The forrests are really impressive on this area and loads of different spieces of trees appear. Hundreds of years old trees with thick trunks especially along the first section of the route overwhelms. Sometimes the trunks are covered with Treemoss and there comes a place where the whole forrest of trees is covered with it.
Queimadas is also popular place for picnic among locals.
You will find Levada do Caldeirão Verde right beside the house of Queimadas, which is used by forest rangers of the area. Walk throught the park with picnic tables on the front of the house and continue over the small bridge and the pool of ducks. Soon you will find the guideposts to Vale da Lapa and Caldeirão Verde 6,5 kilometers. At first, the path is lined with old trees with thick trunks. The tree with sturdy arching arms draws attention later on. You could easily imagine the trolls and fairys live in these forests. Soon Little further on the right there is a whole forest of trees covered by Treemoss. What a strange and mystic place this is!
It is said that inhaling the air of these forests of laurel, eucalyptus and pine is healthy and brings help to many kinds of ailmants like asthma. You can smell loads of different scents along these routes and walking here is the natural aromatherapy like no other.
Left side of the levada is lines with Hydrangeas which are familiar beauty in many gardens.
When we arrive to the slopes of Vale da Lapa, laurisilva and treeheathers take over the landscape. Hydrangeas turn in to different spieces of moss and ferns. Variety of different spieces of plants are amazing and the place must be quite a goldmine for anyone studying or deeper interest of plantlife. Where the ground is bald, notice how pure is the colour of ochre.
The treeheathers reach their arms over the path creating a roof over our head. Sometimes you wonder of the adaptation of trees and plants into these steep hillsides. The thick plantlife disguise the steep drop right after the path. However, from time to time there is an open view over the valley all the way to the ocean. Archada do Marques village can also be seen on the bottom of the valley.
Before we reach the head of this little valley the path gets a bit more craggy and here and there the water bicker down to the levada. The dampness of the ground is detectable. Some vertigous sections appear from time to time, but the railing are strong and in good condition so there is no danger here.
Every time when we arrive to the head of the valleys on this route we shall enjoy little suprises. This time we come to a stairs and climb down to round the unnavigable section of the levada. The levada flows around the wet cylinder shape crag. The crag is coverred with moss, hays and ferns. This refreshing green wonderland is crowned with lovely waterfall in the middle. After climbing back to the levada you may walk fef meters back along the levada to see the place from different angle.
After exploring this wonderful place we continue ahead.