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Tell me about the Canhas - Levada Nova levada walk in Madeira
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The user is asking about the "Canhas - Levada Nova" levada walk in Madeira. This is a hiking trail question, so I should use the `find_hikes` tool to look up this specific trail. Let me search for it. I should also check for curated videos of this trail, and potentially find images or other information. Let me start by finding the hikedetails.The find_hikes search for "Canhas Levada Nova" returned empty results. Let me try a broader search or search for "PR 19" which might be the Levada Nova de Canhas trail (I recall PR 19 might be related). Let me also try searching by just "Levada Nova" or the PR code. Actually, let me search more specifically. The Canhas - Levada Nova walk might be known by a specific PR code. Let me try different queries.The user asked about the "Canhas - Levada Nova" walk. This is not an official IFCN PR trail, but it appears in the community trails data as "Levada Nova - Levada do Moinho" - a circular trail near Canhas/Ponta do Sol that combines Levada Nova and Levada do Moinho. Let me present the main one that matches the user's query, plus mention the related community trails. The main match is "Levada Nova - Levada do Moinho" with 4.7★ from 6,103 reviews, 9.3 km loop, moderate difficulty. There's also "Caminho das Cascatas da Levada Nova" (4.7★, 283 reviews, 7.7 km, hard) which is specifically about the Levada Nova waterfalls section, and "Tábua - Levada Nova" (4.5★, 260 reviews, 4 km, easy). Since the user specifically asked about "Canhas - Levada Nova", I'll focus on the most popular and relevant one: **Levada Nova - Levada do Moinho**, which is the well-known circular combining both levadas near Canhas/Ponta do Sol. I'll also mention the other community trail sections. Important: These are all community/unofficial trails — not part of the official IFCN PR network. I need to clearly label them as such. Let me also check if there's a YouTube video to show.The user asked about the "Canhas - Levada Nova" walk. From my search results, this trail doesn't appear as an official IFCN PR trail, but it appears in the AllTrails community data as "Levada Nova - Levada do Moinho" — a very popular community route near Canhas/Ponta do Sol. Let me compose a comprehensive answer about this trail from the community data.
How this was derived · 3 steps
Trails near CanhasMap & photos
6 photos
Vereda do Pico FernandesVereda do Pico FernandesVereda do Pico FernandesVereda do Pico FernandesVereda do Pico FernandesVereda do Pico Fernandes
Photos: walkmeguide.com ↗
Official PR trail (IFCN) Community route (AllTrails — not official)
Photos: walkmeguide.com · green = official IFCN PR trail · amber = community route (AllTrails)

The Canhas – Levada Nova walk you're asking about is best known as Levada Nova & Levada do Moinho — one of Madeira's most beloved community trails, in the Ponta do Sol / Canhas area. Here's what you need to know:

Levada Nova – Levada do Moinho

⚠️ Community route — This trail is mapped on AllTrails but is not part of Madeira's official PR (Percurso Recomendado) trail network managed by IFCN (the regional government's forests & nature-conservation authority). It has no official open/closed status and no guaranteed maintenance or signage — check conditions locally before setting out.

Rating4.7★ from 6,103 hiker reviews on AllTrails
DifficultyModerate
Length9.3 km (loop)
TypeCircular / loop
AreaMadeira Natural Park, near Canhas / Ponta do Sol
The walk

This circular trail combines two levadas — Levada Nova and Levada do Moinho — offering sweeping views over the valleys and the traditional poios (terraced farmland) of the south coast. Along the way you'll pass:

  • Ruins of old watermills that once powered by Levada do Moinho (one of the island's oldest levadas, used to irrigate fields and drive the mills)
  • The famous Levada Nova waterfall — a highlight and photo spot
  • A tunnel carved through the rock — bring a flashlight/torch; it adds a touch of adventure

Levada do Moinho is the older of the two, historically used to irrigate the fields and power watermills. Some of those mill ruins are still visible along the path.

How to get to the trailhead

Directions ↗ — this routes from wherever you are.

Related Levada Nova sections nearby

There are a couple of other well-known sections of Levada Nova in the same area, if you want a shorter or different experience:

TrailDifficultyLengthRatingLink
Caminho das Cascatas da Levada NovaHard7.7 km (out & back)4.7★ (283 reviews)AllTrails ↗
Tábua – Levada NovaEasy4.0 km (out & back)4.5★ (260 reviews)AllTrails ↗

All three are community routes (not official IFCN PR trails), so the same caveat applies — no guaranteed signage or status updates.

Practical tips
  • Bring a torch/flashlight for the tunnel section on the main loop.
  • Wear sturdy shoes — levada paths can be narrow, uneven, and damp.
  • Since this isn't an official PR trail, there's no access fee or SIMplifica registration required, but also no official trail status — ask locally or check recent AllTrails reviews for current conditions.
  • Allow 3–4 hours for the main loop at a relaxed pace.

Want me to check the weather forecast and IPMA warnings for the day you plan to hike, or show you how to get there by bus?

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