Rabacal, 25 Fontes

Rabaçal sits on a ledge in the steep sides of the Jamela valley, below the western rim of the peculiar Paul de Serra plateau. It is damp, exceptionally verdant area, even by Madeiran standards, with waterfalls gracing the slopes of thick old tree heather, laurel and broom.

Three levadas run close to each other here, and you can walk all or some of them.

The uppermost, the gorgeous  Levada de Risco, leads to the superb 100m Risco waterfall in half an hour or so.

The middle and best known, the Levada das 25 Fontes, takes you round the hillside, in approaching an hour, to a beautiful, ferny cauldron, a truly magical place, into which numerous falls (never 25 nowadays, apparently) – from rivulets to dribbles – tumble. The lovely levada is sometimes in a tunnel of huge heathers, sometimes teetering above high, scrubby precipices.   It is written up as being somewhat risky and not for the vertiginous, but has been post-and-wired and is a doddle. We have to say, we were a tad disappointed, and it comes nowhere near the in theory similar Caldeirao Verde walk.

The lower, the Levada de Rocha Vermelha, has longer walkable stretches, and leads to a group of waterfalls in the Ribiera dos Cedros valley and beyond to the north. Not many people make it onto this levada.

All 3 levadas are 11km/4hrs. The first two are approximately 8.5km/2hr 20m.

This area is very popular, and in all guidebooks and on all local walk company itineraries, and the 25 Fontes levada was overcrowded, to our taste, when Walkopedia was there (admittedly a Saturday): we encountered files of 15+ people, and spent a lot of time stepping aside for oncoming traffic, or thanking people who had done likewise.

Always unpredictable weather, come prepared.

Getting there: 2km down a small road from a carpark on the E105 road. No cars allowed, so minibus or a pleasant walk. you can drive. No buses, so car is the only realistic option.

 The excellent Walking in Madeira by Paddy Dillon for Cicerone and Sunflower’s Madeira Car Tours and Walks describe these walks between them. Find these and other books on Amazon.

See our Madeira page for further information on Madeira and walking photos, and detailed practical information, including weather and transport.