Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR 9): tunnels, the waterfall and the fee
Caldeirão Verde is about 6.5 km from Queimadas along a forest path with four tunnels. The full PR 9 continues to Caldeirão do Inferno at 8.7 km before the return. The board allows 6 h 30.
- Status
- OpenOpen. 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
- 8.7 km (+ 8.7 km back)
- Time on the route board
- 6 h 30
- Highest and lowest point
- 1,020 m and 872 m
- Start and finish
- Parque Florestal das Queimadas to Caldeirão do Inferno
- 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, picnic area, information board (Queimadas)
- Weather now
- 24.4 °C at Santana, 380 mThe nearest IPMA station, observed 14 September 2026 at 17:00, Madeira time
Walking the Levada do Caldeirão Verde
You start at Parque Florestal das Queimadas in the municipality of Santana. The path follows a water channel through the Laurisilva forest. I'd choose it for a forest walk if you're comfortable with tunnels.
The levada was built in the 18th century. It takes water from the Ribeira do Caldeirão Verde through the forest to farmland in Faial. This Laurisilva forest has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since December 1999.
Caldeirão Verde appears on your left after four tunnels. Leave the levada for a climb of a few metres along the stream bed. The pool is fed by a waterfall of 110 m.
Elder trees grow beside the water. The trocaz pigeon lives here too. This pigeon is found only on Madeira.
From Caldeirão Verde to Caldeirão do Inferno
The waterfall at Caldeirão Verde is partway along PR 9. The route goes on for about 2,200 m to Caldeirão do Inferno. This stretch climbs steeply with tunnels along the way. It leads into a very narrow and deep gorge.
For the full walk you cover 8.7 km out and 8.7 km back. Keep the return in your plans when deciding where to turn round.
Check the PR 9 route status before you set off. Weather warnings do not close routes automatically. IFCN's status decides whether the walk can go ahead.
Tunnels and footing
Bring a torch for the tunnels. Wear footwear with grip for the parts that may be slippery. Look elsewhere if you get vertigo.
The route's highest point is 1,020 m. Its lowest point is 872 m. Keep the climb towards Caldeirão do Inferno in mind when choosing how far to go.
Santana is the nearest IPMA weather station. Use its live reading here alongside the weather page when planning the walk.
Booking the Levada do Caldeirão Verde
Book your PR 9 visit on SIMplifica. The entry fee is €4.50 per person. Registration and online booking are required even if entry is free. IFCN offices do not take bookings or payments.
Pick an entry slot before you travel to Queimadas. You can book for today or tomorrow while places remain. Slots close automatically once they reach capacity. Aim for your booked slot with about 15 minutes of tolerance on either side.
Children aged 12 or under are exempt from the fee. For free resident entry you need your Madeira resident card and citizen card. People with a disability of 60% or more can also enter free with one companion. All of them still need a booking.
For two or more routes, you can pay €9.00 for a day. There are also passes for 3 days at €22.50 or 7 days at €52.50. These passes exclude PR 1. Every route still needs its own booking. SIMplifica chooses the cheapest option automatically.
Only an IFCN closure or restriction lets you reschedule or request a refund. You lose the fee for rain or a change of plans. Illness or a missed flight won't qualify either. Send the request by email to IFCN within 10 working days.
Getting to Queimadas
Head to Parque Florestal das Queimadas for the start. There is parking and a café. You'll also find toilets and a shelter. The picnic area and information board are here too.
If you're arriving by taxi, sort out the journey back too. You can call Táxis Santana on +351 291 572 540. Your walk ends back at Queimadas after the return along the levada.
The Casa das Tradições Madeirenses is also at Queimadas. It's a thatched Santana house with a collection about daily life in the past. Leave time for a look when you return from the walk.
With a guide or on your own
You don't need a guide to walk PR 9. I'd pick the Wednesday Walk with a local outing if you want a guide for Caldeirão Verde. The shared walk covers 13 km. You can also browse our guided levada walks to plan other days on foot.
Other routes near Queimadas
PR 1.1 Vereda da Ilha passes near Queimadas on its 8.2 km route from Pico Ruivo to Ilha. Another approach to Pico Ruivo starts at Achada do Teixeira on PR 1.2. That walk is 2.8 km out with the same distance back. Look up the routes and their status before choosing another walk.
What the route board asks
- There are tunnels: carry a torch.
- The path may be slippery: wear non-slip footwear.
- Danger of vertigo.
From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Táxis Santana +351 291 572 540.
Guided walks on this route
- Walk with a localWednesdays: Caldeirão Verde, 13 km. From €50 per adult, 4 hours to 6 hours. 4.95/5 from 66 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor; on Viator alone 5.0 from 27 reviews.
Prices and ratings as of 13 September 2026. All guided levada walks in Madeira →
Routes next door
- Vereda da Ilha, PR 1.18.2 km, Pico Ruivo to Ilha; it passes near Queimadas
- Vereda do Pico Ruivo, PR 1.22.8 km (+ 2.8 km back), Achada do Teixeira to Pico Ruivo
Questions before you go
How long is the Caldeirão Verde walk?
The board allows 6 h 30 for this route. It's about 6.5 km from Queimadas to Caldeirão Verde. Going as far as Caldeirão do Inferno means 8.7 km each way. Plan your walk around the destination you choose.
Do I need a torch for Caldeirão Verde?
Yes. Carry a torch through the four tunnels before Caldeirão Verde. Wear non-slip footwear for a path that can be slippery. I'd look at another walk if you get vertigo.
What is the extra walk to Caldeirão do Inferno like?
It adds about 2,200 m of trail beyond Caldeirão Verde. Expect a steep climb with tunnels on this stretch. The gorge at the end is deep and very narrow. Keep enough energy for the return to Queimadas.
Do I need an entry booking for Caldeirão Verde?
Yes. Register online with SIMplifica to choose a timed entry. You pay €4.50 per person unless you qualify for free entry. Children aged 12 or under pay nothing. Free entry also needs a booking. Places for today or tomorrow can be booked while space remains. Arrive within about 15 minutes of your booked time.
Where does the Caldeirão Verde walk start?
The start is Queimadas forestry park in the municipality of Santana. You'll find parking and toilets before the walk. There's a café and a picnic area too. For a taxi contact Táxis Santana on +351 291 572 540.
Can I walk Caldeirão Verde without a guide?
Yes. A guide is optional for PR 9. You still need a SIMplifica entry reservation. If you'd prefer to join a group, Walk with a local visits Caldeirão Verde on Wednesdays. That outing follows a 13 km route.
Can I get a refund if the weather is bad?
Only if IFCN closes or restricts the route. Rain alone doesn't qualify for a refund. Put your request in an email to IFCN within 10 working days. Check the route status before cancelling because of a weather warning.
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 9 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.