PR26
Quiet eastern levada with Atlantic views
Levada do Glória from Santo da Serra to Água de Pena: 4.5 km of gentle levada walking in eastern Madeira with views east to the Desertas Islands. Free, easy, the kind of trail to do when you want a hike without effort.
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 Glória before you book or set out.
Distance
4.5 km
Duration
1.5-2 h
Elevation gain
40 m
Difficulty
Easy
Exposure
2/5
Type
Levada
Status, May 2026
Open
Open year-round 2026. No restrictions. The trail crosses some active agricultural land - respect any gates.
Best season
Year-round
Spring and autumn for the clearest Desertas Islands visibility. Summer is hot on the lower exposed sections. Winter is fine - eastern Madeira gets less rain than the rest of the island.
“A levada with no famous tunnel, no famous waterfall, just steady walking and the Desertas on the horizon.”
02 · Getting to the trailhead
How to reach the start
Map placeholder
Start: Santo da Serra · End: Água de Pena
By car from Funchal
About 30 minutes via VR1 east to Santo da Serra. Mountain road but mostly straightforward.
Parking
Free street parking in Santo da Serra centre.
Public transport
SAM bus 53 Funchal to Santo da Serra regularly.
Operator pickup
Not a common operator product. Best done independently.
Taxi or transfer
Funchal to Santo da Serra one-way €25-30.
Tip from Filipe
PR26 pairs naturally with the Santo da Serra Sunday market (winter and spring) or with the famous Santo da Serra golf course area. Easy half-day combined with a leisurely lunch.
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-pr26
03 · Route walkthrough
Section by section
Distances, landmarks, and what to expect underfoot.
0.0 - 1.0 km
0:20
Santo da Serra to the levada start
Trail starts from the village area heading south-east. Within 20 minutes you reach the levada path proper - gentle dirt path alongside a small water channel.
1.0 - 2.5 km
0:35
Levada walk with valley views
Path follows the contour. Views right (south-east) open to the Atlantic with the Desertas Islands as a distant smudge. Some valley bends with mild exposure.
2.5 - 4.5 km
0:55
Descent to Água de Pena
Trail descends gently through agricultural terraces. Ends at the Água de Pena village area. The total elevation loss of 40 m makes this an easy walk in either direction.
04 · Gear and safety
What to bring and when to bail
Required
- Comfortable shoes
- Sun protection
- Water: 1 L
- Light layer
Recommended
- Camera for the Desertas views
- Cash for Santo da Serra cafes
- Snacks
Easy with one or two narrow bits
The valley bends include short narrow sections with mild drops. Manageable for any hiker.
Eastern weather is mostly stable
Less rainfall than west Madeira. Sun is the main factor. Heat haze can obscure Desertas views in summer afternoons.
Agricultural land
Trail crosses or borders active farms. Stay on the path. Close gates.
Signal good
Strong cellular throughout this populated area.
Emergency: 112
Coverage along this route is patchy. Walk-out points: back to Santo da Serra (km 0) or onward to Água de Pena (km 4.5). Both have full village services.
05 · Fees and booking
Two paths to the trailhead
Path A · DIY
Book on SIMplifica
Free
per person
- No permit required - PR26 is free.
- No SIMplifica booking.
- Just walk from Santo da Serra.
Path B · Protocol operator
Skip the portal
Free
per person, fee included in tour
Not a common operator product. Best independently or as part of a Santo da Serra Sunday market visit.
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-pr26
06 · After the hike
What to do with the rest of the day
Pair it with
Santo da Serra Sunday market
Sundays September-June. Local produce, crafts, the proper farmers' market experience.
Santo da Serra golf
The famous championship golf course. Visit even if you do not play - the views over the eastern coast are dramatic.
PR5 Vereda das Funduras
Same general region. Longer, paid, forest-focused. Pair for a full eastern Madeira day.
Common questions
Why is PR26 free when most others are paid?
ICNF fee status depends on conservation value, length, and access infrastructure. PR26 is a working agricultural levada not in a high-conservation zone.
How visible are the Desertas Islands?
Clearly on most days. They are 18 km offshore - on hazy summer afternoons they fade.
Best time of day?
Late afternoon for golden hour over the Atlantic. Or Sunday morning to combine with the market.
Live trail status
madeirahiking.org/trails/pr26
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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