Madeira: Rabaçal Levada Walk & 25 Fontes Waterfalls Day Trip

4.73

(146 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the way the light cut through the trees as we started down from Paul da Serra — kind of gold, kind of green, and honestly, a bit chilly for Madeira. Our guide, João, joked that you never really know what weather you’ll get up there. He handed me a poncho “just in case,” which made me laugh because I’d already packed two. The air smelled sharp and wet, like moss after rain, even though it hadn’t rained yet. We could hear water somewhere below us before we saw anything.

João kept pointing out little things — wild orchids tucked into rocks, the way the levada channels curve so neatly along the hillside. There was this moment at Risco waterfall when everyone just stopped talking. You could feel spray on your face if you stood close enough. It’s not loud exactly, but it fills your head anyway. I tried to take a photo but gave up; it never looks right on a screen. Further down, my boots slipped once on a patch of mud (should’ve listened about proper shoes), but João just grinned and said “That’s part of the day trip Rabaçal levada walk experience.”

The path to Levada das 25 Fontes gets steeper than I expected — knees definitely noticed — but then suddenly there’s this little lake at the bottom of a cliff with all these thin waterfalls dropping in from above. Some people dipped their hands in; it’s freezing cold but clear as glass. We ate our picnic sitting on rocks, legs dangling over water that never stops moving. Someone tried to count all 25 springs but lost track around fifteen and just laughed.

On the way back we took a different route, right through this long tunnel that carries water south across Madeira. It’s dark and echoey inside; you can hear everyone’s footsteps and nervous giggles bouncing off stone walls. My phone flashlight barely did anything — honestly felt like an adventure movie for a minute there. When we came out the other side into daylight again, it was warmer and smelled like eucalyptus leaves crushed underfoot.

I still think about how quiet it got sometimes between bursts of chatter or birdsong — like even Madeira wanted us to listen for something else out there. If you’re thinking about booking this day trip from Funchal, bring good shoes and don’t rush lunch by the lake. There’s nowhere else quite like that spot.