Levada das 25 Fontes (PR 6): the walk, the one-way rule, the fee

Edited by Roman Antonov · route details as of 14 September 2026

The Levada das 25 Fontes follows a water channel from Rabaçal to a pool fed by springs. Allow 3 hours for the walk. Take the levada out and the Bypass back.

The falls at the end of the Levada das 25 Fontes
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Status
OpenOpen; controlled circulation in one direction: out from Rabaçal to 25 Fontes along the Levada das 25 Fontes, back to Rabaçal on the alternative section called the Bypass. IFCN table dated 14 September 2026 · checked by islandmadeira.com at 18:21 Madeira time.Fetch the current trail status from the IFCN page; one live request per 30 minutes for the whole site, otherwise the last check is shown.
Length
4.3 km (+ 4.3 km back)
Time on the route board
3 h
Highest and lowest point
1,288 m and 964 m
Start and finish
Rabaçal (ER105) to 25 Fontes
Fee
€4.50 per person, booked onlineBooking on the SIMplifica portal, fees as of 2 June 2026. Free for children aged 12 or under and for residents, with a booking.
At the start
parking, café, toilets, shelter, information board, viewpoint (Rabaçal)

Walking the Levada das 25 Fontes

The walk starts on the ER105 at Rabaçal. You head downhill towards the shelter with PR 6.1 sharing this first stretch. The paths then split along parallel levadas at different heights. Follow PR 6 down towards the Lagoa das 25 Fontes.

Along the way you look across the Ribeira da Janela valley and its Laurisilva forest. Tree heath and besom heath grow at this height. Madeiran whortleberry grows here too. The forest has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since December 1999.

At the end is a pool below a rock wall. Water from Paul da Serra appears from behind the rock. More than 25 springs can be counted here.

The water channel is also called Levada Nova do Rabaçal. Work began in 1835. Water first ran through it on 16 September 1855.

The one-way return to Rabaçal

The distance is 4.3 km out plus 4.3 km back. Follow the Levada das 25 Fontes towards the pool. Use the Bypass for your return to Rabaçal. The section between kilometre 3.3 and kilometre 4.1 from the start runs in one direction. Follow the signs along the path.

Check the route status before you leave. A weather warning does not automatically close a route. IFCN's route status decides whether you can walk.

Where the path needs care

This path can bring on vertigo. Look elsewhere if that affects you. Don't put your weight on the protection barriers. They aren't a place to lean while you stop for a look.

The route's highest point is 1,288 m. Its lowest point is 964 m. Save some energy for the climb back towards Rabaçal. The descent at the start becomes an uphill walk on your return. Check the weather before setting out.

Booking the Levada das 25 Fontes

Entry costs €4.50 per person. Register on SIMplifica to book online before you walk. You cannot book or pay at IFCN offices. Choose an entry slot while places remain. You can book for today or tomorrow if there is space.

A slot closes when it fills. There's about 15 minutes of tolerance before or after your slot. Plan your arrival around that time.

Children aged 12 or under go free. Madeira residents need their resident card and citizen card for free entry. People with a disability of 60% or more also enter free with one companion. Free entry still needs registration and a booking through SIMplifica.

A day of two or more routes costs €9.00. Each route still needs its own booking. PR 1 is excluded from this pass. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.

Refunds or rescheduling apply only when IFCN closes or restricts the route. Send your request to IFCN by email within 10 working days. Rain or changing your mind won't qualify. Illness or a missed flight won't qualify either.

Getting to the start at Rabaçal

Head for Rabaçal on the ER105. The starting area has parking and a café. There are toilets and shelter too. Read the information board before heading down to the path. There's also a viewpoint at the start.

If you're arriving by taxi, arrange your journey back too. Táxis Calheta is on +351 291 822 129. Returning to Rabaçal on foot still leaves the journey from the trail back to where you're staying.

With a guide or on your own

A guide isn't compulsory on PR 6. I'd walk independently if you're happy following the signs and arranging your transport. For company on the trail there's the shared 25 Fontes walk. I'd choose the private guided walk for a guide with your own group.

Adding the Risco walk

I'd look at PR 6.1 Levada do Risco for another waterfall. It follows a parallel levada at 1,000 m to a viewpoint. Water drops in a white line over dark rock. Allow for 3 km out plus 3 km back. Levada do Alecrim and Lagoa do Vento are other nearby routes. Book each route you plan to walk.

Levada das 25 Fontes, PR 6
Photo: Asurnipal, CC BY-SA 4.0
Levada das 25 Fontes, PR 6
Photo: Asurnipal, CC BY-SA 4.0
Levada das 25 Fontes, PR 6
Photo: GerritR, CC BY-SA 4.0
Levada das 25 Fontes, PR 6
Photo: GerritR, CC BY-SA 4.0

What the route board asks

  • PR 6 can cause vertigo.
  • Do not put your weight on the protection barriers.
  • The section between kilometre 3.3 and kilometre 4.1 from the start (pk 3+300 to pk 4+100 on the board) is one direction only; follow the signs.

From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Táxis Calheta +351 291 822 129.

Guided walks on this route

Prices and ratings as of 13 September 2026. All guided levada walks in Madeira →

Routes next door

Questions before you go

How long does the 25 Fontes walk take?

The board allows 3 h. It's 4.3 km from Rabaçal to the pool with the same distance back. Take the Bypass towards Rabaçal on your return. The one-way section is between kilometre 3.3 and kilometre 4.1.

What are Rabaçal's 25 Fountains?

They're springs feeding the Lagoa das 25 Fontes at the end of PR 6. There are more than 25 around the rock wall. Their water comes down from Paul da Serra. It emerges from behind the rock.

How demanding is the 25 Fontes walk?

Expect a downhill start from the ER105 and an uphill return. The route ranges from 1,288 m down to 964 m. I'd give it a miss if you get vertigo. Avoid leaning on the protection barriers.

Do I need to book an entry slot for 25 Fontes?

Yes. Reserve an entry slot online through SIMplifica. The fee is €4.50 per person. Children up to age 12 enter at no charge. Free entry still requires a slot and registration. You can book on the day while places remain. Aim to arrive within about 15 minutes of your booked time.

Can I walk 25 Fontes without a guide?

Yes. You can walk PR 6 independently with a SIMplifica entry booking. I'd pick the shared guided walk if you want someone to lead the way. There's also a private walk for your own group.

Can I combine 25 Fontes with Risco?

Yes. The paths share the descent from the ER105 to the Rabaçal shelter. Book PR 6 and PR 6.1 separately. The day fee for visiting both is €9.00. The Monday Walk with a local trip covers 11 km including 25 Fontes and Risco.

Can I get my entry fee back if it rains?

Rain alone won't get your entry fee refunded. A refund or change of date is possible only after an IFCN closure or restriction. Email IFCN within 10 working days with your request. Follow the route status when a weather warning is in place.

Sources

  • IFCN, table of classified routes: status and length. IFCN table dated · checked by islandmadeira.com ; re-read every few hours.
  • IFCN, route board PR 6 at the start of the route: distance, time, heights, description and cautions, read 14 September 2026.
  • IFCN, fees and bookings FAQ, updated 2 June 2026, read 14 September 2026.
  • Viator, tour prices, ratings and programmes, as of 13 September 2026.

Who checked this

Roman Antonov, editor. The status comes from the forest service table, the figures from the board at the start of the route and the fee rules from the IFCN FAQ, each with its date above. If something on the ground has changed, tell me.

Tour links go to Viator, where we may earn a commission at no cost to you. It does not change which walks are listed. How we earn.