Hotels near PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes and PR6.1 Levada do Risco

PR6 is the classic levada walk and the most photographed. It runs 4.3 km each way, 8.6 km return, between 964 m and 1,288 m, rated Moderate, official duration 3 hours, ending at a green pool fed by the twenty-five springs that give it its name. Do PR6.1 Levada do Risco at the same time: 1.5 km, rated Easy, from the same trailhead, running near-parallel to the Risco waterfall. Both cost 4.50 EUR and both are booked separately.

One logistical detail that catches everyone: the 2 km paved road down from the Rabacal car park to the forestry house trailhead is closed to visitor cars. The Calheta municipality runs a shuttle at 5 EUR one way or 8 EUR return, reported as running 10:00 to 18:00 and taking cash only, or you can walk down and back up, which adds 400 m of re-ascent at the end of the day.

Autumn is when 25 Fontes and Risco run hardest, after the October rain, and cooler air makes that climb back to the car park bearable rather than punishing. The hazards here are underfoot rather than aerial: the path is narrow, wet, mossy and genuinely slippery, there is a short unlit tunnel section, and the trail is unsuitable immediately after heavy rain because of rockfall. The car park fills early with no overflow, and the shuttle queue is real even in November.

Pro Tip: Book the first slot of the day, be at the Rabacal car park by 08:30, and carry small notes for the shuttle. Do Risco first while the light is still in the valley, then 25 Fontes, and you will pass the incoming crowd walking the other way.