PR18 Levada do Rei — Attraction in Santana

We arrived at the levada at sun-rise, which was 07:45am at the time. We had read previous comments that mentioned a difficulty with large crowds later into the day, which was also what we experienced with other hikes. We were the first to the end and first back. We bumped into quite a few other hikers on the way back down. A lot of the path is wide enough just for 1 person, where as some other parts allow for 2 / 3 people wide.

The start of the walk wasn't 100% obvious for us and we ended up walking the side of the levada at the start of the route. It was super slipper any steep. Turns out there were some concrete steps we could have walked up, but the way we went was also OK.

We were the first there, so we got a good parking spot. Probably space for about 10 cars with extra parking on the road, just like other hikes. There's a cafe, but don't park here as they will move you on understandably.

Sun-rise was a great time for this hike as we got to see the sun shining through the clouds onto the surrounding landscape. It was quite wet and raining for 50% of the hike, we weren't prepared for this (no coat) but we weren't too bothered as it was still summer time.

In terms of the ground, it was slippery and muddy. We both were wearing trainers, like all other hikes, but this one probably could have done with some hiking shoes for extra grip. I had read a previous comment about the ground below the waterfall being slippery?! Of course it's slippery, it's under a waterfall. Giving this, whilst kids should be OK with this, you do need to keep them close to you as there are some shear drops from the footpath at some points. There are some railings / metal rope at some other points.

The landscapes we saw were beautiful with plenty of opportunities for pictures. Lots of birds floating around (wagtails / chaffinch). The sound of the levanda flowing down to the bottom was relaxing. We saw lots of fish having a swim too.

This walk should be fine for non-experienced hikers / people of varying fitness levels. Lots of people mentioning this hike is done in 2-3 hours, but in my opinion (I'm 30), that's rushing, it should take more like 3.5 - 4 hours if you want to take...

One of the most rewarding levada walks in Madeira! 🌿💧 The PR18 Levada do Rei (“King’s Levada”) takes you deep into the Laurisilva forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and offers a perfect combination of nature, peace, and dramatic scenery.

The path starts out wide and easy, following the levada through eucalyptus and agricultural areas before gradually transitioning into dense, untouched forest. Along the way you’ll pass under lush tree canopies, moss-covered walls, and ferns that make the trail feel like walking through a natural tunnel. The sound of trickling water follows you throughout, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot local birds like the chaffinch or Madeira firecrest.

About halfway, the views open up with stunning vistas across valleys and cliffs. Towards the end, the highlight is a beautiful waterfall that flows directly into the levada, creating a refreshing and picture-perfect finish to the hike. The mix of sunshine and mist in this microclimate adds to the magical feel.

The trail is well-maintained and relatively flat, so it’s not too difficult, though it is long (about 10 km round trip). Good walking shoes are recommended, as parts can be muddy or slippery, especially after rain. Shade is plentiful thanks to the dense forest, making it a comfortable hike even on warmer days.

Highly recommended — one of the most enchanting levadas on...

Absolutely stunning walk through beautiful nature. As it's a popular levada I recommend coming early to avoid the traffic on the walk (and also park comfortably as there are just few spots). There are a few stairs at the beginning but apart from tgat it's a practically flat walk. But if you want to walk here with smaller kids be very cautious as there are some steep hillsides with no rails and some narrow and slippery parts. That's also why the route is marked as difficult in some guides, although it can be quite easy and pleasurable walk if you don't suffer from vertigo. If you walk fast you can manage to go to the end of the levada and back in about 2,15 h if you'll be making photo stops it will take you about 3 h. There's also a really nice café/snack bar at the begging with some animals (turtles,...