Vereda do Túnel do Cavalo (PR 6.6)

Edited by Roman Antonov · route details as of 20 September 2026

PR 6.6 is a 2.3 km walk from Caldeira leisure area, also called Garagem, to Casa do Rabaçal. It takes you through Túnel do Cavalo. Entry costs €4.50 per person with an online booking on SIMplifica.

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: 2.3 kmIFCN table, Zona de lazer da Caldeira (Estrada Dr. Roberto Ornelas to “Garagem”) to Casa do Rabaçal.
Time on the board: 0 h 45 mOne way, as printed on the panel at the start.
Highest and lowest point: 1,055 m and 988 m
Start and finish: Est. Dr. Roberto Monteiro (Zona de Lazer da Caldeira) to Casa do RabaçalFrom 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: leisure area, parking, information board at Est. Dr. Roberto Monteiro (Zona de Lazer da Caldeira)
Coordinates: Start 32.75364, -17.14919
Finish 32.76162, -17.13492From the IFCN route board, decimal degrees
Weather now: 24.9 °C at Porto Moniz, 6 m
18.8 °C at Pico do Areeiro, 1,818 mThe two IPMA stations we show for this route, the nearest one and the island’s mountain station, observed 24 September 2026 at 20:00, Madeira time

Conditions on the high ground todayIPMA warnings issued 24 September 2026 at 17:09, Madeira time

Official warnings, mountains

hot weather, yellow until 19:00thunderstorms, yellow until 22:00

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 Caldeira to Casa do Rabaçal

The IFCN table gives 2.3 km from Zona de lazer da Caldeira to Casa do Rabaçal. It names the starting road as Estrada Dr. Roberto Ornelas.

The board also gives 2.3 km from Caldeira to Casa do Rabaçal. It names the road as Estrada Dr. Roberto Monteiro. Allow 45 minutes one way for the board's route.

Through Túnel do Cavalo

Its other names are Furado Novo or Furado das 25 Fontes. The tunnel is about the first stretch long. Bring a torch for the crossing.

After the tunnel, follow Levada das 25 Fontes to the stairs on your right. These lead to Casa do Rabaçal. The water carried through the tunnel comes from Ribeira dos Cedros and 25 Fontes.

Facilities marked on the board

At Caldeira the board marks parking and an information board beside the leisure area.

At Casa do Rabaçal it marks toilets and a café. There are also symbols for shelter and a leisure area. It also marks a bus stop and the Rabaçal Information Centre. Check opening arrangements before relying on these facilities.

Booking your entry slot

Choose an entry slot with space available. Same-day and next-day bookings are possible until slots fill. There's about 15 minutes of tolerance before or after your booked time.

Adding another Rabaçal walk

If you're adding another walk, I'd check its distance and status separately. PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes runs from Rabaçal to 25 Fontes. Its distance is 4.3 km out plus 4.3 km back.

PR 6.1 Levada do Risco runs from Rabaçal to Risco. Allow for 3 km out plus 3 km back. Book each additional route on SIMplifica.

Status and weather before you go

Use the live status panel on this page before setting off. Select ‘Check the status now’ to request an update. Weather warnings do not automatically close routes. IFCN's route status decides.

The weather panel shows Porto Moniz at 6 m above sea level and Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 m. PR 6.6 ranges from 988 m to 1,055 m. Read each figure as an observation at its own station.

What the route board asks

Carry a flashlight, there are tunnel along way.

From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Calheta taxis +351 291 822 129.

Routes next door

Levada do Barreiro PR 4

partly open

6.7 km, Poço da Neve to Casa do Barreiro

Levada das 25 Fontes PR 6

open

4.3 km (+ 4.3 km back), Rabaçal to 25 Fontes

Levada do Risco PR 6.1

open

3 km (+ 3 km back), Rabaçal to Risco

Status from the IFCN table, re-read at every build and again in your browser.

Questions before you go

How long does PR 6.6 take?

Allow 45 minutes one way for the board's 2.3 km route from Caldeira to Casa do Rabaçal. The tunnel is about the first stretch long. Bring a torch. The stairs after the tunnel lead to the finish.

Who can walk PR 6.6 for free?

Children aged 12 or under enter free. Madeira residents need their resident card and citizen card. People with a disability of 60% or more enter free with one companion. Everyone using these exemptions still needs to register and book online.

Does a day fee cover several routes?

Yes. For two or more routes the day fee is €9. Three days cost €22.50. Seven days cost €52.50. These fees never include PR 1. Each route needs its own booking. SIMplifica applies the cheapest option automatically.

Is the fee the same on every classified route?

Most classified routes cost €4.50 per person, including PR 6.6. PR 1 costs €10.50. Book online through SIMplifica. Check each route's live status before making plans to walk it. A guide is not compulsory on any classified route.

Can I get a refund if it rains?

Rain alone does not qualify. Refunds or rescheduling apply only when IFCN closes or restricts the route. Email IFCN within 10 working days. A change of mind or illness means losing the fee. The same applies to a missed flight.

Sources

IFCN, table of classified routes: status and length. IFCN table dated 14 September 2026 · checked by islandmadeira.com 24 September 2026 at 21:19, Madeira time; re-read every few hours.
IFCN, route board PR 6.6 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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