The Levada das 25 Fontes is Madeira’s best-loved waterfall walk: a path beside an old irrigation channel through the UNESCO-listed laurel forest of Rabaçal to a green pool fed by dozens of little springs and cascades. The official trail, PR6, is 4.3 km each way and runs one way out, returning by a separate bypass path. Visitors over 12 pay €4.50, booked on the SIMplifica portal (as of October 2026). Allow three to four hours, and start early.
Right now in Levada das 25 Fontes
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Tickets and tours for Levada das 25 Fontes
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What it is and why it matters
Levadas are Madeira’s irrigation channels, dug along the mountainsides over centuries to carry water from the wet north and the high plateau to farms and towns. Their maintenance paths have become the island’s walking network. Rabaçal, a deep valley below the Paul da Serra plateau in the west of the island, has some of the finest: here the paths wind through laurel forest (Laurissilva), the ancient evergreen forest that covers Madeira’s northern slopes and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
At the end of PR6, water from many springs (“fontes”) pours down a mossy rock wall into a small pool. The name promises 25 springs; what you see is a semicircle of thin waterfalls, ferns and moss, cool and green even in summer. For the rest of the island, see our Madeira travel guide.
The walk
- Start: the Rabaçal car park on the ER105 road across Paul da Serra.
- The road down: from the car park, a paved road drops about 2 km to the Rabaçal forest house, where the trails begin. It is closed to private cars, so you walk it, or take a private shuttle minibus that runs through the day (cash, roughly €5 one way, as reported by visitors in 2026).
- PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes: 4.3 km each way, with an IFCN panel time of 3 hours, easy to moderate. The path follows the levada, with narrow sections and some steps; the last stretch climbs to the pool.
- One-way system: as of October 2026, IFCN runs PR6 one way: out to 25 Fontes along the levada, back to Rabaçal on a separate path called the bypass.
- PR6.1 Levada do Risco: an easy 3 km each-way branch (panel time 2 hours) to the Risco waterfall, a tall fall dropping into the valley. It is easy to add on, as both start from Rabaçal.
Without the shuttle, the whole outing with the road both ways is about 11 km, with a steady climb back up to the car park at the end.
Fees and booking (as of October 2026)
Since 1 January 2026, IFCN charges for its classified trails: €4.50 per trail for visitors over 12; children 12 and under, Madeira residents and people with a disability of 60% or more plus one companion are free but must still book. Book online only, on the regional SIMplifica portal (simplifica.madeira.gov.pt), for an entry time slot; there are no refunds for your own changes, only for an official closure. Rangers can ask to see your ticket. The Rabaçal Reception Centre near the trailheads has exhibitions on the levadas and the laurel forest and opens 10:00–17:00.
When to go
Start early, before 9:00 if you can: the car park fills, the narrow levada paths get crowded by late morning, and the shuttle brings a steady flow of walkers. The weather on Paul da Serra can be foggy and cold while the coast is sunny, but the valley itself is often clearer. Spring and early autumn have the best balance of water in the falls and settled weather. After heavy rain IFCN may close the trail.
Getting there
Rabaçal is on the ER105 road across the Paul da Serra plateau, about an hour’s drive from Funchal. You need a car, a taxi or a tour: we found no public bus that serves the trailhead. Many guided walks include transport and handle the booking.
What to bring
- Shoes with good grip: the path is often wet and muddy.
- A rain jacket and a warm layer: Paul da Serra is much cooler than Funchal.
- Water and a snack for the whole walk.
- Your SIMplifica booking saved on your phone, as signal is weak in the valley.
Safety
- The levada paths are narrow, with drops on one side in places; keep in single file and let people pass at wider spots.
- Don’t stand under the falls or climb the wet rocks at 25 Fontes or Risco: rocks fall, and the moss is slippery.
- IFCN advises against walking in heavy rain, strong wind, hail or snow. Check its trail status page on the morning you go.
- In an emergency call 112.
Combine it with
From Rabaçal it is a short drive down to the north-west coast for a swim in the Porto Moniz natural pools, or to the misty laurel trees at Fanal. On another day, see the island from above at Pico do Areeiro, or walk the dry clifftop trail of Ponta de São Lourenço in the east.
Levada das 25 Fontes FAQ
Do you need to book the Levada das 25 Fontes?
Yes. As of October 2026, IFCN requires every walker on PR6 to book a time slot on the SIMplifica portal. It costs €4.50 for visitors over 12; children 12 and under are free but still need a booking.
How long is the 25 Fontes walk?
PR6 is 4.3 km each way from Rabaçal, with an official panel time of 3 hours. Add about 2 km each way on the road from the car park unless you take the shuttle.
Is there a shuttle to Rabaçal?
A private minibus runs between the ER105 car park and the Rabaçal house during the day, paid in cash. Visitors in 2026 reported about €5 one way. The road is closed to private cars.
Can you do 25 Fontes and Risco together?
Yes. Both start at Rabaçal; PR6.1 to the Risco waterfall is an easy 3 km each way. Book each trail on SIMplifica.
Is the Levada das 25 Fontes hard?
Mostly easy to moderate: a fairly level levada path, but narrow and often wet, with some steps near the end and the climb back to the car park if you walk the road.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 4 October 2026. Trail lengths, times, the one-way system and status come from IFCN’s trail list (updated 2 October 2026) and trailhead panels; fees and booking from Portarias 801/2025 and 48/2026 and IFCN’s fee FAQ; the reception centre from IFCN; the road and shuttle from 2026 visitor guides, which we could not confirm with an operator. Trail status and fees change, so check IFCN on the day.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Air quality: OpenAQ · Rates: ECB · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · Wikidata (CC0)