My photographs from all but one of our levada walks have disappeared into thin air, and even the walk I have found I only seem to have one or two photographs. However these few photographs should give you a taste of a levada walk.
It is a walk that the majority of overnight visitors to Funchal have probably explored at least a part of. The Levada dos Piornais runs into the centre of the city, and is easily accessible from the hotel district in the west. Consequently it isn’t difficult to explore small sections of it for a few minutes or even an hour. The levada originally brought water for irrigation of the fields, for the water wheels and for domestic use. Even today it waters gardens in Funchal, and in the district of São Martinho the clothes washing tanks still exist. It is however off the beaten tourist track.
For much of it you are walking on the narrow paths beside or above the levadas, and to your left and right are houses and the banana plantations. There are wealthy homes to be seen but also also glimpses of extreme poverty, it is not just rural life that is hard here. Now again there are climbs up or down when you divert away from the levada to cross a road, and throughout the walk you need to watch out for holes in the concrete paths and also be wary of the big drops at edge of the levadas. There are highlights, thanks to the birds and flowers, but for the most part this is a walk through the back streets.
Eventually the levada leaves the housing areas and moves into the countryside, and there is a real sense of excitement. Although having said that the guidebook reminds me that just around the corner from the shot below is a huge industrial area which fills part of the Socorridos valley. Hence the advice this is a walk better kept for weekends when the gravel works are closed. Still this is an adventure isn’t it!
Finally after 1 to 2 hours walking from the centre of Funchal you find yourself in a Madeiran valley. It feels so remote and you get a real feeling for just how incredible the levadas of Madeira are. There are around 200 of these narrow aqueducts covering more than 2,000 kilometres on this small island bringing water from the west and north west to the much drier and more populated south. Most are state owned but there are still a few private ones, and nearly all of them have strict rules governing their use and the amount of time and which days that a person can use the water.
The first ones were built in the 16th century, and their construction continued until the 20th century. I read somewhere the government was still building them in the 1940s. Most now are made out of concrete but some are still carved channels in the hill sides. As far as I know there are none left made out of wood. As with many complex and challenging construction projects the health and safety of the builders was not always a high priority, lives were lost in their creation and many of the workers were enslaved people brought from Portugal’s colonies.
I don’t know who built Levada dos Piornais or Levada Nova do Curral which you also explore on this walk, but one of my guidebooks indicates that Levada dos Piornais is around 400 years old. After Quebradas, which is about half way, the precipices becoming incredibly daunting. If you are going to try walking into the Socorridos valley which comes next it is essential you have excellent walking shoes, a great sense of balance and a head for heights. Even with all of that though if the rails are wobbly as they were when we visited and/or ropes are still situ I strongly advise you follow our lead and don’t attempt the second half of this walk. Instead watch a video, as there are plenty of foolish brave people out there who have walked it. Here’s one such film; it is only 5 minutes long and gives a great overview of the both the sections we did and perhaps more importantly the sections we didn’t attempt. I am so glad we turned around at Quebradas!
If you are interested in discovering other walks then check out this walking company who have numerous levada hikes posted on their site.
What gorgeous country-thank you for sharing this. It’s definitely for the sure-footed!
So glad you enjoyed, and yes you’re so right on needing to be sure footed!
I was in Madeira for the first time last year, but only for about 5 days and unfortunately couldn’t do a levada! However, I would have to go for a very easy one – my vertigo is insane. I’m scared I would freeze at some point and someone would have to carry me 😅 I did love the island, and I hope to return one day, stay a bit longer, do more activities. The sights aremagnificentt, there is much you can do and experience in such little island. I’ve experienced hot summer weather and cold winter in one single day!
Loved it. Thank yoy
Oh yes experiencing every season in a day that’s so Madeiran 🙃
If you do go back a levada walk is a must, there are some that are okay aa you walk through forests but I strongly advise talking to a walking company first for their expert recommendations. Even easy ones can have the odd moment!
For sure! I will bear that in mind 🙂
Ooh, that looked more scary than I expected! It’s very narrow, isn’t it? What happens if you meet someone coming the other way? Or can you only go one way?
They’re very narrow in places. You either stop at a wider point if you see people coming, step into the levada if it is open or somehow balance precariously. I’ve done all options!
Eep!
Exactly – why we won’t do them anymore!
The scenery is magnificent, isn’t it? If you don’t do the levada walks you kind of feel that you’ve missed out on it. But my balance was never great and is rubbish now. I did check out all the available levada walks but we only had a week, and there was so much else to see! (including snow at the peak 🙂 ) We did a small section of one that was not far from our hotel. Becky, I cannot conceive of spending a week on Madeira and doing nothing!
Doing nothing is a excellent activity for the mind and soul!
Yes, but you can do nothing anywhere? 🙂
ah but there is something rather luxurious about taking it very slow in beautiful places
Looks like a great walk for those adventurous/insane enough to do it but I wouldn’t even attempt it. I assume the water isn’t very deep so falling in it would be preferable to falling the other way.
I’ve actually walked in some levadas!!
Mmm… I much prefer to watch the video and even that had my stomach dropping in places – I could never have gone into the tunnels and I am glad to see the woman with the baby didn’t. In fact I would never have attempted any of this walk with a baby strapped to me! I still would like to visit Madeira but I will leave the levada walks to others.
BTW Have you changed themes? It looks different.
I think they were bonkers taking the child as far as they did!
MrB and I were just discussing a return trip, and decided a week’s stay do very little would be perfect. So maybe you can pack us in your suitcase!
PS no theme same but changed home page.
I wondered. The page looks nicer but I still get the ‘Visit Becky in Portugal for the full post.’ in the Reader.
That’s what I’m trying to figure out how to change, but don’t really want to go through theme changes. Guess I’ll have to give in and ask the happiness engineers. They can be fabulous but suspect this one they’ll just say is a theme issue.
Hmm, I’d definitely like to do some walking routes here – and stay in and watch a video with you for others! Aren’t you sending this along for our friend Jo?
Hee hee, yes are some definitely video options only!
PS Ooh yes, I could have done this as a Monday walk!
And you still could. I won’t tell …
It doesn’t need sending. I’m a magpie for walks 🙂 🙂
🥰 you’re a star xx
Good sleuthing !
OH MY GOSH! A wonderful walk for young people! I would have been in the water within minutes! My balance is not what it should be since I had a stroke last year…… I don’t think the woman with the child went the entire length either…..What a beautiful and UNUSUAL WALK it is! Very interesting!
So glad you enjoyed it virtually. 😊
On another one I deliberately walked in water as I felt safer there!!
My young self would have loved this!
My young self would’ve stopped at the same point!! In fact I was young then
Teehee!
what a wonderful place to hike or just gaze at
Madeira is a wonderful island