The 13 Best 25 Fontes and Rabacal Walks

1.Enjoy a Guided Levada Walk in the Rabaçal Valley

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,197 reviews · 8 hours · from $50Our pick

Join Lido Tours for an eight-hour guided walk from Funchal through Rabaçal Valley. Guides such as Sara, Ruby, and Robina lead you past Risco Waterfall, the 25 Fontes cascades, endemic plants, and an 800-meter tunnel. Hotel pickup, transport, and multilingual guiding are included.

“lovely walking tour. beautiful views and everything was prompt and walked at a good pace. great if you don't want to hire a car and still experience the famous walks”

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2.Madeira Walks – Rabaçal and the 25 Fountains

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,204 reviews · 8 hours · from $50

Follow a certified mountain guide through Madeira’s Rabaçal reserve to see waterfalls, 25 springs, a clear lake, lush plant life, and an 800-meter tunnel. The eight-hour outing includes transport, insurance, and Funchal hotel pickup. Bring sturdy shoes, water, food, sun protection, and a jacket.

“Johnny and Patrick were lovely! Johnny knew a lot of about Madeira and the plants! Had a great time!”

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3.Rabaçal: 25 Fontes & Risco Levada Transfer Self-guided Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 841 reviews · from $38

Travel from Funchal or nearby towns to Rabaçal for five hours on your own, following Madeira’s famous 25 Fontes and Risco levadas. Your English-speaking host explains the route, then leaves you free to walk, pause, eat, and photograph at your own pace. The 6:30 a.m. departure is best for quiet trails.

“A trip with the money..! We had 5 hours and we not only did the PR6 and PR6.1, but we managed the PR6.3 and 6.2 in it. 6.3 was beautiful but quite a steep walk. It was rushed for 5 hours and In the end we had to catch the shuttle back to the start to be in time. All worth the rush but wouldn’t recommend doing 4 waterfalls but 3 can be accommodated if your an experienced hiker. Adriana is not only a skilled driver but a lovely person. Very knowledgable and did give us some great tips to travel in Madeira. Overall 10/10. Highly recommended.Read more”

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4.Small Group Walks Rabaçal 25 Fontes

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 548 reviews · 4 hours · from $53

Join guide Paulo for a four-hour small-group walk through Madeira’s Laurissilva forest to the 25 Fontes waterfall. Follow a historic levada, cross wet and narrow sections, pass through a dark tunnel, and learn about local plants, wildlife, and water channels. Hotel pickup is included.

“Great activity due to trip itself and the wonderful guide. We had a good pace and the guide explained nature and history at the right occasions. Great to start the activity in the tunnel. The guide was also a good driver and had humor. Great to finish the hike with poncho.”

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5.Skywalk 4×4 Experience and Rabacal 25 Fountains Levada Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 318 reviews · from $41Top rated

From Funchal, follow a guide such as Julia, Gil, or Ruben to Rabaçal’s 25 Fontes and Risco waterfall, then ride a 4x4 through Madeira’s mountain roads to Cabo Girão. Expect an easy but busy levada walk, an unlit 800-meter tunnel, optional lunch, and a €3 skywalk entry.

“good explanation of the area, very beautiful area and easy trail accessible to everybody in normal shape. staff extremely friendly and helpful, all questions answered”

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6.25 Fountains Levada: Hiking Tour in Madeira Rabaçal Valley (PR6)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 187 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $52

Walk Madeira’s PR6 trail through the UNESCO-listed Laurisilva forest with a local guide such as Ruben, Daria, Marta, or Samuel. Expect waterfalls, levada paths, steps, slippery ground, and an 800-meter tunnel. Hotel pickup from Funchal or Caniço, transport, insurance, and a small nature fee are included.

“Amazing walking tour and great host plenty of information about everywhere. Very well looked after by the host Reuban”

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7.Rabaçal – 25 Fonts

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 152 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $54

Join Madeira Free Spirit Walks on Tuesdays or Fridays for a 4.5-hour guided hike along the Levada do Rabaçal. Guides such as Alvaro, Susanna, Julia, and Phillip explain local plants, birds, water channels, and island history while leading you to 25 Fontes and Risco Waterfall.

“Excellent trip. Stunning scenery and a great guide. He was enthusiastic and shared his knowledge of the land with a sense of humour. Hard work in places but worth the effort.”

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8.Full-Day Rabaçal Levada Walk from Funchal

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 149 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $52

Walk 11 km through Madeira’s Rabaçal forest to Risco waterfall and the 25 Fontes springs. Lido Tours provides Funchal-area pickup, a qualified English-speaking guide, and a small group of up to 16. Expect stairs, narrow paths, a water tunnel, changing weather, and no food stops.

“Too slow and too many frequent stops. The group was too large for just one guide although she tried her best on a very busy day in the Rabacal area. We were very disappointed to only stay 5 minutes in main fountain and then have to eat just off footpath uncomfortably in the trees. Felt we could’ve managed on our own easier.”

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9.Rabaçal 25 Fountains Levada Walk & Cabo Girão

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 117 reviews · from $67

Spend about three hours on Madeira’s famous 25 Fountains levada walk, including an 800-meter volcanic tunnel, then ride a jeep through eucalyptus forest to Cabo Girão. Small groups of up to eight, local guides such as Julia, Gil, Pedro, and Ruben, and lunch at Paúl da Serra make this a full island day.

“Great day out, and although it rained it didn't disappoint. Our driver Luis was easy to talk to, and your at ease straight away. As all the drivers working for True Spirt seem to be. We drove to a coffee shop where Luis explained exactly what was planned. Then we had another short drive before parking and started walking. Some of the steps took it's toll on my knees, definitely got the heat into them. For some reason the steps we came down were harder going up....... We ordered food before the walk, and Luis stopped at a lovely restaurant. If anyone orders the steak on a hot stone you'll…”

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10.Rabaçal, Risco and 25 Fontes Guided Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 98 reviews · 8 hours · from $47

Join a small guided group from Funchal or Caniço for an 11 km walk through Rabaçal’s Laurisilva forest. Follow Levada do Risco to its waterfall, continue to 25 Fontes Lake, and return through the Cavaleiro tunnel. Guides such as Magno and Leonel add plant lore and island stories.

“We had a great experience with Magno! He provided a through tour and is very knowledgable (particularly about fruit and trees). He was very patient with all members of the tour! We would highly recommend him to anyone.”

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11.PR6 & PR6.1 25 Fontes & Risco Levada Self-Guided Hiking Rabaçal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $41

Join Do It Madeira for a self-guided 10-kilometer walk through the 25 Fontes and Risco levadas. Drivers such as Adriana, Pedro, Filipe, and Henrique provide maps, trail instructions, and local advice, then give you five hours to walk without a guide or group pace.

“Such a lovely day! The weather was absolutely perfect, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The 25 Fontes and Risco hike is a nice, easy trail that offers incredible views along the way. The waterfalls are beautiful and definitely worth the walk. I highly recommend coming early to beat the rush, as it can get quite busy later in the day. If you have spare time (and energy!), you can easily add another hike. Overall, a peaceful and scenic adventure!”

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12.From Funchal/Caniço: Rabaçal Hike (25 Fontes) Bus Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 77 reviews · from $32Best value

This self-guided Rabaçal transfer takes you from Funchal, Caniço, or Garajau to Madeira’s 25 Fontes and Risco trails. You get about five hours on site, clear pickup instructions by WhatsApp, and a return bus at 2:30 p.m. It is practical, well-priced, and best for confident walkers.

“Everything was very well organized. I did PR6 and it wasn‘t challenging at all. Beautiful scenery and waterfalls. Make sure to bring a water-proof jacket.”

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13.Rabaçal 25 Fontes Levada Walk in Small Groups

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 71 reviews · 5 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $54

Join a group of up to eight for a 5 to 7 hour hike from Funchal to Madeira’s 25 Fontes and Risco waterfalls. Expect levadas, Laurissilva Forest, steps, and a dark 1-kilometer tunnel. Guides such as Pedro, Luis, Tiago, and Paulo add local insight. Waterproof shoes and a torch are wise.

“It's a great walk if a little busy at points, Pedro was our guide and he was great, pointing out a lot of the nature around. It's not too challenging with only a few small uphill sections.”

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