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East — Machico to Porto da Cruz (via Boca do Risco)

Vereda do Larano / Boca do Risco

Also known as Boca do Risco · Larano coastal trail · Caminho do Larano · Levada do Caniçal – Vereda do Larano · Caniçal's Levada – Larano Footpath

12.1 km Length linear
4 h Duration typical
Hard Grade hard
238 m Ascent climb
high Exposure vertigo

The great historic coastal traverse of eastern Madeira — a vereda, not a levada, though many walkers begin on the easy, flat Levada do Caniçal above Machico before the trail turns wild. It follows the old caminho real that for centuries was the only land route between Machico and Porto da Cruz before the road tunnels were cut. The dramatic centrepiece is the Boca do Risco, the 'Mouth of Risk', a wind-blasted clifftop notch where the path runs along a narrow, unprotected shelf roughly 300 m above the crashing north-coast surf before descending to Porto da Cruz. The walk delivers some of the island's wildest sea panoramas and is largely free of crowds, but the exposure is serious and it is recommended only for sure-footed, head-for-heights walkers in good conditions. Note it is unnumbered and is NOT PR8 (the separate Ponta de São Lourenço trail), with which it is frequently confused.

Highlights

  • Historic caminho real (royal road) between Machico and Porto da Cruz
  • Boca do Risco ('Mouth of Risk') clifftop gap and viewpoint
  • Spectacular wild north-coast cliff panoramas
  • Narrow, unprotected path high above the ocean
  • Gentle Levada do Caniçal opening above Machico
  • Atmospheric, underrated and uncrowded

Water on the route

  • Atlantic Ocean / north-coast surf some 300 m below
  • the gentle Levada do Caniçal at the start
  • sea cliffs and the Boca do Risco gap
  • coastal views toward Penha d'Águia and Porto da Cruz beaches
Tunnels: Not a levada-tunnel walk; the Machico approach begins near the old road tunnel that historically connected Machico to Caniçal. No walk-through trail tunnels.. Bring a head-torch — some levada tunnels are long, low and pitch black.

Walks like this

PR10 Central-East — Ribeiro Frio to Portela

Levada do Furado

The PR10 is the classic Central-East levada walk and follows one of the oldest public levadas on the island (the channel itself dated to 1822), running downhill through deep Laurisilva from the trout-farm hamlet of Ribeiro Frio to the pass at Portela. It is a long but largely gentle contour walk, with an initial undulating forest stretch giving way to open balconies above the Faial and Porto da Cruz valleys, framed by the great monolith of Penha d'Águia. The trail is mostly easy underfoot but earns its 'moderate' rating from its length and a handful of narrow, partially exposed ledge sections; an alternative high variant climbs toward Pico do Suna. As of early 2026 a section is affected by a landslide and pavement damage — check current status before setting out.

  • Has tunnels
  • Waterfall on the route
11 kmLength5 hTimemoderateGrade
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Central-East — Choupana / Camacha / Santo da Serra

Levada da Serra do Faial

The Levada da Serra do Faial is a long, near-level water channel that contours the eastern highlands at roughly 700–800 m, linking the heights above Funchal (Choupana) eastward through Camacha and Santo da Serra and ultimately feeding toward the Ribeiro Frio system where the Levada do Furado begins. It is most often walked as the gentle Choupana–Camacha leg — sometimes marketed as the 'Levada Vale Paraíso' — a wide, flat, shaded path through mixed oak, pine, eucalyptus and laurel woodland with intermittent panoramas over the capital and its valleys. Its flatness and width make it one of the most accessible levada walks on Madeira, with no significant exposure.

  • Has tunnels
  • Family-friendly
6.2 kmLength2.25 hTimeeasyGrade
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PR24 East — Porto da Cruz

Levada do Castelejo

The PR24 is an uncrowded levada walk on the rugged east coast above Porto da Cruz, following the Castelejo channel from the hamlet of Referta out to a small waterfall and footbridge where the stream feeds the levada. The early sections pass terraced farmland and laurel forest, but the trail's character is defined by a long stretch of narrow ledge suspended on the open hillside with high, largely unprotected exposure — comfortable walking underfoot but unsuitable for anyone uneasy with heights. It is a there-and-back route, returning the same way after the waterfall.

  • Waterfall on the route
8.8 kmLength3 hTimemoderateGrade
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