Levada do Rei (PR 18): the walk to Ribeiro Bonito from São Jorge
I'd choose Levada do Rei for its laurel forest if you're comfortable with heights. The gently rising path covers 10.6 km there and back. Book an entry slot on SIMplifica before you go.
- Status
- OpenOpen. IFCN table dated 14 September 2026 · checked by islandmadeira.com 20 September 2026 at 19:32, 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
- 5.3 km (+ 5.3 km back)
- Time on the route board
- 3 h 30
- Highest and lowest point
- 578 m and 535 m
- Start and finish
- ETA de São Jorge, the water treatment plant at Quebradas to Ribeiro Bonito
- 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 Madeira residents with their resident card, still with a booking.
- At the start
- information board (the water treatment plant (ETA) at Quebradas)
- Weather now
- 22.9 °C at Santana, 380 mThe nearest IPMA station, observed 20 September 2026 at 18:00, Madeira time
The Levada do Rei walk to Ribeiro Bonito
The walk starts at the water treatment plant at Quebradas in São Jorge. An information board stands at the start. The first part follows the levada through a mix of native and introduced vegetation. There's a viewpoint about 1 km from the start.
The second part has a wide variety of plants. The levada is part of Madeira's cultural heritage. You reach its source in the laurel forest at Ribeiro Bonito. Madeira's Laurissilva became a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in December 1999.
Look for the São Jorge water mill on the way back. It's about 300 years old. Water from the Levada do Rei still powers it. It grinds wheat, maize, barley and rye from the terraces of São Jorge.
How hard is Levada do Rei?
The climb is gentle. The path rises from 535 m at Quebradas to 578 m at Ribeiro Bonito. That's about 43 m over 5.3 km. The main step comes in the first few hundred metres.
Look elsewhere if you get vertigo. The path can be slippery. Wear shoes with grip. You'll need to be comfortable walking 10.6 km there and back.
Fee and booking
PR 18 costs €4.50 per person. Book online through SIMplifica. Register before choosing your date and entry slot. IFCN offices cannot take bookings or payments.
You can arrive about 15 minutes before or after your slot. A full slot closes automatically. You can book for today or tomorrow while spaces remain.
Children aged 12 or under go free. Madeira residents need their resident card and citizen card for free entry. A disability of 60% or more qualifies you and one companion for free entry. Everyone still needs a booking.
For two or more routes, the fee is €9.00 for one day. It is €22.50 for three days or €52.50 for seven days. These fees exclude PR 1.
Each route still needs its own booking. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.
IFCN offers a refund or rescheduling only when it closes or restricts the route. Email IFCN within 10 working days to request either. Rain alone doesn't qualify for a refund.
Getting to the Levada do Rei start
Head for the ETA de São Jorge water treatment plant at Quebradas. The start coordinates are 32°49'0.90"N 16°55'28.71"W.
Without a car, a taxi is the practical way in: call Táxis Santana on +351 291 572 540. Agree the pickup for the way back before you set off.
On your own or with a guide
You can walk PR 18 without a guide. If you'd like company from a guide, Walk with a local follows Levada do Rei on Fridays.
The Friday tour covers 10 km. The full route is 10.6 km there and back. Check the walking plan before booking if you want to reach Ribeiro Bonito.
Compare more options in our guided levada walks guide.
Check the route before you go
Check the latest route status before setting off. You can also check other routes on our levadas page. A weather warning does not automatically close PR 18. The status on the IFCN page decides.
Santana is the nearest IPMA weather station. See its latest reading in the panel above or on our weather page.
What the route board asks
- Danger of vertigo.
- The path may be slippery: wear non-slip footwear.
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 localFridays: Levada do Rei, 10 km, with a local guide. 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 20 September 2026. All guided levada walks in Madeira →
Routes next door
- Levada do Caldeirão Verde, PR 9Queimadas to Caldeirão Verde, 8.7 km each way
- Levada do Furado, PR 10Ribeiro Frio to Portela, 11 km
Questions before you go
How long is the Levada do Rei walk?
The full walk is 10.6 km there and back. Ribeiro Bonito is 5.3 km from the start at Quebradas. The board allows 3 h 30. You return along the same path.
Is the Levada do Rei walk easy?
The gradient is gentle over 5.3 km each way. Heights can still be a problem if you get vertigo. Wear shoes with grip for slippery ground. The full return walk covers 10.6 km.
Do I need to book Levada do Rei and how much does it cost?
Yes. Reserve your entry slot online through SIMplifica. The fee is €4.50 per person. Entry is free for children aged 12 or under. Madeira residents go free with their resident card and citizen card. People with a disability of 60% or more and one companion also go free. A booking is required for everyone.
Where does Levada do Rei start, and how can I get there without a car?
It starts at the ETA de São Jorge water treatment plant in Quebradas. Without a car, call Táxis Santana on +351 291 572 540 and agree the return pickup as well.
What can I see at Ribeiro Bonito?
Ribeiro Bonito has laurel forest at the source of the Levada do Rei. Madeira's Laurissilva has been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since December 1999. This is the end of the outward walk. Follow the same path back to Quebradas.
Can I get a refund if it rains?
Rain alone doesn't entitle you to a refund. You can request a refund or rescheduling if IFCN closes or restricts the route. Email your request to IFCN within 10 working days. You also lose the fee if you change your mind or fall ill. A missed flight doesn't qualify either.
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 18 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.
- Viator, tour prices, ratings and programmes, as of 20 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.