PR25
A high-altitude plateau walk in the wind
Levada das Rabaças on the Paúl da Serra plateau: 6 km of nearly-flat levada walking at 1,400 m altitude across one of Madeira's most distinctive landscapes - high moorland, exposed sky, the kind of light you do not get below the cloud line.
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 das Rabaças before you book or set out.
Distance
6 km
Duration
2 h
Elevation gain
50 m
Difficulty
Easy
Exposure
1/5
Type
Levada
Status, May 2026
Open
Open year-round 2026. No restrictions. The exposed plateau means weather is the main planning variable.
Best season
Spring to autumn
May-October for clear days. Winter brings fog and wind chill that can be genuinely harsh at 1,400 m. Summer is the most stable but can be hot. Spring delivers the best wildflower coverage on the moorland.
“The trail where Madeira stops looking like Madeira and starts looking like Scotland.”
02 · Getting to the trailhead
How to reach the start
Map placeholder
Start: Paul da Serra · End: Rabaças
By car from Funchal
About 1 hour 5 minutes via VR1 west then ER209 onto the Paúl da Serra plateau road.
Parking
Free at the ER209 layby - the "Paúl da Serra straight" is well-marked.
Public transport
Limited - Rodoeste bus 139 reaches Paúl da Serra but timing is awkward.
Operator pickup
Occasionally combined with PR6/PR6.1 in west-Madeira tours.
Taxi or transfer
Funchal to Paúl da Serra layby one-way €45-55.
Tip from Filipe
PR25 is best on a clear, calm day. Wind on the exposed plateau is the limiting factor more than rain. Check the Paúl da Serra wind forecast specifically.
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-pr25
03 · Route walkthrough
Section by section
Distances, landmarks, and what to expect underfoot.
0.0 - 1.5 km
0:30
Parking to the open plateau
Trail leaves the layby on the levada path. Almost immediately the landscape opens - low scrubby vegetation, sheep grazing, vast sky. Funchal's southern aspect 1,400 m below.
1.5 - 3.0 km
0:30
Levada across the moorland
Flat walking along the levada. Wind tunnels across the open ground. Skylarks overhead in spring. Wide flat clouds dramatic against sky.
3.0 - 4.5 km
0:30
Approach to Rabaças
Levada continues. Some sections cut through low rocky terrain. The Rabaças area itself is a small water-management station - the levada's functional terminus.
4.5 - 6.0 km
0:30
Return same path
Out-and-back. The plateau looks different walking back - light direction changes. Cloud sea below in winter mornings.
04 · Gear and safety
What to bring and when to bail
Required
- Comfortable shoes
- Windproof shell - the only essential gear
- Warm mid-layer
- Water: 1 L
- Hat and sunglasses (alpine glare)
- SIMplifica permit
Recommended
- Trekking pole for stability in wind
- Camera with a wide lens
- Snacks
- A buff for neck protection
Wind is the hazard
Sustained wind above 60 km/h makes the exposed plateau unpleasant and gust-prone. Postpone if forecast above this threshold.
No shelter on the plateau
No trees, no buildings, no natural windbreaks. If weather turns, head back to the parking. There is no mid-route refuge.
Cattle grazing area
Free-range cattle and sheep on the plateau. Most are calm but keep distance from calves. Close any gates.
Signal good
Strong cellular on the plateau - the height and openness help.
Emergency: 112
Coverage along this route is patchy. Walk-out point: back to the ER209 layby (km 0). No mid-route exit. 112 works throughout.
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 "Rabaças" or PR25.
- 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
PR25 is a quiet operator option for high-plateau experience without the demanding-trail label. Often paired with PR6 in west-Madeira full-day tours.
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-pr25
06 · After the hike
What to do with the rest of the day
Pair it with
Bica da Cana viewpoint
Drive back along the ER209 to the high lookout. Cloud-sea panorama on most winter mornings.
PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes
Same plateau road. Combine PR25 morning with PR6 afternoon for a full west-Madeira day.
Encumeada viewpoint
Drive back east to the central pass for sunset.
Common questions
How exposed is PR25?
Completely - no trees, no cover. Wind is the variable; everything else is gentle.
Best photography time?
Early morning for the cloud-sea below the plateau. Late afternoon for the soft light on the moorland.
Can I do PR25 with kids?
Yes from age 7+ if conditions are calm. Wind makes it less suitable for younger.
Live trail status
madeirahiking.org/trails/pr25
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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