Levada das 25 Fontes Trail (PR 6)

The Levada das 25 Fontes, signposted as PR 6, is one of the classified walking routes of Madeira and among the most walked on the island. It begins on the regional road ER 105 at Rabaçal, in the municipality of Calheta, and follows an irrigation channel for 4.3 km to the Lagoa das 25 Fontes. The Madeira tourism board rates it as moderate and allows about three hours.

The lagoon at the end is the reason for the name. Water that comes down from the Paul da Serra plateau emerges here through twenty-five springs in the rock wall and gathers in a pool at its foot. On the way, the path opens onto the valley of the Ribeira da Janela, green with Laurissilva, the laurel forest of Madeira that is listed as World Heritage. The trail drops from about 1,288 m at the road to 964 m at the lagoon, so the climb comes on the way back.

PR 6 shares its starting point with PR 6.1, the Levada do Risco, and the two run almost parallel before leading to different places, so they are often combined in a single day. The route is managed by the regional Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation, which publishes the current status of every classified trail. Circulation rules on the narrow final stretch can change, and it is worth checking that list before setting out.

Access is regulated: visitors register and pay a fee in advance through the regional government's online services portal, with exemptions for children up to twelve. Rabaçal is reached by car over the Paul da Serra plateau. Bring waterproof layers and shoes with a good grip, as levada paths are often wet and the weather at this altitude changes quickly.