Lagoa do Vento is a lake and waterfall in the Rabaçal area of western Madeira, in Estreito da Calheta. It lies on PR 6.3, a branch off the busier PR 6 route to 25 Fontes. The fall is bigger than those at 25 Fontes, and this is the same water: it flows down the valley to feed them. Getting there means leaving the levada path, dropping into the valley on steps, then climbing back out. The lake sits between two waterfalls, and a path runs in behind the main one.
Lagoa do Vento
The water that fills the pools at 25 Fontes falls here first — Lagoa do Vento is upstream, and its fall is the bigger of the two.
- Accessibility
- Not accessible: no wheelchair-accessible parking or entrance, and the approach is a stepped footpath with a steep descent.
- Parking
- Two car parks at Rabaçal, free, on unpaved ground, about 1.2 km from the lake.
- Difficulty
- About 3 km along the levada from the trail head, then many steps down to PR 6.3 and a final 0.3 km descent of roughly 100 metres to the lake. The climb back out is steep. Sturdy shoes needed.
- Transport
- Rabaçal Van shuttle between the ER 105 road and Rabaçal House; the stop is about 1.2 km from the lake. Fare €5 per person in early 2026.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours.
What makes it special
The lake lies in a bowl between two waterfalls, with the larger fall dropping straight into it. It is bigger than anything at 25 Fontes, and it is the same water. Lagoa do Vento sits higher up the valley, and its stream feeds the pools below.
A path leads in behind the fall, where you look out through the water. The branch trail PR 6.3 also stays far quieter than the main PR 6, which is the crowded route here. The trade-off is the ground: you leave the levada, go down a long flight of steps, then climb back the same height on the way out.
Good to know
- No facilities. There are no toilets and no drinking water at the lake or anywhere within 5 km of it.
- Mist kills the views. When cloud sits in the valley, the long levada approach shows nothing but the channel and the wall.
- Wear proper shoes. The way in is steps and a steep descent, and the same climb comes on the way out.
- Dogs are allowed on the route.
Getting there
Vehicles stop at Rabaçal, above the valley, and everything after that is on foot. The route follows the levada for the first stretch, then turns off and drops down a long flight of steps to join PR 6.3. The last section to the water runs about 0.3 km each way and loses roughly 100 metres, which you climb straight back. There is a second way out. From the fall, a lower path leads to a small road, and from there it climbs to the main road and the car park.
Best time to visit
Better: a clear day, and the PR 6.3 branch rather than the main PR 6 loop.
Avoid: days when cloud fills the valley.
The approach runs a long way along a levada, and in mist that stretch gives no view at all. The main PR 6 is the crowded route here, while walkers thin out on the 6.3 branch.
Sun & daylight
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Frequently asked questions
How do you reach Lagoa do Vento?
On foot from Rabaçal. The route follows the levada, then turns down a long flight of steps onto PR 6.3, and finishes with a descent of about 0.3 km each way to the water.Is the detour from PR 6 worth it?
The lake and its waterfall are larger than those at 25 Fontes downstream, and the PR 6.3 branch carries far fewer walkers than the main PR 6.Can you walk behind the waterfall?
Yes. A path runs in behind the fall and gives a view out through the water.Are there toilets or drinking water?
No. Neither is mapped at the lake or within 5 km of it. Carry your own water.Are dogs allowed?
Yes, dogs are allowed.