Madeira Walks

The authors, Shirley and Mike Whitehead, settled in Madeira in 2002 and live in Jardim do Mar on the south west coast. Both born in Lancashire England, they lived for many years in Yorkshire where they pursued their interest in walking and the environment, particularly in West Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Dales.Since moving to Madeira they have spent much of their time discovering the island's diverse landscape and its natural and cultural history, walking the levadas, forest trails, moorland and mountain tracks and coastal routes as well as visiting many of the towns, villages and hamlets across the island.Their previous walking guides, 'Shirley Whitehead's Madeira Walks' and 'Walk! Madeira' with Shirley & Mike Whitehead, were published by Discovery Walking Guides Ltd with subsequent editions produced in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

ContentsThe AuthorsAcknowledgementsPrefaceAdverse weather conditionsIntroductionTopographyClimateThe LevadasFlora and FaunaWalkingGetting AroundPlaces to Visit & Other Things To DoSymbols Rating GuideMap InformationWalk Locator MapsMap Notes & LegendUsing GPS on MadeiraTHE WALKSWALKS IN FUNCHAL & THE CENTRAL REGION1. Praia Formosa to Camara de Lobos1 walker, 11/4 hours, 3km , ascents/descents negligible, vertigorisk 0, refreshments 4 (linear one way, circular with bus)2. Romeiros to Jasmin Tea House and Palheiro Gardens1 walker, 2 hours, 8km, ascents negligible, descents 100 metres,vertigo risk 1, refreshments 2 (linear one way, circular with bus)3. Levada do Norte & Levada da Rabacas - Encumeada1 walker, 2 hours, 6km, ascents & descents negligible,vertigo risk 1, refreshments 1 (linear out and back)4. Levada do Norte: Estreito de Camera de Lobos - Cabo Girao2 walker, 21/2 hours, 8km, ascents 35 metres, descents negligible,vertigo risk 1, refreshments 2 (linear one way)5. Levada dos Piornais - Madeira Shopping to Funchal Lido area3 walker, 31/2 hours, 9km, ascents negligible, descents 240 metres,vertigo risk 3, refreshments 4 (linear one way)6. Levada dos Piornais - Santa Rita circular2 walker, 2 hours, 5km, ascents & descents 160 metres, vertigorisk 3, refreshments 1 (circular)7. Eira do Serrado to Curral das Freiras (Nun's Valley)2 walker, 11/4 hours, 2.5km, ascents negligible, descents 405metres, vertigo risk 0, refreshments 2 (linear one way)8. Ecological Park to Monte (PR 3.1 Caminho Real do Monte)3 walker, 2 hours, 5km, ascents 30 metres, descents 620 metres,vertigo risk 0, refreshments 3 (linear one way, circular with bus)9. Monte - Bom Sucesso - Funchal3 walker, 2 hours, 7km, ascents 20 metres, descents 550 metres,vertigo risk 2, refreshments 0 (circular, with bus/Teleferico)10. Levada dos Tornos Monte - Babosas - Curral Romeiros 3 walker, 1 hour 50 mins, 6km, ascents & descents 200 metres,vertigo risk 3, refreshments 3 (circular) WALKS IN SOUTH EAST AND NORTH EAST REGION 11. Levada da Azenha - Caminho Velho do Castelo (PR23)1 walker, 1 hour, 2.6km, ascents & descents negligible, vertigo risk 0, refreshments 1 (linear out and back)12. Sao Lourenco: Prainha - Pico da Piedade1 walker, 1 hour, 3km, ascents & descents 120 metres, vertigorisk 0, refreshments 1 (circular)13. Arco de Sao Jorge to Boaventura2 walker, 13/4 hours, 4km, ascents 230 metres, descents 200metres, vertigo risk 0, refreshments 2 (linear one way)14. Santana - Faja da Rocha do Navio2 walker, 2 hours, 6km, ascents 50 metres, descents 420 metres,vertigo risk 1, refreshments 1 (circular, with Teleferico)15 Levada do Canical (East) 2 walker, 11/2 hours, 5km, ascents 20 metres, descents 230metres, vertigo risk 0, refreshments 2 (linear one way)16. Levada do Castelejo, Sao Roque2 walker, 3 hours, 8km, ascents & descents 50 metres, vertigorisk 0, refreshments 0 (linear out and back)17. Pico do Facho - Machico3 walker, 11/4 hours, 3km, ascents 90 metres, descents 320 metres,vertigo risk 0, refreshments 2 (linear one way)18. The Old Trail to Canical 2/3 walker, 2 hours, 5.5km, ascents 90 metres, descents 310,metres, vertigo risk 0, refreshments 2 (linear one way) WALKS IN CENTRAL EAST REGION 19. Vereda dos Balcoes - (PR11)1 walker, 3/4 hour, 3km, ascents & descents negligible, vertigorisk 0, refreshments 3 (linear out and back)20. Santana - Pico das Pedras to Queimadas1 walker, 11/4 hours, 5km, ascents & descents negligible, vertigorisk 0, refreshments 1 (linear out and back)21. Abrigo de Pastor Circular - Poiso1 walker, 11/2 hours, 4km, ascents & descents 120 metres, vertigorisk 0, refreshments 1 (circular)22. Santo da Serra - Serrado das Ameixieras - Madre de Agua2 walker, 21/2 hours, 8km, ascents & descents 100 metres, vertigorisk 0, refreshments 1 (circular)23. Pico do Areeiro - Juncal Viewpoint - Ninha da Manta2 walker, 11/2 hours, 3km, ascents & descents 150 metres, vertigorisk 0, refreshments 1 (linear out and back)24. Levada do Furado (PR10) Ribeiro Frio to Portela3 walker, 31/2 hours, 11km, ascents negligible, descents 200metres, vertigo risk 1, refreshments 2 (linear one way)24A. Levada do Furado: Ribeiro Frio to Santa da Serra3 walker, 4 hours, 14km, ascents neg. descents 190 metres, vertigorisk 1, refreshments 2 (linear one way)WALKS IN CENTRAL WEST REGION 25. Rabacal: Levada do Risco (PR6.1)1 walker, 2 hours, 4.2km, ascents 20 metres, desents 240 metres,vertigo risk 0, refreshments 0 (linear out and back)26. Rabacal: Ribeira Grande1 walker, 2 hours, 6km, ascents & descents 20 metres, vertigorisk 1, refreshments 0 (linear out and back)27. Levada do Paul - Cristo Rei - Fatima Chapel, Rabacal1 walker, 31/2 hours, 10km, ascents & descents negligible, vertigorisk 0, refreshments 1 (linear out and back)28. Around Fanal1 walker, 11/4 hours, 4km, ascents & descents 70 metres, vertigo risk 0, refreshments 0 (circular)29. Cristo Rei - Levada Bica da Cana2 walker, 2 hours, 6km, ascents & descents negligible, vertigorisk 1, refreshments 0 (linear out and back)30. Vereda das Chao dos Louros - Sao Vicente Valley (PR22)1 walker, 11/4 hours, 1.9km, ascents & descents 60 metres, vertigorisk 0, 0 refreshments (circular)31. Estanquinhos to Pico Ruivo do Paul3 walker, 2 hours, 5km, ascents & descents 170 metres, vertigorisk 0, refreshments 0 (figure of eight circular)32. Fanal to Curral Falso - (PR14 Levada dos Cedros)2 walker, 5 hours, 11.6km, ascents & descents 290 metres,vertigo risk 1, refreshments 0 (linear out and back)33. Curral Falso to Ribeira da Janela - (PR15)2 walker, 11/2 hours, 2.7km, ascents negligible, descents 440metres, vertigo risk 0, refreshments 1 (linear one way)34. Bica da Cana - Pinaculo - Bica da Cana3 walker, 21/2 hours, 6km, ascents & descents 160 metres,vertigo risk 1, refreshments 0 (circular)35. Levada das 25 Fontes (PR6) via Calheta Tunnel2 walker, 3 hours, 8km, ascents & descents negligible, vertigorisk 2, refreshments 0 (linear out and back)WALKS IN SOUTH WEST AND NORTH WEST REGION 36. Levada do Moinho - Achadas da Cruz - circular1 walker, 2 hours, 6km, ascents & descents 100 metres, vertigorisk 1, refreshments 2 (circular)37. Santa - Porto Moniz circular2 walker, 11/2 hours, 5km, ascents negligible, descents 462metres, vertigo risk 0, refreshments 5 (linear one way)38. Levada Nova - Faja da Ovelha to Ponta do Pargo2/3 walker, 3 hours 10 mins, 10km, ascents 0m, descents 150metres, vertigo risk 0, refreshments 1 (linear one way)39. Levada da Ribeira da Janela -Lamaceiros3 walker, 4 hours, 12km, ascents & descents negligible, vertigorisk 1, refreshments 1 (linear out and back)40. Ponta do Pargo to Cabo2 walker, 31/4 hours, 8km, ascents & descents 225 metres,vertigo risk 0, refreshments 1 (linear out and back)41. Faja da Ovelha -Paul do Mar3 walker, 21/4 hours, 7km, ascents 20 metres, descents 610metres, vertigo risk 0, refreshments 2 (linear one way)GlossaryAppendicesA. Useful InformationB. Gardens, Nature Reserves, Natural History, Museums, Festivals & EventsC(1). Official Recommended Trails For HikersC(2). Disabled RoutesD. Reference SourcesE. Bus InformationPlace Names Index