PR 4 Levada do Barreiro is a waymarked levada walk in the mountains above Funchal, on Madeira, Portugal. It follows a narrow stone water channel through the Parque Ecológico do Funchal, with views over the Ribeira de Santa Luzia valley. The trail is open at all hours and connects with PR 3 and PR 1 for a longer route towards Pico do Arieiro. The paths are well maintained and not technical, but steep in places, and the walk is quiet even in daylight hours.
PR 4 Levada do Barreiro
A stone channel barely wider than a roof gutter, which part way along runs steeply downhill like a waterfall inside the levada.
- Parking
- Two car parks nearby: a dirt one about 460 m away, with a fee, and a free asphalt one about 870 m away.
- Difficulty
- Well-kept, non-technical mountain paths with some steep sections; shoes with grip are enough. A full circuit from the park down to Monte took one walker about three and a half hours with frequent photo stops.
- Transport
- Bus 56 from Funchal towards the Parque Ecológico do Funchal; nearest stop Ribeira das Cales-Zona 22, about 3.5 km from the trail. Fewer services at weekends.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
What makes it special
The channel itself is the attraction. It is stone-built, old-looking, and barely wider than a roof gutter. From the road it starts as a mini-levada that no longer carries water, then feeds into a larger one that still runs. Further along the water picks up speed and drops steeply downhill, close to a waterfall inside the levada.
The walk looks out over the Ribeira de Santa Luzia valley. The slopes around it have changed: native forest has largely gone, and broom and acacia have spread in its place. Crowds are not a problem here. In poor weather you can walk the whole length without meeting anyone.
Good to know
- No facilities: there are no toilets and no drinking water on or near the trail. The nearest public toilets are at the Botanical Garden in Monte.
- Reception: the Parque Ecológico do Funchal reception can be shut on a Sunday morning. A map and signs stand outside it.
- Buses: services to the park run more frequently on weekdays. A weekend visit can mean a long wait for the ride back.
- Footwear: the paths are well kept and not technical, but this is a mountain and parts are steep. Come in shoes with grip.
- Not the summit: PR 4 stops short of Pico do Arieiro. Reaching the top means continuing on PR 3 and crossing over to PR 1.
Getting there
The approach is by road. The entrance is straight off the tarmac at the Casa do Barreiro sign, and information boards stand at the start, so there is no long walk-in. Arriving by bus leaves about 3.5 km on foot from the nearest stop.
At the far end there is a choice: turn back the same way, or carry on to Casa do Barreiro and take the road down to Monte. That road is very steep. From the Botanical Garden there are buses back to Funchal.
Best time to visit
Best: a weekday.
Avoid: Sunday.
Buses to the park run more frequently on weekdays, and on a Sunday both the park reception and Casa do Barreiro can be closed. Weather matters less than the day of the week. In rain the path stays walkable, and bad weather is what empties the trail of other people.
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Frequently asked questions
Does PR 4 reach the summit of Pico do Arieiro?
No. PR 4 stops short of the top. The last stretch to the summit runs on PR 3, with a crossover to PR 1. Linking PR 4 with PR 3 also makes a loop back to the Ecological Park.Are there toilets or drinking water on the route?
No. There are none on the trail and none nearby. The nearest public toilets are at the Botanical Garden in Monte, at the far end of the walk to Monte.Can the levada be walked in the rain?
Yes. In wet weather the path stays firm rather than slippery, and it is wide enough to walk comfortably. Rain also keeps other walkers away.Is the trail waymarked?
Yes. Pink waymarks lead the way, information boards stand at the entrance, and there is a map and signage at the Parque Ecológico do Funchal reception.What is at the end of the levada?
A choice of routes. You can return the way you came, or continue to Casa do Barreiro and then take the road down to Monte. Casa do Barreiro can be closed on a Sunday.