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Tell me about the Porto Moniz - Levada dos Pombais levada walk in Madeira
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The user is asking about the "Porto Moniz - Levada dos Pombais" levada walk in Madeira. This is a hiking trail question, so I should use the `find_hikes` tool to look up this trail. Let me searchfor it.The user asked about "Levada dos Pombais" near Porto Moniz. Looking at the results, there's no official IFCN PR trail called "Levada dos Pombais." However, in the community trails list, there IS a trail called "Lamaceiros - Caminho do Castanheiro - Levada do Moinho" whose description mentions the Pombais levada: "The path passes by historic levadas, such as the Pombais, where the sound of flowing water accompanies your steps." Also, the official PR trail "Levada do Moinho" (PR 7) which starts at Ribeira da Cruz and goes through Lamaceiros, also passes through the area where Levada dos Pombais is. Let me also note that the community trail "Lamaceiros - Caminho do Castanheiro - Levada do Moinho" has its AllTrails URL slug as "lamaceiros-pombais-valgao-porto-moniz" - confirming it passes through Pombais. The "Levada dos Pombais" itself is not an official PR trail - it's a section of levada that is traversed as part of these walking routes. The closest match is the community trail on AllTrails that explicitly includes "Pombais" in its name/route. Let me provide a comprehensive answer about the walk, focusing on the community trail that includes Pombais, and also mention the official PR 7 (Levada do Moinho) which traverses the same area. The community trail "Lamaceiros - Caminho do Castanheiro - Levada do Moinho" has: - Rating: 3.7★ from 54 reviews - Difficulty: moderate - Length: 11.1 km - Route type: loop - Estimated time: 4–4.5 hr - Description mentions: starting in Lamaceiros area of Porto Moniz, Laurissilva Forest, passing by historic levadas such as the Pombais The official PR 7 (Levada do Moinho) traverses nearby: - Distance: 10.5 km - Difficulty: Moderate - Duration: 3:30 hours - Route: Ribeira da Cruz – Lamaceiros - Access fee: €4.50 (visitor >12 years) - Max altitude: 940m, Min: 504m Let me provide a thorough answer.
How this was derived · 1 step
Trails near Porto MonizMap & photos
Levada do Moinho6 photos
Levada do MoinhoLevada do MoinhoLevada do MoinhoLevada do MoinhoLevada do MoinhoLevada do Moinho
Photos: walkmeguide.com ↗
Official PR trail (IFCN) Community route (AllTrails — not official)
Photos: walkmeguide.com · green = official IFCN PR trail · amber = community route (AllTrails)
Levada dos Pombais — Porto Moniz

The Levada dos Pombais is not one of Madeira's official IFCN-managed PR trails — it's a historic levada channel in the Laurissilva forest on the northern slopes above Porto Moniz. It's walked as part of a longer community-mapped loop route, and it also overlaps with the official PR 7 Levada do Moinho. Here's what you need to know:

The community route that includes Levada dos Pombais

Lamaceiros – Caminho do Castanheiro – Levada do Moinho (a community route mapped on AllTrails — not part of Madeira's official PR trail network managed by IFCN, so it has no official open/closed status and no maintenance/signage guarantee)

Distance11.1 km (loop)
DifficultyModerate
Estimated time4–4.5 hours
Rating3.7★ from 54 hiker reviews on AllTrails

The trail starts in the Lamaceiros area of Porto Moniz and enters the Laurissilva Forest (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Along the way it passes by historic levadas — including the Pombais, where the sound of flowing water accompanies your steps — through a landscape of lush greenery and deep connection with the island's purest nature.

▶ Directions to trailhead ↗

The official nearby trail — PR 7 Levada do Moinho

The Pombais levada is also traversed by the official PR 7 Levada do Moinho, which shares part of the same path network:

Distance10.5 km
DifficultyModerate
Duration~3½ hours
RouteRibeira da Cruz (E.R. 101) → Junqueira (Tornadouro)
Altitude504 m → 940 m
Access fee€4.50 (visitors >12 years); free for children ≤12 — pay via the SIMplifica portal
RatingPhotos via WalkMeGuide
Official pageVisitMadeira – PR 7
Driving from Porto Moniz~7.2 km / 12 min

▶ Directions to trailhead ↗

Key things to know
  • No official status for the "Pombais" name alone — the Levada dos Pombais is a section of the historic water channel network. To walk it, you follow either the community loop or the official PR 7.
  • The Laurissilva Forest here is stunning — one of the most intact stands of primeval laurel forest in the world.
  • Check current trail conditions before setting out, especially in wet weather — the north coast can be slippery.
  • For the official PR 7 section, remember to pay the access fee (€4.50) via SIMplifica beforehand.

Would you like me to check the mountain weather forecast and IPMA warnings for the day you're planning to hike, or show you how to get to Porto Moniz by bus from where you're staying?

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