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- Levada do Moinho Directions
This is a community-mapped route (AllTrails) — not part of Madeira's official PR (Percurso Recomendado) trail network managed by IFCN, the regional government's forests and nature-conservation authority. It therefore has no official open/closed status and no maintenance/signage guarantee; check access and conditions locally before heading out.
| Route type | Loop (circular) |
| Distance | 9.3 km |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Area | Madeira Natural Park, near Ponta do Sol |
| Community rating | ★ 4.7 from 6,103 hiker reviews on AllTrails |
| Google rating | ★ 4.8 (4,121 reviews) at Levada do Moinho |
| Trailhead | Near Lombada / Ponta do Sol |
This circular trail combines Levada Nova and Levada do Moinho, two of the oldest irrigation channels on the island's south coast. Highlights along the route include:
- Panoramic views over green valleys and traditional poios (terraced farmland)
- Ruins of old watermills — Levada do Moinho ("Mill Levada") was originally built to irrigate fields and power water mills, some of whose remains you can still see
- The famous Levada Nova waterfall, a stunning cascade that spills right next to the path
- A tunnel carved through the rock — bring a flashlight/head torch; it adds a real adventure feel but is pitch-dark in the middle
- Lush vegetation, banana plantations, and sweeping views down to the coast and the village of Ponta do Sol
**Directions to the trailhead ↗** — the route starts near Lombada da Ponta do Sol, on the south coast of Madeira (municipality of Ponta do Sol).
- No official IFCN status: This is not a PR-numbered trail, so there is no official open/closed/restricted status to check. Conditions can change — in particular, the tunnel section and waterfall area can be slippery after rain.
- Bring a torch for the tunnel.
- Wear sturdy footwear with good grip — levada paths can be narrow, uneven, and wet.
Want me to check the mountain weather forecast and any IPMA warnings for the day you plan to go, so you know if conditions are safe?





