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PR13 · Northwest — Fanal / Paúl da Serra (Porto Moniz)

Vereda do Fanal

Also known as PR13 Vereda do Fanal · Fanal Footpath

10.8 km Length linear
4 h Duration typical
Moderate Grade moderate
290 m Ascent climb
low Exposure vertigo
PR13 Trail official PR

More a forest footpath than a levada, the Vereda do Fanal traverses the high Paúl da Serra plateau through a wide expanse of UNESCO laurel forest in superb condition, ending at the Fanal — a shallow volcanic crater designated a Rest-and-Quiet Reserve and famous worldwide for its gnarled, fog-haunted Til trees. The route passes the Sítio do Fio, where a historic cableway once lowered timber and brushwood off the plateau. Visit Madeira gives 10.8 km, 4 h, Moderate, altitude 1,420/1,130 m, with the official classified line running from Assobiadores onward toward Encumeada. Exposure is low, but the plateau is frequently in cloud — which is precisely what gives the Fanal its otherworldly atmosphere.

Highlights

  • Crosses a broad, pristine swathe of UNESCO Laurisilva in excellent condition
  • Ends at the Fanal volcanic crater, a Rest-and-Quiet Reserve famous for its fog-shrouded ancient Til trees
  • Sítio do Fio, with a historic cableway once used to move wood
  • High-plateau scenery on the Paúl da Serra

Water on the route

  • A levada section along the way
  • the foggy laurel-cloaked Fanal basin
Tunnels: No rock tunnels; the route is a forest footpath (vereda) rather than a tunnelled levada. Bring a head-torch — some levada tunnels are long, low and pitch black.

Walks like this

PR1 Central Massif — Santana / Funchal border

Vereda do Areeiro (Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo)

This is a VEREDA, not a levada — a footpath blasted and carved into the spine of the central massif rather than a water channel. PR1 links Madeira's two great viewpoint peaks, starting at the Pico do Arieiro car park (1,818 m), crossing Pico das Torres (1,851 m) and ending atop Pico Ruivo (1,862 m), the highest point in the archipelago and the third-highest in Portugal. The path threads tunnels dug through volcanic tuff that once sheltered shepherds and livestock, climbs rock-cut staircases, and runs along knife-edge ridges with drops of 500 m or more to either side, frequently above the cloud line. Visit Madeira lists it as 6.1–7 km and grades it moderate, though its length, exposure and altitude see it widely rated hard. Following the August 2024 wildfire the route reopened in late April 2026 and now operates one-way, Arieiro to Ruivo. A premium entry fee applies via the SIMplifica portal.

  • Has tunnels
7 kmLength3.5 hTimehardGrade
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PR6 West — Rabaçal (Calheta municipality)

Levada das 25 Fontes

The signature walk of Rabaçal and one of the most popular trails in all Madeira. From the forestry house the path drops through Laurisilva to the Lagoa das 25 Fontes, a clear pool fed by roughly 25 springs that weep from the surrounding rock wall — the literal source of the name, confirmed by both the Visit Madeira register and Calheta municipality. The terrain is near-flat levada walking with steps and some narrow, exposed ledges. Visit Madeira lists it as 4.3 km one-way (8.6 km round trip); Calheta municipality cites 9 km and GPS trackers up to 11 km when the access road and Risco spur are included.

  • Has tunnels
  • Waterfall on the route
8.6 kmLength3 hTimemoderateGrade
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PR6.1 West — Rabaçal (Calheta municipality)

Levada do Risco

The shortest and gentlest of the Rabaçal trails, leading from the forestry house along an almost level levada to a viewpoint facing the tall, thread-like Risco waterfall. It shares its opening stretch with PR6, so the two are routinely combined into one outing. Visit Madeira gives 1.5 km one-way (3 km round trip), Easy, about 2 hours; the path runs at roughly 1,000 m through laurel forest. The former lower path beneath the falls is closed after landslides.

  • Has tunnels
  • Waterfall on the route
  • Family-friendly
3 kmLength2 hTimeeasyGrade
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