This levada is one of the most beautiful trails in Madeira, and rightly so.
It takes you through dense vegetation of laurel forest and giant ferns from the town of São Jorge in the north to the interior of the island.
The first third of the levadas passes through a thin forest where native species of plants mix with artificial ones and where you can admire, for example, eucalyptus and rhododendrons. From time to time, you can also get nice views of the towns along the coast.
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As you delve deeper and deeper into the interior of the island, the forest will also become much denser, containing mainly native and endemic Madeiran plant species. If it weren't for the stone bed of the levadas, the path alongside it and sometimes the railings, this is exactly what Madeira looked like before colonisation.
The levada runs partly through the forest, but partly along the contour, where here and there there are beautiful views of an unspoilt green paradise...
Route parameters
The Levada to Rei is popular, among other things, because of its very moderate difficulty. Practically all of it is flat except for the last short climb, which you can skip. The path along the canal is narrow in places, but it is equipped with railings where necessary.
Entrance to the trail is payable and costs 3 eur and must be booked online at simplifica.madeira.gov.pt.
- Distance - 5 km one way
- Time - approx. 2.5 hours there + 2 hours back
- Difficulty - moderate (mainly due to the greater distance)
- Route map
There is a small car park at the start of the route, the turn off the main road between São Jorge and Arco de São Jorge is signposted.
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