Ribeiro Frio to Portela Guided Levada Hike

Contact Vincent Vacations to add this to your travel package today!

Duration: 7h 30m
Location: Madeira, Portugal | Madeira, Portugal


Category: Adventures

Highlights:
Satisfying & challenging hike with unbeatable scenery
Walk along a levada, a 19th-century irrigation network
Cliff-top vistas of unspoiled, rural Madeira villages
Incredible panoramic views & volcanic rock formations
Subtropical forest, terraced fields & unique flora & fauna

Inclusions:
Guided walking tour of the levadas
Roundtrip transportation to and from your Machico, Santa Cruz, Caniço, and Funchal hotels

Description:

Discover the forested eastern side of Madeira on one of the island's most famous walking tours. Enjoy the peaceful light shining through the laurel and heather trees and maybe even catch a glimpse of trout darting along the levadas (aqueducts).

The need to distribute water through the island in the 19th century resulted in the construction of the levadas. This ancient aqueduct system is still being used as a way to transport water, but it has also opened up new possibilities for exploration around this charming island.

The Ribeiro Frio to Portela levada hike is ranked as one of the most challenging walks—covering 7 miles (11 km). Follow your expert guide through the indigenous flora and fauna of the laurisilva (laurel forest). Gain an insight into the daily life of the Madeira people as you take in the breathtaking views of Porto da Cruz.

A considerable portion of the island acts as a protected conservation area, Madeira Natural Park. Walking these levadas is an ideal way to explore the rare plant life that thrives here.