2nd day: PR9 - Levada do Caldeirão Verde a Santana

The second day in Madeira takes you to the northeast of the island. Here you will discover the picturesque town with traditional houses, Santana, and you will walk along the famous Levada to Caldeirão Verde, one of the most beautiful trails in Madeira.

This part of the island is known for its lush vegetation and spectacular views, making it an ideal location for nature and photography lovers.

Levada to Caldeirão Verde is about 14 km long in total. When Levada do Inferno is accessible again, you can extend your walk to about 20 km. It is definitely worth going all the way to the end, i.e. to Inferno, so if you have the opportunity, definitely make the most of it.

Along the way of Levada to Caldeirão Verde you will walk through the lush Laurisilva forest and enjoy beautiful views. You will also have to walk through a number of tunnels (definitely bring a flashlight and some good shoes, it gets wet here) until you reach a beautiful lagoon and a waterfall at the end.

For us, Levada to Caldeirão Verde and  Levada to Inferno are two of the most beautiful levadas on the island.

It takes approximately 47 minutes by car to get to Santana from Funchal. However, we recommend visiting the center of Santana after the hike, so that you are among the first ones to walk Levada to Caldeirão Verde.

It is always a good idea to wear several layers of clothes for this trip, the temperature and humidity are completely different to the south of the island. Remember that you are walking higher in the mountains, not too far from Pico Ruivo.

Set your satnav for Queimadas, this is where the levada starts. There’s a large parking lot, sometimes paid, sometimes free. You can also part on the roadside near by.

Near the parking lot there are toilets and a snack bar (hot and cold drinks and homemade sandwiches and cakes).

Don’t forget to bring your own food and snacks for this trip, a bottle of water and a raincoat and flashlight for your backpack.