The Levada do Risco is the shortest and most popular levada in theRabaçalarea and runs from a forest lodge with refreshments to the Risco waterfalls, the largest in the area. Although they are not particularly voluminous, they effectively cascade down the rock in two stages, covering a distance of over 100 metres over a very short stretch.

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If you set off from the lodge in the opposite direction to the Risco Waterfalls, you’ll find that the levada to Risco continues in that direction too. Indeed, it is in this direction (towards the south coast) that the levada carries the water.

The main attraction of this section is a tunnelover 800 metres long, hewn beneath the Rabaçal Pass, which you can walk through. It is a comfortable height (around 2.5 metres) and two people can pass each other here. However, a head torch or torch is absolutely essential, as the tunnel is not lit! At the other end, after a kilometre, you’ll reach another car park.

The levada is wide and relatively flat between the gamekeeper’s lodge and the waterfalls; anyone should be able to manage the walk.

There is an entry fee for the route, which 4,50 eur and must be booked online atsimplifica.madeira.gov.pt.

The details apply only to the section from the gamekeeper’s lodge to the waterfalls:

• Distance – 1.9 km one way
• Time – approx. 40 minutes there + 40 minutes back
• Difficulty – easy
• Route map

You should also factor in the section from the car park to the actual start of the route, which follows a tarmac road. It is 2 km one way and has an elevation gain of 300 metres.

However, you can use the shuttle minibus for5 eur one way, or8 eur for a return ticket, which runs approximately twice an hour. Payment is by cash only.

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