8 – Levada Madeira Lakes
Full-Day Madeira Island Walk
Adult
35€
was 37€
Child
17,50€
under age 11
Duration
Full-Day
09h00 – 16h45
Difficulty
Moderate
10km
8 – Levada Madeira Lakes
The Levada Madeira Lakes walk starts in Paúl da Serra where the area is covered with the luxuriant vegetation of the Laurissilva Forest (Laurel Forest), classified as Natural World Heritage by UNESCO.
The very first section of the walk is through a narrow dirt path hidden in the vegetation. Soon after, we start following Levada do Alecrim where the track is wide and the vegetation is abundant on both sides of the Levada.
Levada do Alecrim was built to receive and transport water from the Lajeado and Alecrim creeks with the purpose of supplying the Calheta Hydroelectric Station.
After walking a few meters, the Levada joins a large water reservoir and some small ponds where we can see trouts swimming around in the clear water. Further, ahead we go up a stairway and keep following the Levada upstream.
Along the way, we can enjoy the outstanding views over the Rabaçal valley and Ribeira da Janela.
When we reach the source of Levada do Alecrim, at Ribeira do Lajeado, we take a break to appreciate the landscape surrounding the small lagoon known as “Dona Beja”. There is also a small waterfall that drops down from the rocks into the lagoon. This water will feed the waterfall of Lagoa do Vento (Wind Lagoon), which is located further down.
With recharged energies, we start returning through the same track and then take a different path to the Wind Lagoon. This section of the walk is a bit more difficult, the terrain is irregular and can be slippery, especially on rainy days.
When we reach the base of the lagoon we will be mesmerized by the beauty of the waterfall that drops down from the top of the cliff. Here the silence is only interrupted by the sounds of nature.
Regarding the flora we find during this hike, the landscape is dominated by altitude heaths, which include the tree heather, the besom heath, the whortleberry, the Madeiran orchid, and the milk thistle.
View Gallery
What to Bring?
According to the time of the year that you chose to walk in Madeira and taking into consideration our changeable weather, it is necessary to be well prepared for the Levada walks and the mountain trails.
Recommended Equipment
Good Shoes
Proper boots or walking shoes with a good grip;
Good Jacket
An all-weather jacket is a perfect choice for the walks;
A Flashlight
Bring a flashlight or your mobile telephone with a flashlight to help you cross some of the tunnels in certain walks;
Walking Stick
A walking stick can be suitable and useful for some of our guests to feel more confident.
