Levada dos Tornos - Walking route

Levada dos Tornos - Walking route

The Levada dos Tornos is the longest levada on the island of Madeira, measuring approximately 106 kilometres in total[1]. It begins on the north coast of the island, at Eira Corego, next to Ribeira do Porco, between the villages of Fajã do Penedo and Faca de Cima, in the municipality of São Vicente. It continues through several tunnels to the hydroelectric power station of Fajã da Nogueira, in the municipality of Santana, and finally through the longest tunnel to the Tornes adductor system in the municipality of Funchal, then continuing to the municipality of Santa Cruz and finally ending in the village of Santo António da Serra, more precisely in Ribeira de Santa Cruz, near the Blandy family farm.

Route

Initial valley

The Boaventura valley. The Ribeira do Porco and the Ribeira do Urzal are the first two major tributaries of the Levada dos Tornos at its origin, having a water source above the village of Lombo do Urzal in the Ribeira do Urzal, and is also fed at its origin by the Ribeira de João Fernandes and the Córrego da Caldeira.

Valley of the Ribeira da Metade

The Levada dos Tornos reaches the valley of the Ribeira da Metade, already in the marked area of ​​the Madeira Natural Park, through a 2500-metre tunnel, which connects Lombo do Urzal to the Fajã da Nogueira Hydroelectric Power Station. Part of the water discharged from the Fajã da Nogueira hydroelectric power station is channelled to the Levada dos Tornos, which in the past supplied the water supply system of the city of Funchal. Fundoa Valley

The levada reaches the southern slope of Madeira Island through a 5,100-metre tunnel[1] that connects Fajã da Nogueira to Ribeira de Santa Luzia at Tornos, which gives its name to the levada in the municipality of Funchal. It then follows a route of great scenic value with fascinating views over the imposing valley of Ribeira de Santa Luzia and Ribeira do Pisão. In this area, it is possible to follow a 9.8km trail that crosses with the Levada dos Tornos, which begins in Corujeira, following part of the levada and ending at the stunning Poço do Cabo da Ribeira Waterfall, also known as Cascata do Salto do Patagarro.

Southern Slope

The final phase of the Levada dos Tornos was completed in 1966. The levada runs along the south-eastern slope of Madeira Island in the municipality of Santa Cruz. The southern section of the Levada dos Tornos is perhaps the best known, as it is part of a tourist route widely used by hikers, mountain runners and, in some areas, by mountain bikers. The passage from the Fundoa Valley to the Ribeira de João Gomes Valley is made through a tunnel at Cabeço da Fonte da Telha, passing through Choupana, Ribeiro do Lazareto, Lombo da Quinta, Ribeiro da Abegoaria, Córrego do Vale Paraíso until reaching the town of Camacha. In this section, the route between Ribeira do Pedro Lourenço and Ribeira do Porto Novo is dazzling due to its landscapes and scenic passages.

Total distance: 106 km

Duration:

Altitude: 673 m (max) - 614 m (min)

Start and end: Eira Corego (Bao Ventura) - Ribeira do Santo da Serra (Santa Cruz)