Levada das 25 Fontes: A Guide to Madeira’s PR6 Hike

Levada das 25 Fontes is one of the most popular hikes in Madeira, and for good reason. This 10 km trail takes you through beautiful laurel forests to the famous 25 Fontes waterfalls and the impressive Risco Waterfall.

We were a bit hesitant at first because of how crowded it can get, but after hiking it ourselves with our 3-month-old baby, we can say it’s definitely worth doing. The trail is stunning, especially the twisted trees and waterfalls along the way.

In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about hiking Levada das 25 Fontes — from how to get there and what to pack, to tips on avoiding crowds and our honest thoughts on the trail.

Quick Overview

The official start of the PR6 trail (Levada das 25 Fontes) is at Rabaçal Nature Spot Café, which sits about 2 km from the main parking lot. To reach it, you can either walk along the paved road or take the shuttle minibus (details below).

The total hiking distance from the café is around 10 km round trip, with an optional 1.5 km detour to Risco Waterfall.

There’s about 300 meters of elevation gain, mostly due to stairs going up and down hills, and a final climb back to the parking lot. We’d rate it as moderate difficulty – doable for most, but expect a bit of effort.

How Long It Takes

• Parking lot to Rabaçal Café: 20 minutes walking down, 30–35 minutes back up.
• Rabaçal to 25 Fontes: 1 hour one way.
• Detour to Risco Waterfall: 20–30 minutes one way.

These are walking times only – not counting breaks or time spent enjoying the waterfalls.

Start of the trail

From Rabaçal Parking Lot (most popular)

Most hikers begin at the main Rabaçal parking lot, located just off the ER105 road. You can find the exact location on Google Maps here. The views from the parking lot are already stunning, with sweeping vistas over the Rabaçal valley and the Laurisilva forest.

From here, it’s a 2 km walk on a paved road downhill to reach the official PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes trailhead next to Rabaçal Nature Spot Café. We personally walked this stretch at the start and took the shuttle bus back up after finishing the hike.

Rabaçal Shuttle Minibus

If you prefer to skip the asphalt road and elevation gain, the Rabaçal minibus is available to take you between the parking lot and the trailhead.

• Operating hours: 11:00 to 18:00
• Duration: Around 5 minutes
• Capacity: 8 people
• Wait time: Usually 10–15 minutes, but longer queues are common in high season
• Prices: €5 one way adult, €3 one way child, 8€ return

Keep in mind that it doesn’t run early in the morning, so if you want to start your hike before the crowds, walking is a better option.

If you’re reasonably fit, there’s no need to take the shuttle bus. The walk back is just a mild incline. We would definitely skip the bus under normal conditions.

However, we were hiking with our 3-month-old daughter Ema, and it started raining quite a bit on the way back, so we didn’t really have a choice that day.

Calheta Tunnel

There’s also a less popular trail access via the Calheta tunnel, starting from a lower parking area (Google Maps location). This route begins with a short forest trail, followed by an 800-meter tunnel walk that leads to the café.

The tunnel is dark and wet, so you’ll definitely want a headlamp or flashlight. That said, it’s well-maintained and totally safe, just a bit more adventurous.

How to Get to Levada das 25 Fontes

By car + parking tips

Arriving by car is undoubtedly the best and most flexible option. We highly recommend exploring Madeira with a rental car. Our tip is to use Discover Cars to compare multiple companies and deals in one place.

The parking lot lies along the ER105 road. Getting there is really easy, and you can find the parking location on Google Maps. From Funchal, it’s approximately a 1-hour drive.

Due to the popularity of the hike, the parking spaces fill up quickly. People often park right next to the road, even 1km from the start of the trail. It can be a bit chaotic, especially when you arrive after 10:00. It’s the busiest time.

In order to avoid these troubles, we recommend arriving early in the morning, or late in the afternoon (after 15:00).

By public transport

Unfortunately, there’s no way to reach the hike by a public transport. The only option is to either take a taxi or join a tour.

Guided tour

If you prefer a stress-free experience, you can also join a guided tour. This highly rated half-day tour includes hotel pickup (45 pickup locations), a professional guide, and a small group setting.

It’s a great option if you don’t have a rental car or simply want someone to take care of all the logistics.

Levada das 25 Fontes hiking fee

To hike the popular PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes, a mandatory entry fee of €3 per adult (over 12 years) applies. Children under 12 are free. You can pay easily online using the Simplifica Portal.

There are no kiosks; however, park rangers may collect the fee upon entrance. We started our hike at around 15:00, and there wasn’t anyone checking the tickets.

Not paying may result in a fine. This fee helps fund trail maintenance and preserve Madeira’s nature.

Our experience on the hike

Start of the trail

We started our hike from the Rabaçal Nature Spot Café, which sits tucked away in a scenic green valley.

From the first steps, the trail felt peaceful and almost magical. The crooked laurel trees stretched overhead, forming a natural canopy that gave the whole area a fairytale vibe.

The path closely follows the levada most of the time, which adds a calming sound of running water as you walk.

The terrain at first was mostly flat and easy to walk. It stayed like that until we reached the trail fork—the point where you can either turn left for 25 Fontes or right for the Risco waterfall. This part is about 2.1 km from the 25 Fontes waterfall.

The forkhead and stairs

Once we turned onto the trail for 25 Fontes, the hike became steeper. A longer staircase took us down into the valley.

A few minutes after this junction, we got our first glimpses of Risco in the distance. It was a cloudy and misty day, so the views weren’t the best, but it still looked beautiful. We passed a few more small viewpoints along the way and enjoyed the quiet atmosphere.

Narrow sections

After reaching a small stream at the bottom, we began to climb slightly uphill again. This is where the trail becomes narrower, with a few drop-offs. It’s not super dangerous, but we had to step aside multiple times to let other hikers pass.

Eventually, we reached the final stretch—a one-way passage that leads directly to the waterfall at the end.

25 Fontes waterfall

There wasn’t too much water flowing during our visit, but it was still a great spot to relax. Even in the late afternoon, there were still a fair number of people, and we could only imagine how packed it must be at midday.

Depending on the wind, there might be some water spray around the waterfall, which makes it harder to photograph. You can walk around using the stones and boulders scattered in the area, but most of them are wet and slippery, so be careful.

Under the waterfall, there’s a small lagoon. During our visit, it was raining and quite cold, so no one was swimming, but it is possible. Just keep in mind that the water is very cold, even in summer.

On the way back, we followed the same trail for a bit before turning left at the one-way exit, which climbs over a small hill and rejoins the original path. From there, the way back to the café was straightforward.

Risco waterfall

At the trail junction, we had initially planned to visit the Risco waterfall as well—it’s only 0.8 km one way from the fork, and at 100 meters tall, it’s one of the highest waterfalls on the island.

Sadly, the weather was getting worse with heavy wind and rain setting in, so we decided to catch the last shuttle bus. If you have the time and better weather, we definitely recommend including it.

You can no longer get right under the waterfall, but there’s a viewing point that offers a great perspective.

What to Pack

The PR6 trail is not too technical, but being prepared makes the experience more enjoyable. Here’s what we recommend bringing:

• Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers – The trail is mostly flat, but some sections can be muddy or slippery. No need for full hiking boots.
• Light layers – Weather can change quickly in the mountains. Don’t underestimate that.
• Water – There are no water refill points along the trail, so bring enough to stay hydrated.
• Snacks – Especially if you plan to relax at the waterfalls or continue to Risco.
• Cash – For the shuttle bus.
• Headlamp or flashlight – A must if you’re entering the Calheta Tunnel route.
• Swimsuit & towel – If you’re tempted to take a dip in the natural pools.
• Reusable bag – Always carry your trash back out.

Facilities Along the Trail

There are limited facilities along the PR6 trail, so it’s best to come prepared.

Toilets are available only at the Rabaçal Nature Spot Café, located near the official start of the trail. You won’t find any toilets further along the path or at the waterfalls. For paying customers, there’s a toilet inside; otherwise, it’s 0.5€ for the outside toilets.

The café also offers a variety of drinks, snacks, and coffee, making it a nice stop before or after the hike. We certainly appreciated rewarding ourselves with Pavlova and brownies (must-try!).

There are plenty of seats inside or on their balconies overlooking the valley. A few stone tables and wooden benches are also in front of the cafe.

There are no food stalls or water refill stations on the trail itself.

Best time to visit PR6

As for the time of day, we strongly recommend starting early—ideally reaching the café by 11:00 on your way back. After that, the number of people increases rapidly, and because parts of the trail are very narrow, passing others can become frustrating.

An alternative is to start late. We began our hike after 15:00 and were surprised how peaceful it was. Despite seeing a full parking lot earlier, we only encountered a few other hikers. It made a huge difference.

Please note that if you plan to take the shuttle minibus back, it only operates until 18:00, so ensure you time it accordingly if that’s part of your plan.

Hiking with children

Whether to hike Levada das 25 Fontes with children depends on each parent’s judgment. The trail isn’t very difficult, but it has some steep sections with stairs that require kids to be used to hiking.

Some parts are narrow with drop-offs—not as exposed as Levada do Moinho or Levada do Rei, but still worth considering. Kids shouldn’t be left to run around unsupervised. Overall, it’s manageable for families with cautious, experienced little hikers.

Is Levada das 25 Fontes Worth It? (Our Opinion)

At first, we hesitated to do this hike because of its popularity and the crowds. But in the end, we decided to go for it—and we’re glad we did. We’d definitely recommend the hike. It’s one of the most beautiful levadas on the island.

The trail is very scenic, despite having only a few viewpoints. The crooked trees lining the path are stunning, and the waterfalls you see along the way add to the magic. It’s truly a must-visit and one of the best things to do in Madeira.

Just make sure to time your hike well, so you can enjoy it fully, rather than just watching other people’s backs the whole time.