25 Fontes Falls — Local services in Calheta

This is one of the most picturesque hiking routes in Madeira and possibly the most chosen one by tourists for it's beauty. It's scenic and offers a lot of views from the height of the mountain allowing to truly see how the island was formatted with it's towering peaks and deep valeys. Depending on where you start your hike, and I counted at least 3 different routes, it can be easy, medium difficult or medium hard. It's linear walk so most possibly you will be going back the same way you came, unless you decided to go on a smaller side route to see Risco (translets to Risk) which is also a waterfall and a Casa do Rabaçl which is a coffee place. The easiest route is almost all flat with only one ot two points that you claim steps (which also depends on which route you chose to get back) and it is the shortest route is under 4km. The medium route is longer - 4.8km and you start at the top of mountain from a car park and walk down to the trail which then is flat. Of course you need to then claim it back up. The hardest route starts a bit further away making the trail 5.8km and it is from a further point away with additional claiming up. The trail is easy to follow and you can easily do a self-guided tour which essesnitaly means that you are being dropped off to the beghining of trail and then picked up at arranged time(this it the option we chosen as it lewss constrictive and you walk on your own. It gives you flexibility of going your own pace although do expect a lot of people along the way. Also, at some points the trail is super-narrow and I highly recommended that those afraid of heights to avoid this trail. The trail get so narrow that only one person can pass and you might be trying to squize yourself with other hikers. You also are walking on the edge of mountain and the mountain is quite steep so those afraid of height might be triggered. The trails, like many, follows levada (a water channel that brings the water down from mountain to the lowers parts of the island) which water so clear that you can take many great underwater pictures, and it's a great walk with many beautiful view. The trail leads to a water pond with several springs falling down along a steep mountain wall. The 25 fontes are often translated as 25 waterfalls but they are really springs. If you do only one trail inafeora, this one will not...

Came to see “25 waterfalls”. Maybe we can rename this to 2,500 people (at any given time) on a trail system that can’t handle the ridiculous influx of humans. This trail is probably one of the most overrated trails I’ve ever “hiked”. I can’t stress this enough - the fact that there is an absurd amount of toilet paper everywhere reveals the island’s inability to limit or control access to what could be a pretty sacred spot (or at least provide trailhead bathrooms).

Hike this trail is you want to find yourself:

Surrounded by people. Listening to people. Parking over a mile away from the trailhead. Looking at toilet paper versus the flora. Battling the Instagram posers who only hike for the end result picture. Disappointed and jaded by the...

Wonderful walk. Really amazing scenery and a great day. You park at the top and the initial decent is all road, the the track begins, all with breathtaking views. The road you walk down has a bus (small fee) to grt you back to the car park after the walk if you choose. We walked carrying a 2 and 4 year old in backpacks (they walked a small amount). Lots of steps and quite steep drops next to the path but felt safe at all times. I wouldn't let children run too far ahead because of this and would keep a grip on them.

There are a LOT of steps, more than we expected but coming back up was easier than we anticipated when walking down. Tool us around 3.5 hours with a small stop at the falls for some photos as a snack and with children...