PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde

The PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde is one of the most popular levada walks in Madeira, Portugal, leading from the Parque Florestal das Queimadas in Santana municipality to a high waterfall in a lush laurisilva valley. The park lies about 45 km from Funchal. Visitors usually drive or take a taxi, which takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, or ride a bus to Santana (about 1 hour 30 minutes, intermunicipal fare around €2.60) and take a taxi to Queimadas. A SIMplifica reservation is required, at €4.50 per person. The route is about 13 km return, with 6.5 km each way, and takes 5 to 6 hours. Cumulative gain is only around 300 m because the channel itself is level, so the effort is moderate and driven mainly by distance. The path runs beside the water channel on a narrow ledge, with a drop on one side in some places, and passes through four tunnels, some of which are long and dark. Wet rock, mud and drips are common, and the shade of dense native forest means the route stays cool. Landmarks include the traditional thatched houses at the Queimadas start, the series of small waterfalls along the valley and the final Caldeirão Verde waterfall that falls into a deep green pool. The usual turn-around point is the waterfall basin. A further extension continues toward the Caldeirão do Inferno, but that section is more demanding and should be attempted only by experienced walkers with proper lighting. There are no huts along the route, so water and lunch must be carried. Mobile signal is patchy in the valley, and rain can raise stream levels, so conditions should be checked before setting out.