Levada das 25 Fontes & Levada do Risco (PR6/PR6.1) | The Ultimate Guide

Visitors to Madeira often claim that Levada das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco is one of the best hikes in Madeira. With a hike down to a secluded waterfall pool deep within a lush forest, as well as the option to add-on a visit to one of the tallest waterfalls in Madeira, what’s not to enjoy?

After hiking out to both 25 Fontes and Risco Waterfalls in July of 2024, we’ll cover our own experience and provide an opinion on whether or not this trail is worth your time. With so many great hikes in Madeira, does the Levada das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco hike make the list?

About the Levada das 25 Fontes Hike

The trail to 25 Fontes is a lollipop route (out and back with a loop at the far end) with several notable stops along the way.

From a mountaintop, hikers descend into the forest below and out to a natural pool surrounded by dozens of mini waterfalls. Hikers also have the option to add on an up-close view of Risco Waterfall, one of the tallest waterfalls in Madeira.

You’ll hike through a forest for a vast majority of the trail, so this is not a hike for views. The only great viewpoints are at the start of the trail, and of the waterfalls themselves. The trail itself is very well maintained and a mostly downhill walk to the falls, with a number of staircases. Although not a terribly hard hike, it certainly isn’t easy either, with a near constant uphill trek on your return journey.

Levada das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco Hiking Stats

Below are the hiking stats for the walk from the upper parking lot to the café and continuing on to the 25 Fontes falls, the spur trail to Risco Waterfall, and the return hike to the café and parking lot.

Distance: 10.1 km (6.3 miles) round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Total Ascent: 385 meters (1,265 feet)
Lowest Elevation: 975 meters (3,200 feet)
Highest Elevation: 1,300 meters (4,250 feet)
Time: 2.5 to 5 hours; our time was 2.5 hours, which also included 30 minutes at the café at the end of the hike

Using the Shuttle Bus

There is a shuttle that runs between the upper parking lot and the café. This shuttle can be used in both directions and doing so saves a lot of effort (it may not save much time depending on how long the line is to ride the shuttle). Here are the stats if you use the shuttle.

If you take the shuttle from the cafe the parking lot to avoid the final uphill walk, then you will reduce the total distance by 1.9 km (1.2 miles) and the total ascent by 213 meters (700 feet). That makes the new totals:

Distance: 8.2 km (5.1 miles) round trip
Total Ascent: 172 meters (565 feet)
Difficulty: Easy

If you take the shuttle bus roundtrip between the parking lot and the cafe, then you will reduce the total distance by 3.8 km (2.4 miles) and the total ascent by 213 m (700 feet). That makes the new totals:

Distance: 6.3 km (3.9 miles) round trip
Total Ascent: 172 meters (565 feet)
Difficulty: Easy

Risco Waterfall Detour

All of the GPS data provided above includes hiking the spur trail to the Risco Waterfall. That spur trail accounts for 1.8 km (1.1 miles) of roundtrip distance with 15 meters (50 feet) of total ascent. It took us 25 minutes to walk out and back to this waterfall from the main trail.

The trail to 25 Fontes

How to Hike Levada das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco

Step-By-Step Trail Guide

Hiking to the Café

The trail begins at the end of a gravel/dirt parking lot that sits at the top of a mountain in Rabaçal. There’s plenty of parking here in the mornings, but it does fill up fast. We recommend arriving no later than 9 am, earlier is even better.

The trail starts off as a paved road. The “trailhead” is located on the far end of the parking lot. This paved road is completely downhill, with very little views, and really it is just a monotonous, 2 km (1.2 mile) walk down a road. It ends at the café.

The road from the parking lot to the cafe and trailhead.

One of the few views you get from the road.

For those who would prefer to ride the shuttle bus down this portion of the trail you’ll have to start your hike at 11 am or later, as the shuttle bus doesn’t start operating until then (more on this later). You will not be missing anything scenic by riding the shuttle bus instead of hiking. But starting the hike midday will put you in with the crowds.

Upon reaching the end of the road, you’ll find a café and a trail split. The cafe opens mid-morning (around 10 am), so depending on how early you start the hike, it may not be open yet. However, this is a wonderful spot to grab a snack on your way back up.

Hiking to 25 Fontes

From here follow signs for PR 6/6.1. You’ll see these signs in two places. The first one is right at the end of the paved road and the other one is next to the cafe as you approach it from the paved road. Both options will reconnect a short distance down the trail, so it doesn’t matter which route you take. The trail that starts next to the cafe has a 128 step staircase leading down and the other is a more gradual descent. Again, they both rejoin after a short distance.

The trail split. Go left here to go to 25 Fontes. Go right to go to Risco Waterfall.

Less than 10 minutes from the café, those two trails will merge back at a junction. Just beyond this you’ll also find a very important trail split. Take the left trail (signs for PR 6) to continue onwards to the 25 Fontes waterfall. The right trail (signs for PR 6.1) lead to the Risco waterfall (photo above).

We recommend continuing towards the 25 Fontes waterfall first, before it gets too crowded, and then visit the Risco waterfall on your way back up the mountain.

Take the trail towards the 25 Fontes waterfall and you’ll immediately start descending along a 275-step stone staircase, before finally leveling out on a dirt trail. Now deep within the forest, you may find some thick branches that hang over the trail, where you can challenge your friends or family to a game of limbo. You’ll also encounter another staircase leading down the mountain along this stretch of trail.

Trail sign

A distant view of Risco Waterfall

A bit further beyond, you’ll cross a stone bridge that overlooks a distant waterfall. And then you’ll ascend a staircase with 62 steps.

The stone bridge

After that the trail levels out, narrows, and runs alongside an irrigation channel. At times it is only wide enough for one person. This section of the trail forms a one-way loop that takes you to the 25 Fontes waterfall, so you won’t have to worry about two-way traffic (as long as everyone hiking that day pays attention to the trail signs).

25 Fontes

Continue following signs for 25 Fontes (PR 6). The trail will remain narrow and flat until you reach 25 Fontes.

25 Fontes

At 25 Fontes there is a small natural pool that the collection of mini waterfalls feed into, surrounded by steep rocky walls covered with tropical plants. If you’re here early enough, you may have the spot to yourself. In the mornings this can be a very serene spot to relax for a few minutes and take in the natural beauty of your surroundings.

We started the hike relatively early and this is what it looked like at 9 am in July. I don’t think it stayed like this for long, judging by the number of people we saw on the trail on the return hike.

Hiking to Risco Waterfall

Once you’ve made the most of your time at the 25 Fontes waterfall, it’s time to start the return journey. Follow the trail signs onto the return loop, where you’ll instantly be greeted by another steep staircase climb. You’ll climb 176 steps up through a section of the forest noted by these cool thin, weaving branches, before descending a combination of dirt and stone steps back down onto the main trail.

You will then descend down steps to the stone bridge you crossed earlier and then up the two staircases you descended earlier to reach the trail junction for the Risco waterfall.

Risco Waterfall

Once arriving back at the junction for the Risco waterfall follow the trail signs for PR 6.1 (Risco). This spur trail is flat, shaded, and fairly quick. The trail takes you to a nice viewing area of the waterfall. The viewpoint itself is wonderful, with a great shot of this towering waterfall. It is certainly worth the additional time to see this waterfall.

After enjoying the Risco waterfall back track along PR 6.1 until you reach the trail junction. Then follow PR 6 back to the cafe.

The cafe has indoor and outdoor seating and for sale are cold drinks, coffee, snacks, and sandwiches. There are also bathrooms, but you will need a 50 cent coin.

The shady patio in front of the café is a great place to sit and enjoy a snack.

To return from the cafe to the parking lot at the top of the mountain you can either walk up the paved trail or take the shuttle bus. The shuttle bus stop is on the paved road that is next to the cafe.

Is the 25 Fontes Hike Worth it?

It depends. The Levada das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco hike is a popular hike in Madeira featuring some pretty unique points of interest. The waterfalls themselves are beautiful. And while the trail itself doesn’t have any panoramic views, the overhanging trees and irrigation channel along a segment of the trail make the dirt track portion of the trail enjoyable.

But the paved portion of the trail can be monotonous, since it is a boring walk along an asphalt road without any views. Although, that concern can be eliminated by using the shuttle bus in one or both directions.

And you will certainly hit your stair climbing goal for the day. This along with the total ascent will have some people question if the waterfalls are worth the effort. We think they were! But with a caveat …

If you have plenty of time in Madeira and are looking to do a lot of hiking, the Levada das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco hike is worth the time and effort. If you only have a few days, and can only do 1 or 2 hikes, we recommend the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço and Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo instead. Vereda do Larano is another hike we liked much more than 25 Fontes.

Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço

Parking, Shuttle & How to Get to the Levada das 25 Fontes Trail

The main parking lot for this hike is a gravel/dirt lot located off of ER105 right at the trailhead. In Google Maps you can route yourself to “Miradouro do Rabaçal” or “Rabaçal Shuttle Bus.”

This is a sizable parking lot, but due to the popularity of this hike it will fill up fast. We recommend arriving no later than 9 am to get a parking spot here; earlier is even better.

The parking lot at 11 am

When we returned to the parking lot at 11 am it was a zoo with cars circling and large tour buses dropping off people. So be sure to get an early start so you are ahead of the crowds.

If this parking lot is full when you arrive then there are two more parking areas off of ER105. From the trailhead, drive along ER105 towards the road Estrada do Rochão and you’ll see another gravel/dirt parking area on the left and just past that another gravel/dirt lot on the right. From these lots you’ll have to walk along the side of ER105 to the main parking lot mentioned above since that is where the trailhead is located.

Shuttle Bus to the 25 Fontes Hike

The first segment of the trail is a long gradual descent along a paved road that runs from the main parking lot (located at the top of the mountain) to a cafe (located in the valley). You are not allowed to drive this road yourself so you either have to hike it or take the shuttle bus.

This 2 km (1.2 mi) section can be very boring to walk, so some people opt to take the shuttle bus instead. The shuttle bus doesn’t start running until late morning. Therefore, we recommend hiking the road down in the morning in order to get an early start and then on the way back you can decide if you want to hike up the paved road or take the shuttle bus.

Keep in mind that long lines can form for the shuttle bus and there is a fee to ride the shuttle bus.

In 2024 the posted shuttle bus hours were from 11 am to 6 pm. When we did this, we left the parking lot at 11:10 am, and the shuttle was still nowhere to be seen, so we do not know how frequently it runs or if it usually starts running late. Please leave a comment below to let us and future travelers know about your experience with the shuttle bus and if their hours have changed.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Have cash on hand to pay for the shuttle bus. Since we did not ride the shuttle bus, or even see it while we were here, we do not know the price or whether or not they take credit cards.

How to Have the Best Experience

Arrive early! This makes it easier to get parking right at the trailhead, the trail will be more peaceful and serene, and you’ll be able to enjoy the waterfalls without the crowds.

Be sure to hike to the 25 Fontes waterfall first since it has a smaller viewing area. Then take the detour to the Risco waterfall on your return.

Time your hike such that you are back at the cafe at 10:00am or later, if you want to take a break and enjoy a snack. Then take the shuttle bus back up the paved road to the parking lot at 11:00 am (which is when it first starts running) so you avoid any long lines.

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What to Bring on the 25 Fontes Hike

Water (2 liters per person)
Snacks
Cash for the shuttle bus
50 cent coins for the toilets at the cafe
Hiking shoes are preferred especially if it has rained recently

After Your Hike

Once finished, there’s a few neat spots nearby that may be worth checking out. All of these are relatively quick visits, so you can still choose to have plenty of downtime later in the day.

Fanal

Fanal is a beautiful picnic area that doubles as an ominous witches’ grove. The forest is dotted with these crooked “Sleepy Hollow” looking trees that are especially ominous in the deep fog. Some even look to have arms coming from their bodies.

Walk amongst the trees and let your imagination run wild. Unfortunately for us, most of the fog had burned off when we visited around 11:30 am. We never got a true look at the eerie beauty of this forest, but we did find that Fanal can still be a great picnic spot on a sunny day. You may also find a few cows grazing nearby.

A visit here is quick, about 30 minutes or less. It’s best to do this early in the morning on a cloudy day, when the sun hasn’t burned off the fog.

Paul da Serra

This high plateau in the center of Madeira has multiple hikes, activities, and viewpoints to see. We drove to the Lombo do Mouro viewpoint, our favorite in this mountain region with an impressive overlook into a jagged valley.

Paul da Serra

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I wait to hike the Levada das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco hike later in the day, when the shuttle is running?

The shuttle cuts off a large, monotonous portion of the trail. When we hiked in July of 2024, the shuttle ran from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. By 11:00 am the carpark will be full and you’ll find the trail full of hikers.

So, we recommend starting your hike in the morning and timing it such that you can catch the 11:00 am shuttle back to the parking lot. It will be easier to get parking and you’ll enjoy the trail with fewer hikers. There’s also a good chance you could have the 25 Fontes waterfall to yourself.

Visit the Risco waterfall on your way back up, grab a snack at the cafe, and then take the shuttle back up to the carpark. You’ll end up saving 2 km (1.2 mi) and about 200 m (700 ft) of elevation gain.

Can people of all ages complete the Levada das 25 Fontes?

Yes. We saw young children and older hikers on the trail. You will find a few steep staircase climbs that may provide a challenge for some. If you’re traveling as a family with small kids, this is a great hike to do in Madeira. We recommend taking the return shuttle back from the cafe to the carpark to cut off a large chunk of elevation gain.

Do I need hiking shoes for the Levada das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco hike?

Hiking shoes are not necessary for the Levada das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco hike. We do however recommend hiking with a good pair of walking shoes, something with decent grip, and shoes that can get dirty. There are sections of the trail that could become slippery when wet, especially near the waterfalls. We did this hike in a pair of good walking shoes, but the weather was dry. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and plan your hike accordingly, or ideally, pack a pair of hiking shoes to eliminate any concerns.

If you have any questions about how to hike the Levada das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco hike, or if you want to share your experience, you can do so in the comment section below.

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