Portugal
Hiking the Levada Nova
One of the most famous hikes on Madeira is the Levada Nova. This hike is located in Ponta do Sol and is a combination of the Levada do Moinho & Levada Nova. After hiking the lush forest of Madeira we head over to Ponta do Sol for a lunch. Ending the day at Calheta Beach for a refreshing dive in the water and a magical sunset stroll.
Hiking the Levada Nova
One of the most beautiful hikes on Madeira is called “Levada Nova”. To start the hike head over to Ponta do Sol and continue to the trailhead of “Levada do Moinho”. We parked our car near the upper route start and walked down to the lower start near the church. Follow the water channel called ‘lavada do Moinho’ for multiple kilometres into the valley. You’ll enjoy panoramic views over lush green hills. You’ll cross a small waterfall and keep continuing next to the channel until you’ll stumble upon stairs to your right. Go up the stairs and at the top go right. Now you’re following the “Levada Nova”. After a couple of minutes you’ll reach the highlight of this hike: Cascade da Levada Nova. A smaller waterfall but with a trail curling right behind and underneath it. A stunning sight you need to see yourself. After the waterfall you’ll need to cross a dark tunnel for 200m. So make sure to take a flashlight or make sure your phone is fully charged. Continue along the Levada Nova back towards the village to end at the upper route start.
Lunch in Ponta do Sol
After the hike we head to Ponta do Sol for a lunch at the Sol Ponte restaurant. The terrace is hanging above the bay which makes it a unique place to enjoy a traditional Madeira sandwich.
Afternoon, dinner & sunset at Calheta Beach
After the lunch we head over to the beach in Calheta. This popular white sand beach is located in a covered area in the Atlantic Ocean. The rock wall protects the beach from strong waves and makes it super chill to take a refreshing dive. Along the beach and neighboring harbor you'll find plenty of restaurants to score a variety of dishes. We went for some grilled sardines! After our dinner we enjoyed a magical sunset stroll along the bay.
