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- Serra do Faial Levada Trail (West) 4.2 Directions
- Levada da Serra do Faial 4.4 Directions
This is a community-mapped route on AllTrails — it is not part of Madeira's official PR (Percurso Recomendado) trail network managed by IFCN (the regional government's forests & nature-conservation authority). This means it has no official open/closed status and no maintenance or signage guarantee; check access and trail conditions locally before setting out.
| Length | 11.3 km |
| Route type | Loop |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Estimated time | 3.5–4 hr |
| Community rating | 3.7★ from 62 hiker reviews on AllTrails |
| Trailhead | Santo António da Serra (municipality of Santa Cruz) |
The route starts in Santo António da Serra, a parish in the municipality of Santa Cruz, and follows a section of the Levada da Serra do Faial — one of the most emblematic levadas on Madeira's East Coast. The levada begins in the neighbouring municipality of Santa Cruz and continues into the municipality of Machico.
Along the way the scenery shifts between different landscapes: rural surroundings where dense forest predominates, and the everyday life of the outskirts of the East Coast towns. It's a walk that combines Madeira's characteristic lush greenery with glimpses of local village life.
Directions to the trailhead ↗ — this will route from wherever you are.
The levada has several other mapped segments you might prefer:
| Route | Length | Difficulty | Rating | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levada da Serra do Faial (full route) | 18.0 km | Hard | 4.4★ (39 reviews) | 5.5–6.5 hr |
| Serra do Faial Levada Trail (West) | 11.7 km | Moderate | 4.2★ (61 reviews) | 3.5–4 hr |
| Achadinha – Levada da Serra do Faial | 10.6 km | Moderate | 4.1★ (105 reviews) | 3–3.5 hr |
| Vale Paraíso – Levada da Serra do Faial | 3.9 km | Easy | 3.8★ (44 reviews) | 1–1.5 hr |
All of these are community routes (not official IFCN PR trails) — the same caveat about status and signage applies.
⚠️ Before you go: since this isn't an official IFCN-managed trail, there's no official open/closed status to check. Ask locally about current conditions, and be prepared for sections that may be overgrown, unsigned, or partially obstructed.
Would you like me to check the weather forecast for Santo António da Serra for the day you're planning to go, or look into how to get there by bus?