PR24
Cliff-edge farming in the north
Levada da Fajã do Penedo from Boaventura: 6.8 km along a dramatic levada cut into the cliffs above the north-coast valleys. Rich vegetation, hidden valleys, the agricultural Madeira that built the levada system in the first place.
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 da Fajã do Penedo before you book or set out.
Distance
6.8 km
Duration
2.5-3 h
Elevation gain
150 m
Difficulty
Moderate
Exposure
3/5
Type
Levada
Status, May 2026
Open
Open year-round 2026. No restrictions. Some narrow sections were re-cabled with new safety rope in winter 2025.
Best season
Spring through autumn
May-October for stable weather and full waterfall flow. Avoid winter - north-side rain makes the narrow cliff sections risky. Summer is hot on the exposed levada wall.
“Levadas exist because Madeira had to share water across impossible terrain - PR24 is what that looks like with your feet on it.”
02 · Getting to the trailhead
How to reach the start
Map placeholder
Start: Boaventura · End: Fajã do Penedo
By car from Funchal
About 1 hour 10 minutes via VR1 east then ER101 north to Boaventura village.
Parking
Free at Boaventura church car park.
Public transport
SAM bus 103 from Funchal to Boaventura, several daily.
Operator pickup
Less common - the area is far from Funchal. Some operators run it as part of north-coast full-day tours.
Taxi or transfer
Funchal to Boaventura one-way €55-65.
Tip from Filipe
PR24 is genuinely remote-feeling. The drive there is half the experience - the ER101 north of Santana is one of Madeira's most dramatic roads. Allow time for stops on the way.
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-pr24
03 · Route walkthrough
Section by section
Distances, landmarks, and what to expect underfoot.
0.0 - 1.5 km
0:35
Boaventura to the levada start
Trail begins past the village church on a paved road that becomes a dirt path. First levada section starts around km 1.5.
1.5 - 4.0 km
1:00
Cliff-edge levada walking
The levada follows the contour of the cliff-face valleys. Some sections have a 30-50 m drop on the open side with only the levada channel for balance. Wooden handrails on the worst stretches.
Cliff-edge exposure. Stay focused. The handrails are not continuous.
4.0 - 5.5 km
0:45
Approach to Fajã do Penedo
Levada widens; the path becomes safer. Rich vegetation - banana, sugar cane, bird-of-paradise. Sea visible occasionally through gaps.
5.5 - 6.8 km
0:30
Fajã do Penedo settlement
End at the small Fajã do Penedo agricultural area - a handful of stone farmhouses, vegetable terraces, the original purpose of the levada.
04 · Gear and safety
What to bring and when to bail
Required
- Hiking shoes with grip
- Light rain jacket
- Water: 1.5 L
- Sun protection
- SIMplifica permit
Recommended
- Trekking poles for the descent
- Snacks
- Cash for Boaventura cafes on return
- Camera with a wider lens for the valley shots
Cliff-edge exposure
The middle 2 km has unprotected or partially-protected drops. Stay on the levada path. Move single file in narrow sections.
North-coast weather is local
Boaventura can be cloudy while Funchal is clear. Check the north-coast forecast specifically.
Wet path is slick
The levada path stays damp - levadas leak. Trekking pole helps.
Signal patchy
Cell coverage drops in the cliff sections. Available at Boaventura and Fajã do Penedo.
Emergency: 112
Coverage along this route is patchy. Walk-out points: Boaventura (km 0) or Fajã do Penedo (km 6.8). The cliff-edge middle 2 km has no mid-route exit.
05 · Fees and booking
Two paths to the trailhead
Path A · DIY
Book on SIMplifica
€4.50
per person
- Open simplifica.madeira.gov.pt and log in.
- Search "Fajã do Penedo" or PR24.
- Pick your date.
- Pay €4.50/person by card.
- Save the confirmation.
Path B · Protocol operator
Skip the portal
€3.00
per person, fee included in tour
For PR24, operator transport solves the long drive from Funchal. Often bundled with PR2 or with a Santana visit for a north-side full day.
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
Browse Guided Madeira Hiking Tours
From €30 · Various · ⭐ 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/hiking-tc71/?partner_id=2VCHGBU&utm_medium=online_publisher&cmp=pdf-pr24
06 · After the hike
What to do with the rest of the day
Pair it with
Santana traditional houses
Twenty minutes south on the drive back. The A-frame thatched houses, espetada lunch.
São Vicente caves
Volcanic tubes, 15 minutes west along the north coast. Indoor option if the cliff trail weather turns wet.
PR2 Vereda do Urzal
Connects to Boaventura. Different trail, same region - pair them for a Boaventura overnight.
Common questions
How exposed really is the cliff section?
Manageable for any hiker without vertigo. The drops are real (30-50 m) but the path is wide enough (1.5 m) and partially protected.
Is PR24 family-friendly?
From age 10+ with hand-holding in the exposed middle. Younger kids better on PR22 or PR11.
Can I do PR24 in winter?
Not recommended - the cliff sections in rain are genuinely dangerous. Wait for spring.
Live trail status
madeirahiking.org/trails/pr24
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
Scan for live status