Levada Ribeira de Janela — route on the Island of Madeira

Easy levada hike without noticeable differences in altitude. The path was officially closed due to a forest fire a year ago, but it is still used a lot. We could no longer see any damage to the path, apart from a few exposed but unproblematic areas. On the way we felt like we were in the jungle because of the vegetation with tall ferns. At the end of our tour we had two long tunnels for which you definitely need a flashlight. The narrow path inside the tunnel was partly very wet with deeper puddles. The waterfall after the first tunnel currently had no water. Stops not possible on the way. The restaurant at the start was closed.

Levada hike with tunnel as a highlight. There were severe forest fires here that caused a lot of damage. Nature is already reclaiming a lot of things here, but there are also a lot of repairs going on along the Levada at the moment. There is a lot of construction equipment lying around here, but nothing is closed off.

Directions as described in the travel guide. The hike is leisurely, sticks are not necessary. Depending on the season, you should apply sunscreen. Be sure to bring flashlights with you for the tunnels, preferably headlamps so that you have your hands free. When we hiked, there were puddles in the tunnel, i.e. the shoes should be tight 😉. The guide recommends turning back before the second tunnel. We went through and it wasn't a problem. A little further on is a small house where we had a snack and then turned back. Madeira finches came to pick up breadcrumbs, even on hand! 🥰. The moss-covered slopes, from which water drips, are wonderful on the way. It is reminiscent of a jungle.

A sign at the beginning of the Levada da Ribeira da Janela reveals that this levada is 25 km long and can actually be explored on foot. A hike along the Levada da Ribeira da Janela is highly recommended. Hydraulic engineering measures along the levada and the accompanying path are currently being modernized (September 2023). At the beginning, you walk through a sparse eucalyptus forest, which soon transitions into a laurel forest. There are repeated views from high above into the incredibly steep and narrow valley of the Ribeira da Janela, which appears so pristine that you'd think no one has ever walked there. The levada winds around many narrow, fern-covered bends. The opposite rock face sometimes seems close enough to touch. After about 6 km, you pass through two short tunnels, approximately 300 and 100 meters long, respectively. A headlamp or flashlight is recommended. After 7 km, you reach a dilapidated levada hut, which is ideal for a rest. Here, flocks of chaffinches are already lurking, waiting for a few breadcrumbs. The levada can be walked for 25 kilometers; we turned back at this point. The restaurant at the beginning of the levada has unfortunately closed.

Easy levada hike from Lamaceiros above Porto Moniz in an unspoiled part of the island. At the entrance to the levada there is ample parking, a picnic area and a toilet. This levada is 25 kilometers long in total. As recommended, we only walked 6.5 kilometers to the levada keeper's house and then took the same route back. After that, the tunnels are said to be in poor condition and it is not recommended to continue walking. I really enjoyed this levada hike! The landscape was beautiful, the levada is well secured, there are always beautiful views and there were hardly any people around. We passed through 2 exciting tunnels in total: the 1st tunnel is about 400 meters long and runs straight, so you can see the exit at the end. After that you walk a short distance in the vertical rock face, where there is also a small waterfall. Then you go into the second tunnel, which is shorter (approx. 150 meters) but because of a curve in the tunnel you can't see the exit. The tunnels are narrow in places and there are some large puddles, so a headlamp and waterproof hiking boots are a must. Since the tunnels are only after about 5 kilometers, you could also turn around before the tunnels. But this last section was of course particularly beautiful and exciting! Conclusion: Highly recommended!

The GPS data are unfortunately not 100% correct. There was a height difference of 10m on the whole route vl. and not of the indicated meters that can be seen in the profile.

After two somewhat physically demanding tours over the last two days, we decided to go on a levada hike in the north-east of the island today. We could have called the hike "A picnic in the jungle"... We drive from Funchal for about 50 minutes towards Porto Moniz and then to the starting point of the tour in Lamaceiros. We park our car in the free parking lot, it's a nicely prepared facility with public grills and a really clean toilet! Opposite the water house in Lamaceiros, in front of the huge water tank, we follow the levada on the right against the direction of flow- The levada is accompanied by a wooden railing and initially runs through a picnic area. After the first right-hand bend, we immediately have a great view of the terraced valley flank of the Ribeira da Janela and the scattered settlement of the same name. The levada makes orientation easy, past apple trees and climbing banana passion fruit, it pulls deeper into the valley. Picnic tables invite you to linger. A side arm is crossed on a concrete overflow, fifteen minutes later the levada moves along the foot of a rock face overgrown with ferns, after which there is a particularly beautiful view of the valley. It's a beautiful landscape, the photos can't even come close to reflecting the atmosphere... The path now becomes narrower and we reach a long tunnel for which we need almost 10 minutes. At the exit of the tunnel we stand in a rock basin, according to the hiking guide there is supposed to be a powerful waterfall here in winter. Another 15 minutes further we reach a water house, which should actually be our turning point, but we decide to go through another tunnel and then really have a picnic. We eat our apples and bananas and then return to Lamaceiros. A very relaxed levada hike that you can do on very hot days, because the forest offers a lot of shade and a cooling freshness.

This hike is listed in the Rother hiking guide (70) as a moderately difficult hike. The path along the Levada Ribeira da Janela/Lamaceiros is comfortable and easy to walk. We move through a green, tropical-looking paradise for the entire length without any ascents or descents. You should not be afraid of heights, as when there is oncoming traffic there is often only a towel's width of space between the levada and the abyss. I feel a little anxious in both tunnels. Crouched posture, puddles of water up to 10 cm deep in the path, and at bottlenecks (30 cm) the mountain also protrudes into the hiking trail. Nothing works without a lamp; we are well prepared😅. We want to cross a waterfall - the waterfall has obviously lost its water 🤔. Subtropical vegetation provides shades of green in all shades. Nature is green madness! Note: Komoot does not recognize the tunnel passages and suggests meters of altitude walked. This is not the case. We end this day on the way back with a visit to the lava pools in Porto Moniz.