Lagoon of the 25 Fountains sits in the Rabaçal valley below the Paul da Serra plateau in western Madeira. Water from the upper water table seeps through the volcanic rock of the valley walls and comes out as a run of separate springs falling to the pool at the bottom. The walk in follows the Levada das 25 Fontes, one of the most visited levada paths on the island, through laurel forest. The same start at Casa do Rabaçal also serves Lagoa do Vento and the Risco waterfall.
Lagoon of the 25 Fountains
Local name: Lagoa das 25 Fontes
The water does not come over the cliff but out of it — the upper water table leaks between layers of volcanic rock, and the springs break out of the vertical wall the whole way down to the lagoon.
- Entrance
- €4.50 per person for the trail, as charged in early 2026.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: no adapted parking or entrance, and the way in is a footpath down into the valley.
- Parking
- Two free unsurfaced car parks, 1.4 km and 1.5 km from the site; paid parking is also flagged in the area. Spots are known to run out for late arrivals.
- Difficulty
- About 10 km with 622 m of elevation gain, on a narrow levada footpath through forest.
- Transport
- Rabaçal van from ER105 down to Casa do Rabaçal; nearest stop about 950 m away.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
What makes it special
The valley walls stand near vertical, and the water leaves them in a scatter of thin falls all the way down to the lagoon at the foot. Different layers of volcanic rock let the upper water table out where they meet, so the springs are spread along the mountainside, one after another.
The way in follows the Levada das 25 Fontes through laurel forest — one of the most walked levadas on Madeira, and it shows: the path is narrow and carries walkers in both directions. Casa do Rabaçal is where the levada begins, and from there two more things open up: Lagoa do Vento, and the Levada do Risco, which leads on to the Risco waterfall.
Good to know
- No toilets and no drinking water — neither within 800 m of the start, so carry what you need for the whole walk.
- Signage is thin — at the bottom of the descent the signs point to Pico Gordo and Pico do Rabaçal, not the fountains. Keep the route on your phone.
- The waterfall can be almost dry — one visitor found it that way in October, with the forest and the springs still worth the walk.
- Dogs are allowed on the trail.
Getting there
Cars get as far as ER110, the road across Paul da Serra, and stop there. From the top the Rabaçal van runs down ER105 to Casa do Rabaçal, where the levada begins; walkers who skip the van take the footpath that drops down the hill from the car park instead. Either way the last stretch is on foot, and the height lost on the way in is climbed back at the end of the day.
Best time to visit
Better: early, walking the fountains first and the waterfall afterwards — that order stays ahead of the crowds.
Avoid: a late start; the car park has a name for filling up.
November is off-season here: one visitor arrived late, parked without trouble and found the trail unhurried at midday.
Access & restrictions
Parts of the path are marked one-way, and the stretches closed to walkers are signed as such — worth following exactly, since it is what keeps a narrow path moving. Stay on the levada: the ground either side is laurel forest, and trespassing off the route is forbidden. Dogs are allowed.
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Lagoon of the 25 Fountains on the map
The levada path is narrow and carries walkers in both directions; that narrowness, with other people on it, is the known problem on this route. Wait for a wide spot to let people past.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you drive down to the start of the trail?
No. Road access is ER110 across Paul da Serra; from there it is the Rabaçal van down ER105 to Casa do Rabaçal, or the footpath down the hill from the car park.Is the route signposted?
Only partly. At the bottom of the descent the signs point to Pico Gordo and Pico do Rabaçal instead of the fountains, and Madeira's trail marking takes some reading. One-way sections and closed stretches, though, are marked clearly.What else can be reached from the same starting point?
From Casa do Rabaçal the same network reaches Lagoa do Vento and the Levada do Risco, which leads on to the Risco waterfall.Is the waterfall always flowing?
No. One visitor in October found it almost dry, with the valley and the forest walk still the reason to be there.Are dogs allowed?
Yes, dogs are allowed on the trail. There is no water point within 800 m of the start, so bring water for them as well.