Trails
Levada da Rocha Vermelha
9.4 km
The place
The Levada da Rocha Vermelha is a walk on the western side of the island, rated for experienced walkers only. The official PR 28 route, also called Água do Vimieiro, starts at Fanal on the ER 209 road, joins the PR 13 Vereda do Fanal and branches left toward the water channel. The Calheta approach begins at Malhada, reached through Calheta village by the Central Hidroelétrica signs.
The tunnels on the Malhada route total about 1.7 km, and most of that tunnel was cut by hand, so allow extra time. An exposed stretch has no guardrails, and the vertigo risk is real. The staircase of more than 200 steps can be very slick at the top, and the waterfalls you cross sit on slippery, unprotected rock. Beside the steep stairway, the force of the water is especially visible because of the height difference, so take the walk slowly and do not rush.
Highlights
- A tunnel of about 1.7 km on the Malhada route, most of it cut by hand.
- An exposed stretch with no guardrails, where the vertigo risk is real.
- A staircase of more than 200 steps that can be very slick at the top.
- Waterfalls to cross on slippery, unprotected rock, approached with care.
- Rated for experienced walkers, and the path beyond the stairs has decayed.
When to come
Go on a dry morning, since wet rock and waterfall spray make the stairs and crossings harder. Starting early gives you the full five to six hours the round trip takes.
Getting there
From Calheta village take the first roundabout exit onto ER 222 and follow the Central Hidroelétrica signs through Malhada, where the trail starts on your left. The PR 28 version begins at Fanal on the ER 209 road instead.
Worth knowing
- Plan five to six hours for the round trip from Malhada, which is about 18.8 km.
- Book and pay on SIMplifica for the PR 28 route, where visitors over 12 pay €4.50 in 2026 and children aged 12 and under are exempt.
- The walk is not on the government's recommended walks list, so go only with good judgement and experience.
- Wear waterproof, grippy footwear, as the rock and steps are slippery when wet.
- Do not push on past the stairs toward the source, because the path beyond them has decayed.
- Parts of this path have been reported closed or damaged in recent years, so check its current state with IFCN (+351 291 145 590) before you set out.
