📍: 8.6 km Out&Back

🚘: Free Parking at Trailhead

📈: 300 M

🕒: 3-4 hours

this is one of the most popular and accessible hikes on Madeira. It is located in the Rabaçal area. This 8.6 km trail leads you through a stunning laurel forest to a 30-meter waterfall surrounded by 25 natural springs. From there, you can continue to a viewing platform offering a spectacular view of one of Madeira's tallest waterfalls, the Risco Waterfall.

The hike begins at a free parking lot in Rabaçal, which also serves as a starting point for several other levadas. The trail is well-marked, eliminating the need for a map.

The first part of the hike is along an asphalt road leading to Casa do Rabaçal, a restaurant where you can stop for breakfast on your return. A few hundred meters past the restaurant, you will reach a fork. Taking the left path leads you to the 25 Fontes Waterfall, while the right path takes you just a few hundred meters from the Risco Waterfall.

If you find yourself ahead of other tourists, it’s advisable to head straight to the end of the 25 Fontes trail. This allows you to capture some excellent photographs before the crowds arrive. At this point, you are just 2 kilometers away from the end of the levada. The 25 Fontes Waterfall is situated in a secluded valley with ample space to walk around or even take a dip, as many visitors do.

The return journey can be a bit more challenging due to the moderate incline back to the fork. From there, you can quickly reach the viewing platform of the Risco Waterfall. To complete the hike, retrace your steps back to the Rabaçal parking lot.