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. Entry costs €4.50 per person unless you qualify for free entry.
- Status
- OpenOpen. IFCN table dated 14 September 2026 · checked by islandmadeira.com 24 September 2026 at 21:19, 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 minOne way, as printed on the panel at the start.
- 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
- €4.50 per person, booked onlineBooking on the SIMplifica portal, fees as of 2 June 2026. Free for children aged 12 or under, for Madeira residents with their resident card and citizen card, and for anyone with a disability of 60% or more plus one companion. All of them still need a booking.
- 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
- 24.7 °C at Santana, 380 mThe IPMA station we show for this route, observed 24 September 2026 at 20:00, 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.
Booking Levada da Azenha
Register and book online through the SIMplifica portal. You can't book or pay at IFCN offices. Choose an entry slot with places available. A slot closes automatically when it fills.
Same-day and next-day bookings are possible while places remain. There's about 15 minutes of tolerance before or after your slot. Plan your arrival around your booked time.
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 380 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.
How much does PR 23 cost?
Entry costs €4.50 per person unless you qualify for free entry. This is the fee for most classified routes. PR 1 costs €10.50. Book your PR 23 entry online through SIMplifica before you walk.
Who gets free entry?
Children aged 12 or under go free. Madeira residents need their resident card and citizen card. People with a disability of 60% or more also enter free with one companion. Everyone still needs to register and book through SIMplifica.
Can I use a day or multi-day fee?
Yes. The day fee is €9 per person. Three days cost €22.50 and seven days cost €52.50. These fees cover two or more routes during that period. They always exclude PR 1. Book each route separately. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.
Do I need a guide for PR 23?
No. A guide is optional on classified routes. You can walk PR 23 independently with your entry booking. Before choosing it, take account of the uneven surface and the sections beside cliffs described on the route board.
Can I get a refund if it rains?
Rain alone doesn't qualify. Refunds or rescheduling apply only when IFCN closes or restricts the route. Email IFCN within 10 working days to request either. A change of mind or illness means losing the fee. A missed flight does too.
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.
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