Levada da Azenha (PR 23)
Levada da Azenha is a 1.3 km walk from Azenha to Caminho Velho do Castelo in Caniço. It follows slopes overlooking Caniço's creek. Junta de Freguesia do Caniço manages it, so the IFCN fee does not apply.
- Status
- OpenOpen. IFCN table dated 2 October 2026 · checked by islandmadeira.com 13 October 2026 at 16:54, 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
- 1.3 kmIFCN table, Azenha to Caminho Velho do Castelo.
- Time on the board
- 20 minAs printed on the panel at the start. The IFCN table lists the return separately where a route is walked both ways.
- Highest and lowest point
- 304 m and 271 m
- Start and finish
- Estrada Regional ER204 to Caminho Velho do CasteloFrom the route board at the start.
- Fee
- No IFCN feeThe fee and booking system covers only the classified routes IFCN manages itself. This one is managed by Junta de Freguesia do Caniço, so there is nothing to pay IFCN and nothing to book on SIMplifica. IFCN, fees and bookings FAQ, read 14 September 2026.
- At the start
- information board at Azenha
- Coordinates
- Start 32.65408, -16.84294
Finish 32.65819, -16.84178From the IFCN route board, decimal degrees - Weather now
- 19.5 °C at Santana, 257 mThe IPMA station we show for this route, observed 13 October 2026 at 15:00, Madeira time
Warnings come from IPMA by zone, not by trail. A yellow warning for fog, wind or thunderstorms is a reason to check the route status and the sky before you set off, and the forest service closes paths on its own schedule. Station readings.
From Azenha to Caminho Velho do Castelo
The IFCN table pairs 1.3 km with Azenha to Caminho Velho do Castelo. The route board gives 1.3 km from Estrada Regional ER204 to Caminho Velho do Castelo. Its walking time is 20 minutes one way.
Information-board icons mark Azenha and the finish. Read these as marked facilities. They don't tell you whether any service is open. The board also gives a taxi contact: Caniço taxis on +351 291 932 156.
Washhouses and the watermill
Stone washhouses stand along the levada. They recall a time when household washing took place in shared public spaces. Cultivated fields along the path show the continuing role of agriculture here.
The ruins of Vitoria's Watermill are among the route's points of interest. Local tradition links Caniço's first watermills to orders from Infante D. Henrique. The levada's water distribution branches and stone terrace walls also form part of this rural setting.
Uneven ground and cliffside sections
The path has an uneven and winding surface. It is inclined in places and partly flanked by cliffs. I'd give this walk a miss if cliffside paths make you uncomfortable.
The highest point is 304 m and the lowest is 271 m. Those figures alone don't describe the footing. Keep the uneven surface in mind when deciding whether this walk suits you.
Who looks after PR 23
Junta de Freguesia do Caniço manages PR 23. The IFCN fee and the SIMplifica booking cover the routes IFCN manages, so they do not apply to this walk.
The IFCN table still carries the route and its status, because it lists every classified route. Check that line before you go, and keep to the marked path above the creek.
Check the status before you go
Use the status panel on this page before setting off. Select 'Check the status now' for the latest available IFCN status. Weather warnings don't close routes automatically. The status on the IFCN page decides.
The weather panel shows readings from Santana on the north coast. That station is at 257 m. Treat its readings as observations at Santana when checking the weather for your walk.
Questions before you go
How long does Levada da Azenha take?
The route board gives 20 minutes one way for 1.3 km from Estrada Regional ER204 to Caminho Velho do Castelo. Keep that one-way timing in mind when planning your day. It covers the walk between those endpoints.
Do I pay to walk PR 23?
No. Junta de Freguesia do Caniço manages PR 23, and IFCN charges only for the routes it manages itself. There is no slot to book. The status in the IFCN table still applies.
Do I need a guide for PR 23?
No. A guide is optional on classified routes. Before choosing it, take account of the uneven surface and the sections beside cliffs described on the route board.
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 23 at the start of the route: distance, time, heights, description and cautions, read 20 September 2026.
- IFCN, fees and bookings FAQ, updated 2 June 2026, read 14 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.