There are so many great levada hikes in Madeira! One of the ones we did was the Levada do Moinho to Levada Nova which was just spectacular! It was a 5.5 mile loop and the trail map said 1,840 feet of elevation change but it felt easier than that.
So many banana trees
Driving there the road gained elevation and passed numerous terraced gardens which were everywhere we looked. As we got closer we drove through narrow streets with banana trees, many heavily laden with fruit. The southern part of the island is where most of these small yummy bananas are grown.
Sugarcane on Madeira
At the very start of the hike we passed through sugarcane which has been growing here since the early 15th century. For a time it was the sugar producing capital of the world. To see these small terraced plots dotting the sides of this mountainous area was just so cool.
What is a Levada?
Right away we started following the levada which is an irrigation canal that brings water down from the mountain into these terraces. There are lots of them all over the island and they are very popular hiking routes.t was incredible to walk on the narrow path next to the levada. Sometimes there were posts connecting cables that provided some safety and other times nothing at all! On some sections we could walk and look around at the same time. During other parts we had to concentrate on where we were walking since there was nothing at all to keep us from falling off! The views into the canyon were just stunning and the lighting kept changing as the clouds rolled around which even created a beautiful rainbow at one point.
Deeper into the Canyon
We didn't pass many others as we headed further into the canyon and found ourselves continuously stopping to marvel at our surroundings.
The Tunnel
At one point the trail passed through a fairly long tunnel cut into the rock which was pitch black. Using our phones for light we made our way through, coming out to a beautiful waterfall on the other side! It was fun to walk behind the water and look back to see the opening we just came through.
At this point we decided to take the more adventurous route at the end of the loop (climbing over rocks searching for trail) and stopped to eat our peanut butter sandwiches.
The return route
After connecting to the lower levada we began to head back. This one had a lot more fast moving water in it and it was fun to see everything from this different perspective and in the afternoon lighting. As we got closer we passed by people working in their gardens which was astonishing considering they were on the edges of these steep slopes. We wondered how they do this without falling off!
Truly a memorable hike (as long as you don't suffer from vertigo or a fear of heights/steep edges) and made us excited to try some of the other levadas.
November 2022
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