Tell me about the Levada Nova das Canhas levada walk in Madeira
💭 Thinking
The user is asking about the Levada Nova das Canhas levada walk in Madeira. This is a hiking question, so I should use the find_hikes tool to get information about this specific trail. Let me search for it.The search returned no results for "Levada Nova das Canhas". Let me try a broader search - maybe the trail is listed under a different name or PR code. Let me try searching with different terms.The user is asking about the "Levada Nova das Canhas" walk in Madeira. Let me analyze my results:
1. From `find_hikes` - there's no official PR trail called "Levada Nova das Canhas" in the IFCN register. However, there are community trails from AllTrails:
- "Canhas - Levada Nova" - a 7.7 km loop, moderate, 3-3.5 hr, rated 3.1/5 from 38 reviews
- "Ponta do Sol - Canhas" - a 6.3 km loop, hard, 2.5-3 hr, rated 4.1/5 from 27 reviews
2. From the web lookup, I can see that "Levada Nova das Canhas" is also sometimes called:
- "Levada da Nova" or "Levada Nova" in the Ponta do Sol / Canhas area
- It's often combined with "Levada do Moinho" to form a loop
- The trailhead is near Lombada, Ponta do Sol
- It features a waterfall you can walk behind and a ~200m tunnel
- The YouTube video title mentions "Levada Nova da Calheta" also known as "Nova dos Canhas"
This trail is NOT part of the official PR (Percurso Recomendado) network managed by IFCN. It's a community/unofficial route mapped on AllTrails. I need to present it with that caveat.
Let me compile the information from the community trail data and the web sources:
**Trail name:** Levada Nova das Canhas (also known as Levada da Nova, Levada Nova da Calheta, or combined as the Levada Nova + Levada do Moinho loop)
**Key details from AllTrails (community data):**
- Name: Canhas - Levada Nova
- 7.7 km loop
- Moderate difficulty
- 3-3.5 hr
- Rating: 3.1/5 from 38 reviews
- Area: Madeira Natural Park
- Location: lat 32.71064, lng -17.10885 (near Canhas, Ponta do Sol)
**From the web sources:**
- Located on the south coast, between Calheta and Funchal, in the municipality of Ponta do Sol
- The trailhead is near the church (Igreja da Lombada da Ponta do Sol) in Lombada
- Two levadas combine: Levada do Moinho (lower, older) and Levada Nova (upper, newer, opened 1962)
- Features: walk behind a waterfall, a ~200m tunnel (need headlamp), scenic valley views
- Some exposed sections on Levada Nova with steep drops
- Can be a loop trail (approx 8.5-9 km) combining both levadas
- Elevation gain ~150m
- Takes about 3-4 hours
- Parking available near the church in Lombada
- Bus route 90 from Funchal to Lombada
- Free parking and free toilets near the church
I should also note there's the "Ponta do Sol - Canhas" community trail from AllTrails (4.1/5, 27 reviews, 6.3 km, hard) but the user specifically asked about Levada Nova das Canhas.
Since this isn't an official PR trail, I need to clearly label it as a community/unofficial route.
Let me also find a video forthis trail.
How this was derived · 3 steps
TrailsMap & photos
Official PR trail (IFCN) Community route (AllTrails — not official)
- Canhas - Levada Nova 3.1 Directions
- Ponta do Sol - Canhas 4.1 Directions
- PR05 CIMA - (Paul da Serra - Canhas) 4.1 Directions
Photos: walkmeguide.com · green = official IFCN PR trail · amber = community route (AllTrails)
Community route — not an official IFCN-recommended PR trail. What that means below.
Levada Nova das Canhas
The Levada Nova das Canhas (also called Levada da Nova, Levada Nova da Calheta, or Levada Nova dos Canhas) is a scenic levada walk on Madeira's south coast, in the municipality of Ponta do Sol, near the village of Lombada. It's a local favourite — less crowded than the big-name PR trails — combining two historic irrigation channels: Levada do Moinho (the older, lower levada) and Levada Nova (the upper levada, opened in 1962), which link up to form a loop.
Key details
| Type | Loop (Levada do Moinho → Levada Nova) |
| Distance | ~7.7–9 km (loop) |
| Duration | 3–4 hours |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Elevation gain | ~150 m |
| Community rating | 3.1★ from 38 hiker reviews on AllTrails |
| Trailhead | Lombada, Ponta do Sol — near Igreja da Lombada (church) |
Highlights
- Walk behind a waterfall — the trail passes directly behind the Nova/Moinho waterfall, the iconic feature of this walk
- A ~200 m tunnel — you'll need a headlamp or strong phone light; claustrophobic hikers can detour via a small path uphill
- Panoramic valley and ocean views from the upper Levada Nova stretch
- Picnic area with tables near the second waterfall, where the two levadas meet
- Eucalyptus and banana plantations along the route
⚠️ Important caveats
- This is NOT an official PR (Percurso Recomendado) trail managed by IFCN, the regional government's forests & nature-conservation authority. It's a community route mapped on AllTrails — it has no official open/closed status, no mandatory access fee, no IFCN signage or maintenance guarantee. Check access and conditions locally before you go.
- Some sections of the upper Levada Nova are exposed (steep drops with no fence in places) — not ideal if you have vertigo.
- The trail can be slippery after rain; wear shoes with good grip.
Getting there
- By car: Free parking near Igreja da Lombada da Ponta do Sol — Directions ↗
- By bus: Rodoeste route 90 from Funchal to Lombada (bus stop near the church)
Want me to check the mountain forecast and IPMA weather warnings for the day you're planning to go, or show you a video walkthrough of the trail?
OpenMadeira can make mistakes — check the sources.