Rabaçal/Lagoa do Vento 2km (1.24 miles) – 1 hour
Start in Rabaçal on the west side of Paúl da Serra, Madeira island’s big plateau. Wear the right shoes, take along a picnic, and put a sweater and anorak in your rucksack. Don’t forget you are going up to about 1,000 metres above sea level, where it rains a lot more than in Funchal and the average temperature is 6ºC less than on the south coast. Get your group together for an early start. When you reach the top of the Paúl da Serra plateau and before walking down to the Rabaçal refuge, climb up to the fire warden’s post at the summit just near the Calheta hydroelectric plant. If there is no mist, you will be able to admire the view over the bare plateau and see where waters flow North and South toward the sea. To the south lie the Calheta ridges and to the north is Ribeira da Janela valley, both contributing to a landscape of extraordinary beauty. If, on the way down to the Rabaçal refuge, you cannot find the path for the Lagoa do Vento (it’s a narrow track through the heather) ask for guidance from the forest warden. From the house to the lake is about 2 km (1.24 miles) of challenging track, which should take about 45 to 60 mins to walk. There are no words to describe the beauty of the landscape surrounding the small lake sculpted in the cliffside. When the sun appears over the Paúl and the wind turns the falling water into a veil then a beautiful rainbow show begins. To return to the Rabaçal Refuge you will have to follow the same path back.

Rabaçal/ Risco 1 km (0.62 miles) – 15 mins
Risco is one kilometre further on. The path is flat and after only 15 minutes you will have more impressive views. Water flowing from Lagoa do Vento, hidden some 100 metres above, gathers again in the Poço do Risco more than a hundred metres further on down this path. From the lookout point one can admire this outstanding natural monument, carved by the force of water falling onto volcanic rock over hundreds of thousands of years. Moisture loving mosses, ferns, grasses and bushes cling to the rocky walls.

Risco/25 Fontes (25 Springs) – 1 hour
Contented with the Risco landscape, proceed toward the 25 Fontes. Before reaching the Cabaçal Refuge you will find a path to your right with a sign for 25 Fontes. Follow this path to the Levada. Now walk in the upstream direction. The path is not difficult although in some parts the Levada is quite narrow and protected. This path is not recommended to people who suffer vertigo. After an hour’s walk along the Levada you reach a small lagoon surrounded by thick vegetation, into which flow the waters from a number of springs in the rocks above. You have reached 25 Fontes! You will naturally want to stay a while, listening to the splashing waters and birds calling from their perches in the laurels and ferns. You will find such a large variety of ferns that aficionados of these plants will lose all track of time. But don’t leave it too late in the evening for the return journey to the Rabaçal Refuge. Weather conditions can change very quickly at this altitude. The sky can be completely blue, but soon a mist comes quickly down the mountains, covering the valleys and reducing visibility to zero, causing serious problems for those who do not know the island. You may wonder as you walk along the Levada, where all this water is going. In fact water from the 25 Fontes Levada feeds the Calheta hydroelectric plant.

Features: Only a few climbs and descents: the path to Lagoa do Vento has a difficult surface but is not dangerous. The path along the Levada to 25 Fontes is narrow and in some parts is unprotected.

TRIP DESCRIPTION

ROMEIROS - TEAHOUSE Pick-up time: 15:00, Grade: Easy, Walking Time: 1hr 45 mins

PARADISE VALLEY Pick-up time: 09:15/09:30, Grade: Easy, Walking Time: 1hr 30 mins

RABAÇAL Pick-up time: 08:00, Grade: Medium, Walking Time: 3hrs 30 mins,

LEVADA DO NORTE Pick-up time: 08:00, Grade: Medium, Walking Time: 4hrs 0 mins,

RIBEIRO FRIO - PORTELA Pick-up time: 08:00, Grade: Medium, Walking Time: 3hrs 30 mins

ARIEIRO - RUIVO Pick-up time: 08:00, Grade: Difficult, Walking Time: 3hrs 30 mins

B.CORRIDA - ENCUMEADA Pick-up time: 08:00, Grade: Difficult, Walking Time: 4hrs 30 mins

What you need - Comfortable shoes with good grip - Jumper or cardigan - Longer walks bring a pic-nic