OpenMadeira
OpenMadeira
Tell me about the Ponta de Sol Loop hike in Madeira
💭 Thinking
The user is asking about the "Ponta de Sol Loop" hike in Madeira. Let me search for this trail in ourhikes database.The user asked about the "Ponta de Sol Loop" hike. Looking at the results, I don't see an official PR trail called "Ponta de Sol Loop" — but I see a community trail called "Levada Nova - Levada do Moinho" which is a circular (loop) trail near Ponta do Sol, and it's the most popular one in the area with 4.7★ and 6,103 reviews. There's also "Ponta do Sol - Levada do Moinho" and "Rota da Levada do Moinho" but those are out-and-back. The "Ponta de Sol Loop" likely refers to the **Levada Nova - Levada do Moinho** loop, which is the loop trail in the Ponta do Sol area — it combines two levadas and is often called the "Ponta do Sol Loop" on hiking sites. Let me present this trail clearly with the community trail caveat. Let me provide a comprehensive answer about this trail, being clear it's a community/unofficial trail.
How this was derived · 1 step
Trails near Ponta do SolMap & photos
6 photos
Levada da Rocha VermelhaLevada da Rocha VermelhaLevada da Rocha VermelhaLevada da Rocha VermelhaLevada da Rocha VermelhaLevada da Rocha Vermelha
Photos: walkmeguide.com ↗
Official PR trail (IFCN) Community route (AllTrails — not official)
Photos: walkmeguide.com · green = official IFCN PR trail · amber = community route (AllTrails)
Ponta de Sol Loop — Levada Nova & Levada do Moinho

The hike commonly called the "Ponta do Sol Loop" is officially known as the Levada Nova – Levada do Moinho combined circuit. It's a community route mapped on AllTrails — not part of Madeira's official PR trail network managed by IFCN (the regional government's forests & nature-conservation authority), so it has no official open/closed status and no guarantee of maintenance or signage. Check conditions locally before setting out.

Key details
Route typeLoop (circular)
Distance9.3 km
DifficultyModerate
Rating4.7★ from 6,103 hiker reviews on AllTrails ↗
AreaMadeira Natural Park
TrailheadDirections ↗
What it's like

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

  • Ruins of old watermills — Levada do Moinho is one of the oldest levadas, built to irrigate fields and power water mills
  • The famous Levada Nova waterfall, a stunning cascade right along the path
  • A tunnel carved through rock — bring a flashlight, as it adds a touch of adventure
  • Endemic flora, lush valley panoramas, and the village of Ponta do Sol below
⚠️ Important notes
  • No official status — this is not a PR trail managed by IFCN, so there's no official open/closed update, signage guarantee, or rescue signage along the route
  • Check access locally before you go; conditions can change (fallen trees, landslides, tunnel flooding)
  • Bring a flashlight for the tunnel section
  • Trails in this area can be narrow with steep drops on one side — standard levada-walk precautions apply
Getting there

The trailhead is near Ponta do Sol on the south coast — roughly a 25-minute drive west from Funchal. Use the Directions link ↗ to navigate from your location.

Want me to check the mountain weather forecast and IPMA warnings for the day you plan to go, or find bus connections to Ponta do Sol?

OpenMadeira can make mistakes — check the sources.