First of all, we would like to welcome you to our websites. On these sites we tell you about great variety of levadawalks and footpaths on Madeira. We sincerelly hope you enjoy yourselves on our sites. If you plan to travel madeira, it is possible to find important information about great walking facitities of the island. If you are already familiar of levadas this is a great opportunity to relive the great adventures virtually.

Madeira is very popular destination among walkers and hikers thanks to amazing nature of this island.
loads of guidebooks about levadawalks have been written about walking in Madeira. There is also different kind of maps, but we have find that quality and accuracy vary quite a lot and you must look carefully which map you buy.
Routes along levadas are constructed all the time and that's why both guidebooks and maps may sometimes offer old information about the routes. The same applies to these websites and it is important that you always find out about the routes and their safety before you actually go exploring the walks in madeira. Especially less popular routes you should ask for example hotel reception about the condition of the route. Areas like rabacal, queimadas and so on are kept in good condition because of their popularity.
i just love madeira and go for a walk there time after time. It is also admirable and heroic job you madeiran people did when building these amazing waterchannels to this mountainous island braving dangers of vertical rockwalls. thanks to you we have this opportunity to enjoy the great nature of madeira along the levadas.

we update these sites regularly and add new walks, by the time we walk them. That is also the reason why there may be some mistakes, but we hope you forgive us and send us feedback using the feedback form on leftside menu.
The stream

CHECK THE ACCESSIBILITY!

Before you go for levada walk make sure that the route you are heading is open to pedestrians. Many of the levadas were and still are closed to pedestrians because of the February 2010 floods. Few weeks ago there was also great forestfires and again many of the routes are closed.

You can have some information of the situation of levadas and walking paths on the internet by checking out these links:


Situation of the levadas and paths after the February 2010 floods
After recent forest fires and still due to the February floods


ABOUT LEVADAS

There is less rain in southern side of madeira island because of high central mountains. That's why you need to get more water to boost the productiveness of southern agricultural areas. The solution is to build waterchannels which carry water from more wet northern side to dryer south and that's why they decided to build levadas. There is also the growing need of electricity, which can be solved with hydroelectric powerplants. All together about 2500 kilometers of levadanetwork were built to make southern side grow bananas and other drops. Today the crops are many times bigger than before levadas. all this change was made perfectly ecologically and without harming nature. many brave madeiran lost their lives on this amazing building work which was made by hacks sometimes hanging from the rocks and trees on the upper mountainside.
the first of the levadas were made in 15th century and maintainance of the levadas is made regularly. The footpath along side of the levadas are originally made for levadeiros use. the profession itself must be very regarded among madeirans. Their job is to clean and maintain the condition of the levadas. Later on, walkers and hikers have found them useful to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of this mountainous island.

ABOUT THE ROUTES

Different people enjoy different terrains. Some people enjoy easier paths along forrestpaths and fields. Others like to push themself to limits along mountainous and rough routes. there are also a group of people who seek vertical places and feeling of danger on the edge of the abyss. all of these passions of find escape from every day stress are precious. Madeira has it all and is also the island of contrasts in many ways.

SECURITY AND ENVIROMENT IN ROUTES

When exploring madeira footpaths and levadas, there are some safety rules to remember. Madeira is very mountainous island and they say that only completelly flat place in the whole island is funchal airport. That's why along many routes there is steep places and you should know your tendency of vertigo when exploring the routes. Sometimes the route goes along vertical places. usually there is protective railings, but not always.
If you decide to go along vertigous routes number one rule to remember always is:

CONCENTRATE ON WALKING AND STOP FOR TAKING PICTURES AND ADMIRE THE SCENERY!!.

There has been accidents and even deaths when people haven't take the safety rules seriously. Most of the walks have safety railings but you shouldn't rely your life upon them. By using common sense is the way you can safely enjoy your walk. If you feel that you can not cope the route, turn back. Just remember to concentrate where you put your foot in the path. Anyway, some of the routes have real life threat, because of their bad condition or dangerous terrain. You shouldn't explore these paths without experienced guide or unless you don't have strong walking experience of mountainous routes.

Sometimes people want to see these dangerous places themselves, whatever it costs and that is the wrong attitude!!

If you decide to go walking on madeira. You shouldn't go with trainers but have yourself somekind of hikingboots as the paths are not always so level but stony and muddy in places. Also pay attention to clothing especially when you go up to the mountains and north side of the island. It's not unusual to have ten degrees drop of temperature in north side of the island comparing the southern sunny slopes. When in funchal it can be +22 celcius and at the same time in queimadas it can be +12 degrees.
You should also carry all the rubbish with you to to litter... after all we are walking in natures paradise.


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