Hike Madeira, Levada Walk from Sitio das Quatro Estradas to Camacha

Caught the Nr 77 bus close to the Funchal cable car at 1030 hrs Sunday 12 June 2016.

At 1120 hrs got off at the cross roads at Quatro Estradas, the start of our walk along the Levada dos Tornos to Camacha, Rothers Walking Guide walk nr 15 ( in reverse).

 

Our ViewRanger app on the Ipad once more proved to be very handy to verify where we were whenever we were not sure.

 

The first part of the walk was steeply down a road until we reached this crossroads of paths

 

The path continued steeply down some cobbled steps until it crossed the Levada dos Tornos which we reached at 1210 hrs

  

 

 

Along the Levada, there were many wild Maracuja vines (Passion Fruit)

 

From time to time we had super views of the sea and sometimes Les Ilses Desertas were clearly in view

 

 

Stop for a break in the shade

 

In many places we were treated to superb floral displays

 

 

The Agapanthas, both blue and white were often present. From time to time we passed terraced fields

 

There were many vertiguous parts as the levada had to be carved out of the steep cliffs

 

Another shady break

 

There were several tunnels on the way

 

Occassionaly there was a safety rail, but mostly one was left to use ones own sense of balance

 

Fallen tree

 

Another tunnel

 

Looking back 

 

Yet another tunnel

 

 

 

 

 

 

In some places, it had only been necessary to carve "half " tunnels out of the cliff

 

The Levada on the other side of the ravine

 

A large tree had fallen recently and blocked our trail

 

 

 

 

 

Levada bridge

 

Waterfall

 

Our last tunnel

 

 

Time to leave our Levada

 

Red circle shows where we left the Levada

 

Only 125 m elevation of steps to go to reach our destination, Camacho !

 

At 1700 hrs arrive at Camacho in good time for the 1745 hrs nr 129 bus back to Funchal

 

This was a superb Levada walk. The Levada dos Tornos is one the the most important water channels on Madeira having a total length of around 100 kms. 

The ViewRanger map below shows our route

 

Levada Walk Ribeiro Frio to Portela 2016, 7 June

Caught the 1000 hrs nr 56 bus from Funchal ( near cable car) to Ribeira Frio to walk along the Levada do Furado to Portela Rothers walk nr 19. The bus was so full that we were concerned that there would not be a place for us - the guide indeed says that this is a classic Levada Walk which is on almost every walking group's itinerary!

The bus dropped us of at Ribeiro Frio at 1040 hrs a few meters away from the large sign pointing the way to the start of the walk to Portela

 

Unlike most walks, this is almost all the way slightly downhill following the flow of the Levada, so one does not have to be very fit in order to enjoy it.

 

The walk starts at the source of the Levada

 

Just below the waterfall the Levada traps the water and chanals it eastwards

 

The walk is in some places very wide

 

And other places very narrow

 

 

We had expected better views, we seem to have misread the local weather forecasts!

 

Here another Levada brings more water

 

The junction of the Levadas can be seen on the map under the red circle. The other Levada provides a way to return to Ribeiro Frio

 

Whilst having a lunchbreak here, several almost tame chaffinches gathered around waiting for crumbs - one even took a crumb out of my hand - hovering in front of my hand.

 

A slight deviation where the Levada crossed a stream

 

 

 

A lot of work went into cutting this cleft/ tunnel for the Levada

 

 

 

Our trail leaves the Levada (Red Circle on map)

 

And goes fairly steeply down to Portela

 

Finally we see Eagle Rock - in better visibility we would have had views along this coast much earlier on the walk

 

Arrived in Portela at 1430 hrs.

An enterprising Taxi driver suggested he take us to Funchal for €6 pp if he could find 4 other passengers - this was a good deal as we would have had to wait a while for a bus and it did not take long to find the other passengers.