Levada Ribeiro Frio — Portela

Duration: 8 hours

Levada Ribeiro Frio — Portela is also known as Levada do Furado, due to the fact that there are some tunnels along the way. It starts in Ribeiro Frio, 860 meters above sea level, and follows the path that follows the Levada da Serra do Faial. Then it descends to the Lamaceiros area and ends at the Portela viewpoint

It is considered one of the most beautiful walks in Madeira. It passes through the well-protected native forest, the Laurissilva or Laurissilva Forest, composed predominantly of the laurel, or laurel, the lily of the valley, the Madeira laurel, the mahogany of Madeira, the foxglove of Madeira, the pride of the Wood, the Mandon Chrysanthemum and the Madeiran Orchid

The landscape is dominated by the Ribeiro Frio valley, with the fantastic agricultural fields of Faial and Porto da Cruz. In the background we will see the spectacular rock formation of Penha d'Águia

This is one of the oldest levadas in the state. It was acquired through a contract signed in 1822 for the purpose of irrigating the agricultural land of Porto

Due to its connection to the juncal and Serra do Faial elevations, which merge shortly after its start and continue beyond its terminal point in the Lamaceiros, it is said that this Levada transports three waters: the water that accumulates in the Ribeiro Frio valley and irrigates the terraces of Porto da Cruz; and those that come from the Santana Mountains and are stored in the Santo da Serra reservoir for subsequent distribution.

As far as fauna is concerned, we can observe the beaked firefly, the smallest resident bird in Madeira, and the intrepid finch. Less likely to be seen is the rare wood copper pigeon, a species endemic to Madeira.

What to bring?

Depending on the time of year you choose to go sightseeing in Madeira and taking into account the change in the climate, you need to be well prepared for hiking in the Levadas and mountain trails.
Recommended equipment:
• Good shoes
Suitable boots or hiking shoes with good grip;
• Good jacket
An all-weather jacket is the perfect choice for outings;
• A flashlight
Bring a flashlight or your cell phone with a flashlight to help you cross some of the tunnels on certain tours;
• Bengal
A cane may be suitable and useful to make some of our guests feel more confident