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- Rota da Levada do Moinho 4.5 Directions
Achada das Terças (listed officially as Achada-Terças) is a locality in the municipality of Ponta do Sol — it's not itself a trail name, but the hike you're likely after is the PR 7 – Levada do Moinho, which passes through the Achada area and connects to Ponta do Sol. This is one of the most popular levada walks on the island.
The trail has been closed since June 2024 due to a rockfall. You should not attempt it until IFCN (the regional forestry authority) officially reopens it.
When open, here's what the trail offers:
| PR code | PR 7 – Levada do Moinho |
| Distance | ~10.3 km |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Start | Ribeira do Achada (near Achada das Terças) |
| End | Ponta do Sol |
| Highlights | Historic water mills (achadas mill ruins), Laurisilva forest, ocean and valley views |
| Access fee | €4.50 (via SIMplifica) when open |
The route follows the centuries-old Levada do Moinho — one of Madeira's oldest levadas, built to irrigate farmland and power water mills (hence Moinho = mill). You can still see the ruins of those old mills along the path.
Since PR 7 is closed, here are the best open options in the same area:
1. PR 30 – Vereda da Ponta do Sol — 4 km, moderate, ~1.5–2 h. A coastal vereda with dramatic cliff and ocean views above the sunniest town on the island. Free, no permit needed. ✅ Open
2. Levada Nova – Levada do Moinho (community route on AllTrails) — 9.3 km loop, moderate. This popular unofficial loop combines both levadas above Ponta do Sol, with valley views, waterfall tunnels (bring a torch), and watermill ruins. 4.7★ from 6,103 hiker reviews on AllTrails. ⚠️ Not an official IFCN PR trail — it has no official open/closed status or maintenance guarantee; check conditions locally before going.
3. Rota da Levada do Moinho (community route on AllTrails) — 10 km out-and-back, moderate. Starts at Lombada da Ponta do Sol near the church, follows the historic levada with panoramic views over the valley and village. 4.5★ from 453 reviews on AllTrails. ⚠️ Same unofficial-trail caveat as above.
Ponta do Sol is on the south coast, about a 30-minute drive west of Funchal. The trailhead for PR 30 is in the village itself; the Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho routes start from Lombada da Ponta do Sol, just uphill.
Would you like me to check the current weather and IPMA warnings for the Ponta do Sol area before you head out, or look into bus connections from Funchal?





