Beautiful Levada dos Cedros Waterfall Hike on Madeira Island

The Levada dos Cedros hike is one of the beautiful self guided levada walks on Madeira island. This stunning forest walk which is pretty much flat all the time, ends by a few stunning waterfalls after 6 kilometres. You can do this hike out and back the same route, or add another part to Fanal forest to it. The Levada dos Cedros is definitely a hike for young and old and offers stunning viewpoints, jungle bridges and waterfalls along the way. Read in this blogpost everything you need to know about Levada dos Cedros, how to get there, the key facts and an extensive what to expect part!

Book here your guided Levada dos Cedros hike

Levada dos Cedros PR14 hike key facts

Before setting of for the Levada dos Cedros hike below some key facts!

Hike distance and duration: The total distance of the hike back and forth is about 12 kilometres with several points of interest along the way. Depending on the time you spend at the waterfalls, how often you take a break etc, you can do the Levada dos Cedros hike in about 3 – 4 hours.

Difficulty and incline: This hike is very flat if you take the same route back along the levada. But there is another option in which you include Fanal forest on your way back although you have to include 400 meters of incline on well maintained stairs. You can choose which one fits your program! We did the route via Fanal forest which was beautiful, but also heavy with the 400 meters of stairs. I wouldn’t really recommend this route, because you have to walk over the road for a long time. So you can better choose to do the out and back route on the same levada path.

How to get to the Levada dos Cedros hike

The Levada dos Cedros trail begins at the Regional Highway E.R. 209 on the Paúl da Serra plateau close to the well-known area of Fanal forest. You can park your car on the side of the road at one of the parking lots. Make sure to have made the decision beforehand if you are doing the circular route via Fanal or going out and back on the same route via the Levada dos Cedros. Because if you have access to two vehicles, you can park one at the end of the walk to make the return journey a bit quicker. Otherwise you have to walk along the road back to the car for some kilometres. But you can also call a local taxi agency or try hitchhiking back to your car!

You can easily combine the hike of Levada dos Cedros with sunrise at Seixal Beach, Ilheus da Janela rocks or a visit to the Porto Moniz natural swimming pools. They are all in the near area and when combining these things you’ll have a nice itinerary for a day in north west Madeira!

About Levada dos Cedros

Levada dos Cedros is one of the oldest watercourses built on the island, originated in the 17th century. During the Levada dos Cedros walk you will pass through the area of Madeira’s primitive forest until it reaches the parish of Ribeira da Janela. The beautiful Laurisilva forest is classified as World Nature Heritage by UNESCO in 1999 and is in a vibrant state of conservation and development. Mostly all the levada walks in Madeira and its surrounding forest are in great condition with well maintained paths which makes the levada walks in Madeira very enjoyable for all ages.

Best time to do the Levada dos Cedros hike

The whole way until the waterfalls of Levada dos Cedros, you walk in the forest with trees covering the path. This means that on a sunny hot day you will have enough shade of the hot sunshine. We did the Levada dos Cedros hike twice, once on a sunny day and once on a rainy, foggy day. Both give a completely different vibe, but we found the path less comfortable to walk on with the rainy weather. The levada seems to overflow quickly onto the path at some part which makes the hike more like a game of avoiding the puddles of water. So the best time to do the Levada dos Cedros is definitely on a dry, sunny day!

What to expect on the Levada dos Cedros hike

The Levada dos Cedros hike takes you on a unique and fascinating walk through the Laurissilva forest. This UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in the northwest part of the island and begins in Fanal. The trail follows the twisting and turning levada path until you reach the end point with a few waterfalls.

The whole hike is flat on a well maintained levada path. But only if you decide to add the walk with Fanal forest to the Levada dos Cedros hike, you have to conquer about 1180 steps up to get to the main road again. I would advice you to do the Levada dos Cedros hike out and back on the same route, because the part with the stairs and through Final forest doesn’t add that much as you walk along the road for a long part. You can easily visit the Fanal forest after, or before, the Levada dos Cedros hike and park your car right next to the entrance.

My face after taking all the stairs at the middle of the day…

The main points of interest

Back to the Levada dos Cedros hike. Just like all the levada walks in Madeira, this one also has a clear sign with a map next to the entrance. The whole path is straight forward and you can’t get lost on this levada walk.

There are three main points of interest on the Levada dos Cedros trail. The first one comes after about 4 kilometres into the hike and is a viewpoint. Here you can take some rest and eat your lunch or a snack with an incredible view on the valley around you. Here we sat down for about 10 minutes to enjoy the view before we continued the hike.

The second point of interest comes about halfway of the route. A stunning jungle bamboo bridge appears to let you continue the hike when crossing this little canyon. Here the levada path gets a bit narrower and you really have the feeling as if you’re in Madeira’s jungle.

The last point of interest is when you reach the end point of the trail where all the waterfalls can be found. First you will see this waterfall flowing down the rocks which is nice. But with every waterfall, there is a source! Or at least the option of more waterfalls around…

So we went exploring and found another, even bigger, waterfall nestled deeper in the jungle! This stunning multi-tiered waterfall was a huge surprise and was our playground for the next 30 minutes or so. The sunlight was peeking through the trees and gave us some beautiful light to take pictures and admire the incredible surroundings of this place.

Things to do near Levada dos Cedros

If you’re looking for a good combination of things to do in the north western tip of Madeira island, then below a summary of our other suggestions which you can combine on one day.

Watch sunrise at Seixal beach 

You can start your day perfectly with a beautiful sunrise at Seixal beach. If you’re a morning person of course! Maybe you even decide to stay longer at Seixal after the sunrise because this beach just has the most incredible backdrop of green mountains and high cliffs. The black sand beach is a fun place to spend some time. In the far distance you can see the Bride Veil waterfall flowing into the ocean. Watching the sunrise at Seixal is a great way to start the day and get ready for the Levada dos Cedros hike!

Read everything about Seixal beach in this complete guide

Relax at the Porto Moniz natural swimming pools

Before, but maybe even better after the Levada dos Cedros hike it is a great idea to relax at the Porto Moniz swimming pools. These natural lava rock pools have the salty ocean water in them and are a great place to relax after a hike or during a day off. There are actually two areas of the natural pools. One is paid with lots of facilities and the other one is for free but with less infrastructure.

Read here everything about the Porto Moniz natural swimming pools

Stop at the viewpoint of Porto Moniz, Miradouro Santinha

If you’re coming via the ER101 road, you will pass the Miradouro Santinha which is a great viewpoint over Porto Moniz. From here you can see the beautiful coastal town with the natural pools and the little island in front of the natural pools.

Watch sunset at Ponta da Ladeira

This sunset viewpoint is one of our favorite in Madeira! And it’s very closely located to Porto Moniz. This beautiful coastal view along the high towering cliffs is must see if you’re close by. We were lucky to be here on an evening that the sky really popped with colors. It was breathtaking and we kept shooting!

Read here everything about Ponta da Ladeira viewpoint

Precautions for levada walks and hiking in Madeira

For a safe hiking experience in Madeira it is important to take the following safety precautions. There have been accidents in Madeira on levada walks and in the mountains in the past, which doesn’t directly make hiking in Madeira dangerous. But you do always have to keep in mind that the weather in Madeira can change suddenly. Or that landslides take place, branches can fall or paths can be slippery. In case of any emergency you can call 112.

Below some of our tips for a safe Madeira hiking experience

• Wear suitable clothes, always bring an extra jacket and put your hiking boots / shoes on with good grip.
• Take enough water and some snacks with you such as nuts, (dried) fruits etc.
• Always bring a headlamp on your hikes in Madeira because some of them include walking through a tunnel.
• Take a whistle with you in case you get lost or slip from the path.
• Book a qualified guide when you want to be sure on your first levada walk. Most of the levada walks are flat and easy, especially the well known levada’s in Madeira. You can find a detailed description in our blog about the 20 best levada’s in Madeira. But if you prefer a qualified guide next to you when walking in Madeira, you will not only learn more about the nature but you will also be 100% safe and don’t have to worry about navigating your way through the forest.
• When hiking alone on Madeira, prepare yourself and collect all the updated information about the trail you plan to follow. Are the trails open? No landslides? On the website of Visit Madeira you can find the up to date info of the walks which are open and closed.
• Calculate the time you’ll need to finish the hike so you’ll be back before dark.
• Inform the hotel or accommodation you are staying which walk you are going to do.
• Do not go off the designated path.

Happy hiking!!

What is a Levada?

If you’re coming to Madeira for the first time, you might question what the word ‘Levada’ actually means. This word is used a lot to specify the different Madeira hiking trails. But what is the origin of these Levadas and what is their purpose? 

Levadas are little canals of water that wind through the mountains and translates as “carriageway”. These water canals are irrigation systems developed to distribute water from the wetter regions on the north of Madeira to the drier and sunnier areas of the south where lots of plantations are located. The levadas cover a total distance of about 2500 kilometer from the heart of the Laurissilva forest to the most rocky slopes.

The origin of the levadas dates back to the 15th century. The first levadas where then created to provide water to irrigate the sugarcane plantations. Back then sugar was also known as the “white gold” because it was considered as the main engine of Madeira’s economy in the 15th & 16th century. The narrow water canals have ever since the important task to deliver water along far distances. Mainly to banana plantations, vineyards, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens, as well as to hydro-electric power stations on the island.

But nowadays, the levadas are also a great way to discover Madeira’s stunning nature with landscapes and species of flora and fauna that are unique in the world.

Best Madeira guided levada tours

If you want to explore some of the best levada walks in Madeira, then it is highly recommended to book a guided tour. Your guide can tell you everything about the flora and fauna, you can’t get lost and you don’t have to worry about any preparation except the right shoes and clothing, All of these tours include air conditioned transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides and sometimes also lunch. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.

Our recommendations

• Book here your guided Levada dos Cedros hike. The lesser known Levada dos Cedros brings you to a beautiful waterfall at the end of the trail. A must do if you like the more hidden gems. 
• Book here your private guided Levada do Castelejo hike including transportation. Hike through the stunning trails in Porto da Cruz surrounded by abundant vegetation native to this zone. 
• Book here your guided walk along Levada Caldeirão Verde including transportation. This is one of the most popular levada walks in Madeira as you will see many waterfalls along the way, such as the famous Caldeirao Verde waterfall. 
• Book here your guided Levada das 25 Fontes walk. Another famous levada walk in Madeira leading you to the beautiful Risco waterfall and 25 Fontes waterfall. A must do! 
• Book here your guided Levada do Moinho to Levada Nova hike including transport. The unique waterfall pours down a cliffs over the levada path. Be prepared to get a little wet!
• Book here your private guided Levada dos Tornos hike. North Madeira is super lush and the Levada brings you along a scenic path to some beautiful waterfalls. 
• Book here your private guided Levada do Alecrim hike including transport. This levada walk is perfect for families and during the summer months you can even swim in the natural pool of the waterfall!
• Book here your private guided Lagoa do Vento hike including transport. The beautiful, tall waterfall of Lagoa do Vento is a must visit. You can even swim in the natural pool for a refreshing dip after the hike down. 

General travel must haves for Madeira

Before we dive into the best levadas in Madeira, let’s check a few things to make your travels in Madeira easy and safe.

Have you thought about how to get around in Madeira? A car is the easiest way to drive around the island.
Read in our complete guide everything about car hire in Madeira

• Book your rental car here and compare the providers to get the best deal.
• Book your scooter or motorbike here to get around in Madeira. Most of the scooters you can drive with driving license (A1/A2/A) from 18 years old, or from 25 years old with a car (B) license. The motorbikes have a minimum age of 20 or 21 with A (moto) license.

Do you prefer a private driver for the day and the freedom to create your own itinerary?

• Book your full day customisable private tour here

Did you already book your accommodation? 

• Check out this great tool to compare prices of hotels on different platforms from around the world and book your favorite hotel

Are you insured during your travels?

• Buy your travel insurance here. Safetywing not only includes coverage for travel delay, lost checked luggage, emergency response, natural disasters and personal liability. But also covers all your medical expenses for hospitalisation.

I hope you enjoyed this full guide about Levada dos Cedros hike in Madeira.

More Madeira travel inspiration

For more Madeira travel inspiration and the must visit destinations, head over to our other blog posts about Madeira island.

50 best things to do in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

40 best photo spots in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

30 best viewpoints in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

30 best hikes in Madeira – The Complete Guide

25 best things to do in Funchal – The Ultimate Guide

25 best waterfalls in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

20 best levada walks in Madeira – The Complete Guide

20 best restaurants in Madeira – The Complete Guide

15 best sunrise viewpoints in Madeira – The Complete Guide

15 best sunset viewpoints in Madeira – The Complete Guide

12 best beaches in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

12 best Funchal restaurants – The Complete Guide

All about Poncha – The Ultimate Guide

All about Madeira wine – The Ultimate Guide

Car hire Madeira – Everything you need to know