Ribeira Brava - Levada Nova — Madeira levada walk guide

Tell me about the Ribeira Brava - Levada Nova levada walk in Madeira

💭 Thinking

The user is asking about the "Ribeira Brava - Levada Nova" levada walk in Madeira. I should look this up using the find_hikes tool to get official information about this trail, including its status, difficulty, distance, etc.The search for "Ribeira Brava Levada Nova" returned no results. Let me try a broader search - maybe the trail has a different official name orPR code.The user is asking about the "Ribeira Brava - Levada Nova" levada walk. Looking at my results, this trail appears in the `community_trails` section - it's NOT an official IFCN PR trail. Let me find it specifically: From the community_trails: - **Ribeira Brava - Levada Nova**: - Description: "Pedestrian route along the famous Levada Nova, which was once an irrigation structure used to bring water to different points on the island, an archaic irrigation system used, for example, to water Madeira's famous banana plantations. After the initial steep climb, it becomes a less demanding walk, following the Levada over some hills, with views of Ribeira Brava and Tabua." - Rating: 4.4★ from 123 reviews on AllTrails - Difficulty: moderate - Length: 12.6 km - Route type: loop - Estimated time: 5–5.5 hr - Lat/Lng: 32.67126, -17.06519 - Directions URL: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=32.671260,-17.065190 - AllTrails URL: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/portugal/madeira--2/ribeira-brava-levada-nova - Notice: Community route mapped on AllTrails — NOT part of Madeira's official PR trail network managed by IFCN I also notice there are related community trails in the area: - Levada Nova - Levada do Moinho (the most popular, 4.7★ from 6103 reviews) - this is a circular trail combining Levada Nova and Levada do Moinho - Caminho das Cascatas da Levada Nova (4.7★ from 283 reviews) - section starting in Lombada area - Tábua - Levada Nova (4.5★ from 260 reviews) - easy, 4km - Rota da Levada Nova a Lombada (4.4★ from 115 reviews) There is NO official PR trail specifically called "Ribeira Brava - Levada Nova" - it's a community/unofficial route. I need to make this clear upfront. Let me present this information clearly, noting it's a community route, not an official PR trail.

How this was derived · 1 step

Trails near Ribeira BravaMap & photos

6 photos

Photos: walkmeguide.com ↗

Official PR trail (IFCN) Community route (AllTrails — not official)

Caminho das Cascatas da Levada Nova 4.7 Directions

Photos: walkmeguide.com · green = official IFCN PR trail · amber = community route (AllTrails)

Ribeira Brava – Levada Nova

This is a community-mapped route on AllTrails — it is not part of Madeira's official PR trail network managed by IFCN (the regional government's forests and nature-conservation authority), so it has no official open/closed status and no maintenance or signage guarantee. Check access and conditions locally before going.

At a glance


Difficulty	Moderate
Distance	12.6 km
Route type	Loop
Estimated time	5–5.5 hours
Community rating	4.4★ from 123 hiker reviews on AllTrails
Trailhead	Near Ribeira Brava

The walk

This route follows the famous Levada Nova, an old irrigation channel that once carried water across the hills to irrigate fields — including Madeira's famous banana plantations. The walk starts with an initial steep climb, then settles into a less demanding path alongside the levada, rolling over hills with sweeping views over Ribeira Brava and Tábua.

It's a satisfying loop that gives you a real flavour of Madeira's south-coast interior — terraced farmland, deep valleys, and glimpses of village life below.

Directions to trailhead ↗

Nearby Levada Nova alternatives

Several related community routes share parts of the Levada Nova system and may suit you better depending on your fitness and time:

Trail	Distance	Difficulty	Rating	Notes
Levada Nova – Levada do Moinho	9.3 km (loop)	Moderate	4.7★ (6,103 reviews)	The most popular — combines both levadas, includes a waterfall and a tunnel (bring a torch)
Caminho das Cascatas da Levada Nova	7.7 km (out & back)	Hard	4.7★ (283 reviews)	Starts in Lombada; famed for its waterfalls
Tábua – Levada Nova	4.0 km (out & back)	Easy	4.5★ (260 reviews)	Short, gentle section — ideal if you want a quicker walk

All four are community routes (not official IFCN PR trails), so the same caveats about status and signage apply.

Want me to check the mountain weather forecast and IPMA warnings for the day you're planning to go, or look at how to get to the trailhead by bus?

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