Levada dos Cedros (PR 14): from Fanal down through the laurel forest to Curral Falso
Levada dos Cedros is a 7.2 km linear walk from Fanal to Curral Falso. Plan your return before taking the wooden staircase down to the levada. 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
- 7.2 kmone way, from Fanal to Curral Falso; the table lists no return.
- Time on the route board
- 3 h
- Highest and lowest point
- 1,090 m and 840 m
- Start and finish
- Fanal (ER209) to Curral Falso (ER209)
- 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, picnic area, toilets (Fanal)
- Weather now
- 24.9 °C at Porto Moniz, 6 mThe nearest IPMA station, observed 20 September 2026 at 18:00, Madeira time
From Fanal to the Levada dos Cedros
PR 14 starts on the ER209 at Fanal. A path of wooden steps runs downhill for about 1,200 m to the levada. Turn left to visit its source. Turn right towards Curral Falso.
You walk through Madeira's old Laurissilva forest. It is well preserved here. UNESCO listed the forest as World Natural Heritage in December 1999. It also belongs to the Natura 2000 network.
From its source the levada follows the steep right bank of the Ribeira da Janela. It reaches the parish of Entrosa before turning north. The route ends at Curral Falso on the ER209.
The staircase and the walk back
The main descent comes at the start. After the wooden steps, the levada path is almost level towards Curral Falso.
Walking back along the same route makes a 14.4 km day. That puts the staircase climb at the end of your walk.
Where the Levada dos Cedros needs care
I'd give this walk a miss if you get vertigo. The levada follows a steep bank above the Ribeira da Janela. The path may be slippery. Wear shoes with grip.
Check the weather page before you set off. Weather warnings do not close routes automatically. Check the route status for IFCN's decision.
Fee and booking
Entry to PR 14 costs €4.50 per person. Book online through SIMplifica. Registration is required. IFCN offices cannot take bookings or payments.
Choose a date and an entry slot. There is about 15 minutes of leeway before or after your slot. Full slots close automatically. Same-day and next-day bookings are possible while places remain.
Children aged 12 or under walk free. Madeira residents need their resident card and citizen card for free entry. A disability of 60% or more gives free entry to you and one companion. Each person still needs a booking.
For paying visitors, a day pass costs €9.00. The three-day pass costs €22.50. Seven days cost €52.50. PR 1 is excluded from these passes.
Each pass covers two or more routes within its period. Book every route separately. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.
IFCN offers a refund or a date change only if it closes or restricts the route. Email IFCN within 10 working days.
You lose the fee for a change of mind or rain. Illness or a missed flight also means losing the fee.
Getting to Fanal and back from Curral Falso
Both ends of PR 14 are on the ER209. The start at Fanal has toilets and a picnic area. There is an information board at each end.
Fanal start: 32°48'22.19"N 17°8'27.13"W. Curral Falso finish: 32°49'33.29"N 17°9'28.59"W.
Arrange your return before you start the walk. Ask Táxis Porto Moniz about a return journey from Curral Falso on +351 291 852 243, or take the guided Thursday walk below, which includes transport.
With a guide or on your own
You can walk PR 14 without a guide. For a local guide, try the Thursday Walk with a local trip. It's a shared walk covering 12 km through Fanal and along the Levada dos Cedros, with pickup and transport included.
Most of the west jeep days stop at Fanal too, without the walk.
Other walks around Fanal
PR 13 Vereda do Fanal links Paul da Serra with Fanal. You can continue from Curral Falso to Ribeira da Janela on PR 15. Check each route's status before making plans.
What the route board asks
- Danger of vertigo.
- The path may be slippery: wear anti-slip footwear.
From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Táxis Porto Moniz +351 291 852 243.
Guided walks on this route
- Walk with a localThursdays: Fanal and the Levada dos Cedros, 12 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
- Vereda do Fanal, PR 13Paul da Serra to Fanal, 10.8 km
- Vereda da Ribeira da Janela, PR 15Curral Falso to Ribeira da Janela, 2.7 km
Questions before you go
How long does the Levada dos Cedros take?
Time on the route board: 3 h. The walk covers 7.2 km from Fanal to Curral Falso. Walking there and back makes it 14.4 km. You finish the return with the wooden staircase up to Fanal.
Is the Levada dos Cedros hard?
Expect a long staircase followed by an almost level levada path. The steps run for about 1,200 m. Walking back puts the climb at the end. Give it a miss if you get vertigo. The ground may be slippery. Choose shoes with grip.
Is the Levada dos Cedros a loop, and how do I get back?
PR 14 is a linear route from Fanal to Curral Falso. Plan your return before setting off. Ask Táxis Porto Moniz about transport on +351 291 852 243, or take the guided Thursday walk listed below, which includes transport. Walking back makes the full walk 14.4 km. You finish with the wooden staircase up to Fanal.
Do I need a permit for the Levada dos Cedros?
Yes. Reserve an entry slot through SIMplifica before you go. PR 14 costs €4.50 per person unless you qualify for free entry. Free entry still requires a booking. For paying visitors, two or more routes in one day cost €9.00. Each route needs its own booking. PR 1 is excluded from that day fee.
What is at Fanal?
Fanal has toilets and a picnic area at the start of PR 14. You'll also find an information board there. The route begins beside the ER209. PR 13 Vereda do Fanal reaches Fanal from Paul da Serra.
What's the best levada walk near Fanal?
I'd choose Levada dos Cedros for a forest walk from Fanal if you can manage the long staircase. PR 14 follows the levada to Curral Falso. Look elsewhere if you get vertigo. Work out your return before you start.
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 14 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.