
🎟️ 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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