On this self-guided 13 km hike through Queimadas Forest Park on the Levada do Caldeirão Verde, passing tunnels, lush scenery, and stunning waterfalls. You’ll love it!
Hike Details
Would you like to explore one of the densest forests in the Madeira region? Then, at the scheduled time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel. Once we’re ready, we’ll board the vehicle and head north for a transfer of approximately 1 hour.
We’ll arrive at the Parque Forestal das Queimadas, one of the most iconic entry points to Madeira’s laurel forest. After a brief introduction, you’ll set out on your own along the famous Levada do Caldeirão Verde trail, a water channel built to transport water from the humid northern regions to agricultural areas.
You’ll set out on a 13-kilometer (8.1 mi) trail that will take you about 5 hours to complete. The trail is practically flat, situated at an altitude between 872 (2,861 ft) and 1,062 (3,484 ft) meters, which makes it easy to maintain a steady pace without significant elevation changes. On one side you’ll have the levada, and on the other, slopes covered by dense laurel forest. This is a subtropical ecosystem with endemic species such as laurel, linden, and viñátigo.
During the hike, you’ll also pass through up to 4 tunnels carved into volcanic rock, some of which are up to 200 m (656 ft) long. As you continue, you’ll come across small waterfalls that cross the trail and areas where water seeps directly from the rock walls. You’ll feel like you’re in an enchanted forest!
On the final stretch, you’ll reach Caldeirão Verde, a spectacular waterfall that plunges from a great height into a natural amphitheater covered in vegetation. After enjoying the surroundings, we’ll meet up again to head back to your hotel.
The experience will conclude after a total of 7 hours.
Hotel Pickup
This tour includes pickup from hotels located in Funchal, Caniço, Santa Cruz, and Machico.
