OpenMadeira
Tell me about the Arco da Calheta - Canhas levada walk in Madeira
💭 Thinking
The user is asking about the "Arco da Calheta - Canhas" levada walk in Madeira. Let me search for this specific trail using the find_hikes tool, which covers official PR trails and community trails from AllTrails.The user asked about the "Arco da Calheta - Canhas levada walk". This isn't an official IFCN PR trail in our database. However, in the community trails near Arco da Calheta, I can see there's one called "Arco da Calheta - Sítio do Pinheiro via Levada Nova" which follows the Levada Nova. Let me also check if there's a specific "Arco da Calheta - Canhas" trail. Let me search more specifically. Looking at the results, there's no official PR trail matching "Arco da Calheta - Canhas". The closest community trail is "Arco da Calheta - Sítio do Pinheiro via Levada Nova" which is a 5.6 km moderate loop rated 4.3★ on AllTrails. There's also "Caminho das Fontinhas - Caminho Cova do Arco - Levada Nova" which is a longer 12.7 km moderate loop. Let me search specifically for "Arco da Calheta Canhas" to see if there's a dedicated trail.Now I have enough information to answer the user's question about the Arco da Calheta - Canhas levada walk. Let me piece together what I've found: The walk the user is asking about is commonly known as the "Levada Nova do Arco da Calheta" or sometimes referred to as the "Levada da Calheta – Ponta do Sol" or "Levada Nova dos Canhas." From the Calheta municipality website (cmcalheta.pt), I found: - Official name: Levada Nova do Arco da Calheta - Itinerary: Central Hidroelétrica da Calheta - Arco da Calheta - Lombo de São João - Start: Central Hidroelétrica da Calheta - End: Lombo de São João (Caminho Fonte do Coxo) - Opened in April 2015 - It's the continuation of the Levada Nova da Calheta project - The levada extends into the neighboring municipality of Ponta do Sol - About 16 km of extension - Features views of both endemic and introduced forest, agricultural areas, panoramic views of Calheta and Arco da Calheta with the Atlantic Ocean as backdrop - Some exposed sections with handrails, but vertigo-sensitive hikers may find some sections uncomfortable - Various crossings with local access roads providing exit points From the WorldTrails source: - Distance: 15.9 km - Duration: ~5 hours - Difficulty: Moderate - Type: Linear (point to point) - Official code: LNAC - Status: Open (as of their last update) - Start: Central Hidroelétrica da Calheta - End: Lombo de São João (Caminho Fonte do Coxo) From the YouTube video description: - The full Levada da Calheta – Ponta do Sol (or Arco da Calheta or Nova dos Canhas) route from Sítio do Pinheiro to Canhas is about 13 km - The entire levada system was included in the 1943 hydraulic works plan - Construction was completed in 1953 - The total length of the levadas in this system is 40,653 meters, of which 4,752 are in tunnels - Water collected feeds the Calheta Hydroelectric Plant - From the plant's regulation chamber, two levadas emerge: Levada Calheta-Ponta do Sol (irrigating areas east of Ribeira da Calheta to Ribeira da Ponta do Sol) and Levada da Ponta do Pargo (irrigating areas west to Ponta do Pargo) From the Decathlon Outdoor source: - Distance from Arco da Calheta: 7.2 km - Positive elevation: 369 m - Estimated duration: ~3 hours - Difficulty: Moderate - Starts on ER209 This is NOT an official IFCN PR trail. It's a municipal trail managed by the Câmara Municipal da Calheta. I need to make that clear. Let me also note that from the community trails in the earlier search, I found "Arco da Calheta - Sítio do Pinheiro via Levada Nova" which is a 5.6 km loop rated 4.3★ from 163 reviews on AllTrails. The user asked specifically about the "Arco da Calheta - Canhas" walk, which seems to refer to the Levada Nova do Arco da Calheta that runs from the Calheta hydroelectric plant through Arco da Calheta and towards Canhas (Ponta do Sol). Let me compose a comprehensive answer.
How this was derived · 4 steps
Trails near Arco da CalhetaMap & photos
6 photos
Levada da Rocha VermelhaLevada da Rocha VermelhaLevada da Rocha VermelhaLevada da Rocha VermelhaLevada da Rocha VermelhaLevada da Rocha Vermelha
Official PR trail (IFCN) Community route (AllTrails — not official)
Photos: walkmeguide.com · green = official IFCN PR trail · amber = community route (AllTrails)
Levada Nova do Arco da Calheta

The walk you're asking about is the Levada Nova do Arco da Calheta — also known locally as the Levada da Calheta–Ponta do Sol or Levada Nova dos Canhas. It's a beautiful levada walk stretching from the Calheta hydroelectric plant through Arco da Calheta and on towards Canhas (Ponta do Sol municipality).

⚠️ Important note: This is a municipal trail managed by the Câmara Municipal da Calheta, not part of Madeira's official IFCN PR (Percurso Recomendado) trail network. That means it has no official open/closed status monitored by IFCN — check local conditions before setting out.


Key details
StartCentral Hidroelétrica da Calheta
EndLombo de São João (Caminho Fonte do Coxo)
Distance~16 km (full linear route)
Duration~5 hours
DifficultyModerate
TypeLinear (point to point)
Official codeLNAC

What makes this walk special

Opened in April 2015, this levada is the continuation of the older Levada Nova da Calheta project, finally extending the irrigation channel through the parish of Arco da Calheta and on into the neighbouring municipality of Ponta do Sol (towards Canhas). The water it carries serves both agricultural irrigation and hydroelectric power generation at the Calheta plant.

Along the route you'll pass through:

  • Endemic and introduced forest — lush laurel and eucalyptus stretches
  • Agricultural terraces — recovered farmland with traditional Madeiran cultivation
  • Panoramic viewpoints — sweeping views over the parishes of Calheta and Arco da Calheta, with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop across much of the walk
  • Tunnels — the broader levada system includes over 4.7 km of tunnels; bring a torch
Practical tips
  • Some exposed sections have handrails, but vertigo-sensitive walkers may find parts uncomfortable
  • Multiple exit points — the trail crosses local access roads at several points, so you can shorten the walk if needed
  • Wear comfortable footwear suitable for a route of this length
  • Carry enough food and water for 5+ hours
  • Bring a torch/headlamp for any tunnels
Getting there

Directions to the trailhead ↗

The start at the Central Hidroelétrica da Calheta is in the Calheta municipality, about a 40-minute drive west of Funchal.


Shorter alternatives nearby

If the full 16 km sounds like a lot, there are some popular shorter routes in the same area:

Sources: Câmara Municipal da Calheta · WorldTrails

Would you like me to check the mountain forecast and any weather warnings for the day you're planning to go, or help you find how to get there by bus?

OpenMadeira can make mistakes — check the sources.