PR6.1
A 30-minute spur to a 100 m waterfall
Levada do Risco from Rabaçal: a 2 km flat add-on to your PR6 day that ends at a five-strand waterfall under a 100 m cliff. Same permit as PR6, same shuttle, completely different payoff.
Curated by
Filipe Pereira
Founder & Lead Curator
Issued 2026-05-16
Valid through June 2026
01 · At a glance
The vitals
What you need to know about Levada do Risco before you book or set out.
Distance
2 km
Duration
0.5-0.75 h
Elevation gain
60 m
Difficulty
Easy
Exposure
2/5
Type
Levada walk (short)
Status, May 2026
Open
Open year-round 2026. The same SIMplifica permit covers both PR6 and PR6.1. No additional fee. The viewing platform at the waterfall basin was rebuilt in winter 2025 - sturdier rail, better photo angles.
Best season
After rain, always
Risco is the trail where weather makes the experience. After winter rain or in early spring, the five strands of the waterfall thunder at full flow. Late summer reduces it to thin curtains. Cloudy days with light drizzle deliver the most atmospheric shoot.
“If you have come this far for 25 Fontes, you have already paid for the best 30 minutes on the island.”
02 · Getting to the trailhead
How to reach the start
Map placeholder
Start: Rabaçal · End: Risco waterfall
By car from Funchal
Same as PR6 - 45 minutes via VR1 then ER209 to Rabaçal car park.
Parking + shuttle
Same as PR6. Park free at Rabaçal upper car park. Shuttle (€5) or walk 1.6 km down to the levada start.
Operator pickup
Protocol partners include PR6.1 in any PR6 itinerary by default - it adds 30 minutes to a 5-hour day for the biggest waterfall on the route.
Public transport
Same logistical problem as PR6 - no direct bus to Rabaçal. See PR6 PDF.
Taxi or transfer
Same as PR6.
Tip from Filipe
Do PR6.1 first thing, not last - the waterfall faces east so morning light hits the cliff face perfectly. The detour from the PR6/PR6.1 junction takes 30 minutes round trip; do it before pushing on to 25 Fontes.
Driving yourself
Madeira rental from Funchal Airport, around €25-40/day in May
We use DiscoverCars to compare local agencies. Trailhead access on most PR routes is easier with a car.
https://www.discovercars.com/portugal/funchal?a_aid=Madeirahiking¤cy=eur&utm_source=Madeirahiking&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pdf-pr6-1
03 · Route walkthrough
Section by section
Distances, landmarks, and what to expect underfoot.
0.0 - 0.5 km
0:15
PR6/PR6.1 junction to the spur start
From the Rabaçal forest house, follow PR6 for 1.5 km until the signposted junction. PR6.1 branches right (north) into a side valley.
0.5 - 1.8 km
0:25
Spur valley to the basin
Flat levada path along a steep wooded valley. Two small wooden bridges. Sound of the waterfall reaches you 200 m before arrival.
1.8 - 2.0 km
0:05
Risco waterfall viewing platform
Wooden deck at the basin floor. Five thin strands fall from a single 100 m cliff. The wind blows the curtains sideways - changing angles every few minutes. Spend 15-20 minutes.
Return
0:20
Back to the PR6 junction
Same path back. Total PR6.1 return: 30-40 minutes from junction. Continue onto PR6 for the 25 Fontes basin or return to Rabaçal.
04 · Gear and safety
What to bring and when to bail
Required
- Comfortable shoes - the spur path is even
- Light rain jacket
- Water
- SIMplifica permit (shared with PR6)
Recommended
- Microfibre cloth - waterfall spray fogs lenses
- Polariser if shooting the cascades
- Trekking poles unnecessary on this section
Wet rocks at the basin
Waterfall spray reaches the viewing platform when wind is right. Wooden deck stays grippy but the surrounding rocks do not. Do not climb off the platform.
Weather is the show
After rain, the waterfall is dramatic. In drought, it is a curtain. The trail is identical either way. Manage expectations on dry summer days.
Combined fatigue
PR6.1 is easy on its own but it adds to a PR6 day. If you are already at hour four of PR6, the legs might disagree with the detour. Do it early.
Same coverage as PR6
Signal patchy in the deep valley. Pre-download offline maps with the PR6 prep.
Emergency: 112
Coverage along this route is patchy. Same emergency profile as PR6. Walk-out point is the Rabaçal forest house ranger hut, accessed via the PR6 main path.
05 · Fees and booking
Two paths to the trailhead
Path A · DIY
Book on SIMplifica
€4.50
per person
- PR6.1 is covered by the PR6 permit. No separate booking.
- When booking PR6 on SIMplifica, the spur is automatically included.
- Save the confirmation - same one rangers check at the forest house.
Path B · Protocol operator
Skip the portal
€3.00
per person, fee included in tour
PR6.1 is automatically included in any PR6 protocol-operator package. No additional cost. Operators time it for the best morning light.
Protocol operators running this trail
Madeira Local Guide - Paulo Jesus
PT/EN · Private only · €66-114
+351 XXX XXX XXX
tripadvisor.com/madeira-local-guide
Up Mountain Madeira
PT/EN/DE · Max 8 people · €40-120
+351 925 964 335
upmountainmadeira.com
Explore Nature
PT/EN · Small groups · €27-80
+351 964 851 693
explorenature.pt
Path C · Marketplace listing
Guided Levada Walk in the Rabaçal Valley
From €40 · 8 hours · ⭐ 4.7
If you cannot reach a protocol partner, GetYourGuide aggregates tours from multiple operators with free 24h cancellation. Independent listing - not a preferred channel for this trail.
https://www.getyourguide.com/madeira-l67/day-trip-levada-walk-in-the-valley-of-rabacal-t70136/?partner_id=2VCHGBU&utm_medium=online_publisher&cmp=pdf-pr6-1
Trailhead transfer (no car needed)
Rabaçal: 25 Fontes & Risco Levada Hiking Transfer · From €20
06 · After the hike
What to do with the rest of the day
Pair it with
PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes
The main attraction. The spur shares the start. Most hikers do both - the 30 minutes for the Risco waterfall is the highest-value detour on the island.
Rabaçal forest house
The starting hub. Bathrooms, ranger info, light refreshments. Worth a 10-minute stop on return.
Bica da Cana viewpoint
On the drive back from Rabaçal, the high plateau lookout. Cloud-sea views below in winter.
Common questions
Can I do PR6.1 without PR6?
Technically yes - shorter day, same shuttle, same permit. But most hikers combine them.
Is the waterfall always flowing?
Yes, but with huge seasonal variation. Winter and spring deliver the thunder; late summer the trickle.
Can I swim at the base?
Same answer as 25 Fontes - officially discouraged, water is shallow and 10-12°C, ICNF rangers will turn you out.
Live trail status
madeirahiking.org/trails/pr6-1
Conditions change. The live page is verified against ICNF announcements and re-checked on a rolling cadence. Refresh before you set out.
May 2026 edition · issued 2026-05-16 · MadeiraHiking.org · Curated by Filipe Pereira
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