Levada do Caniçal (Machico)

Below the path, farmers work their plots by hand, and beyond them Machico and its bay sit far down the valley towards the coast. The Levada do Caniçal follows its water channel along the hillside with no tunnels to pass through. The walking is easy, so your attention stays on the view and on the plants along the edge.

Acacia grows thickly beside the trail: this is Australian wattle, which has spread across these slopes and crowds out native species. The route sits outside Madeira's classified PR trails, and it is quiet, with the few people on it mostly locals. If you want more, you can climb from the levada to Boca do Risco, a notch in the cliffs of the north coast.

• Plan it as an out-and-back walk: you return along the same path, so every kilometre out is one more on the way back.
• The full levada is about 12 km. Turning round after 3.5 or 6 km still gives you the views over Machico.
• The path up to Boca do Risco has no signs. Carry a map or a GPS track before you leave the levada.
• The path is rocky in places, so wear proper walking shoes.
• A free public fountain (Fontanário do Paraíso) is about 35 m away. The nearest toilets are about 730 m away in a straight line.

The Levada do Caniçal lies in the hills above Machico, at the eastern end of Madeira. Two car parks sit near the trail, about 150 m and 650 m away in a straight line, and a bus shelter stands about 10 m away. From there you walk the levada path for as far as you choose, then turn round and come back the same way. The climb to Boca do Risco branches upwards from the levada and has no signs.

Best: a clear morning, when Machico and the coast are sharp in the distance and the sun is not yet high.

Avoid: the hours after heavy rain, when the rocky sections turn slippery.

The view down to the bay is the reason to walk here, and low cloud or haze takes it away.