Levada dos Maroços follows an irrigation channel through the hills above Machico, in the east of Madeira. Levadas were dug to carry water across the island, and the maintenance path beside them is now the walking route. This one is flat and easy, with no real ascent, and it runs past gardens and houses before opening onto the hillside. The views go down into the villages and out to the coast rather than up into the mountains. It is a point-to-point walk, mostly single file.
Levada dos Maroços
Nothing marks the end of the trail — the levada just keeps going, and you decide where to turn back.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: no step-free entrance and no accessible parking. Not suitable for pushchairs either.
- Parking
- Free. Street parking in the village at the start of the levada; the nearest car park is about 130 m away and charges nothing.
- Difficulty
- Flat and easy, with no real ascent or descent; hiking boots are not needed. Point to point and mostly single file, with a few narrow, slightly steep sections towards the far end. Half a day for the full walk.
- Transport
- A bus stop stands about 30 m from the start of the trail.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
What makes it special
The subject here is ordinary life on the hillside, not scenery. The first ten minutes from the start run between houses and garden walls, past vegetable plots and back gardens, and the levada stays close to the villages after that. The views go down over the rooftops and across to the coast. The big mountain landscape stays out of frame.
The walking is flat, with no real ups or downs, because the channel holds one contour the whole way. The route is point to point and mostly single file. Nothing marks where it ends: most people walk out for as long as they feel like, then turn round.
Good to know
- No toilets, no drinking water. Neither is mapped anywhere near the trail. Fill your bottle before you set off.
- Little shade. Once past the houses the path is open to the sky, and it stays that way. Bring a hat.
- No sign at the far end. The levada simply carries on. Fix a turnaround point before you start — one walker covered 11 km before stopping.
- It gets busy. Several walking groups set off at similar times, and the path is too narrow to pass side by side.
- Litter. Rubbish has been left along parts of the route. Carry your own out.
Getting there
Most walkers drive. Parking is in the village where the levada begins, by the Nicole cafe, and a bus stop sits right at the trailhead. The walk starts immediately: the first ten minutes go between houses and garden walls, and only then does the path reach open hillside.
The route is point to point, not a loop. Either retrace your steps, arrange a pick-up, or carry on towards Machico, Caniçal or Porto da Cruz.
Best time to visit
Better: early in the day. Walking groups set off at similar times, and the path is single file for most of its length, so a head start saves a lot of stepping aside.
Avoid: a sunny day without a hat and water. After the first stretch through the village there is no shade, and the levada is exposed as it winds around the slopes. This is a route to walk in the open, so the weather decides how pleasant it is.
Sun & daylight
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Levada dos Maroços on the map
Towards the far end the path narrows and runs along steep ground, single file. Keep children within reach on those sections.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Levada dos Maroços an easy walk?
Yes. It is flat, with no real climbs, and hiking boots are not needed. Ordinary trainers will do, but they will not stay clean.Is it suitable for children?
Yes, for children who can walk it themselves. The route is flat and there is plenty to look at along the gardens and houses. Near the far end it narrows, with a few slightly steep sections, so keep them close there. Pushchairs will not get through.Where does the trail end?
There is no marker. The levada continues past the point most people stop at, and one walker turned back after 11 km. Decide on a turnaround before you set off.Is there water or a toilet on the route?
No. Neither is mapped near the trail. There is a cafe at the start of the levada, and walkers often finish the day at a local one.How busy does it get?
Several walking groups set off at similar times. With the path single file for much of the way, you will be stepping aside to let people past.