Madeira: Levada Nova Hike & Waterfall Trail with Picnic

★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (2 reviews)

Free cancellation

1/8

Duration5h

GroupUp to 8

LanguagesEN · PT +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

The Levada Nova Trail: Narrow Paths Above Ponta do Sol Valley

You hike the Levada Nova through Madeira's south, walking narrow ridge paths above the Ponta do Sol valley and passing small waterfalls along the way. The route includes a picnic with local snacks mid-hike, a local coffee and poncha drink at the end, plus pickup and drop-off from Funchal or nearby hotels. The hike runs five to six hours and requires no special climbing skill, though the narrow sections and altitude mean you need to be comfortable with exposure and in good fitness shape.

Step-by-step itinerary

Levada Nova Moinhos hike and picnic

Start Levada Nova Moinhos hike
Walk through dense greenery
Pass small waterfalls
Traverse narrow high paths
Enjoy picnic with local snacks
Toast with Poncha or craft beer

The Experience

The first thing that catches you off guard is how close the edge gets. You're walking along the Levada Nova in Madeira's warmest corner, and the path narrows to maybe a meter wide, with the valley dropping away on one side and the water channel on the other. It's not a scramble or a technical climb—just a levada walk, the kind locals have done for centuries—but the altitude and the exposure make your body sit up and pay attention. Your guide points out the small waterfalls ahead, and you realize this isn't a gentle stroll through gardens. It's a hike that demands focus, which is exactly why the views stick with you.

The route follows the Levada Nova and Moinhos channels through dense green growth, and the landscape shifts as you move. Waterfalls appear around corners, the valley opens up below, and the narrow sections alternate with wider stretches where you can breathe and look around properly. Transportation from your hotel in Funchal, Lido or Caniço gets you to the meeting point, and your local driver and guide handle the logistics—you just show up with a backpack (they specify the size: 11 by 12 by 20 centimeters) and ready legs. The hike takes around five to six hours depending on pace and weather, and somewhere in the middle you stop for a picnic with local snacks. It's not fancy, but eating on the trail in that subtropical air, with the valley in front of you, feels like the right kind of simple.

Weather in Madeira changes fast—the guide will tell you this on the call the day before—and if conditions turn unsafe, they'll swap the route or pick an alternative hike instead. That flexibility matters because the island's climate is unpredictable, and the local authorities close paths when they need to. By the end of the day, after the hike, you get a local coffee and a glass of poncha (the traditional sugar cane drink), or you can try one of the craft beers the spot is known for. It's the kind of detail that makes the finish feel earned.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Funchal Center, Lido or Caniço.
local guide and driver for the full hike.
picnic with local snacks eaten on the trail.
one local coffee and one local drink (poncha or craft beer).
flashlight.
and insurance as required by local law.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcome

Operated by Heartbeat Madeira

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a levada hike with real exposure and valley views but don't want to arrange transport, a guide or timing yourself—the narrow sections and waterfalls are what make the route memorable, and the fixed schedule fits it all into one afternoon.