Madeira is known by its levada walks which are walks on a footpaths along a water channel. These footpaths were originally built for the maintenance of the levada but today they are mostly touristic and every tourist visiting Madeira has to walk on one to get his Madeira experience complete.

There has been some fatal accidents during levada walks and most of them could have been prevented, so we here present some safety guidelines for people walking on levadas:

• Walk only on the levadas recommended by the Madeira Tourism Board - the ones which at the beginning of it are marked with PR, have a board with information about its difficulty, distance, altitude, a map of the route and have signage along the path
• Check the weather forecasts and if there is strong wind or heavy rain do not go. If the weather conditions change suddenly during your walk ponder if it is safer to continue or to turn back through the same way
• Do not go alone on this walk, take at least 1 more person with you
• Ask local people if the levada or footpath is safe before you start your walk
• Always tell someone where you are going and at what time you intend to be back
• Take your mobile phone with you and remember the Emergency number is 112
• Take appropriate shoes and clothes and never forget a warm jumper
• Do not go out of the trail, even if it 'seems' safe for you to go outside it
• If there is a built obstacle closing the path it means it is not safe so turn back through the same way and never surpass the obstacle
• Do not run any risk

Due to the recent forest fires and still due to the February floods some of the recommended footpaths and levada walks in Madeira Island are closed to public:

• PR 7 Levada do Moinho (Ribeira da Cruz - Lamaceiros)
• PR 12 Caminho/Footpath Real da Encumeada (Boca da corrida - Encumeada);
• PR 14 Levada dos Cedros (Fanal - Curral Falso);
• PR 17 Caminho/Footpath do Pináculo e Folhadal (Lombo do Mouro - Caramujo - Folhadal - Encumeada)
• PR 18 Levada do Rei (Queimadas - Ribeiro Bontto)
• PR 1 Vereda/Footpath do Areeiro (Pico do Areeiro - Achada do Teixeira)
• PR 1.l Vereda/Footpath da llha (Achada do Teixeira - Ilha)
• PR 1.2 Vereda/Footpath do Pico Ruivo (Achada do Teixeira - Pico Ruivo)
• PR 1.3 Vereda/Footpath da Encumeada (Pico Ruivo - Encumeada)
• PR 2 Vereda/Footpath do Urzal (Curral das Freiras - Boaventura)
• PR 11 Vereda/Footpath dos Balcões (Ribeiro - Balcões)
• PR 3 Vereda/Footpath do Burro (Pico do Areeiro - Ribeira das Cales)
• PR 3.1 Caminho/Footpath Real do Monte (Ribeira das Cales - Monte)
• PR 4 Levada do Barreiro (Poço da Neve - Casa do Barreiro)

The road between Poiso and Pico do Areeiro will be closed until the 10th September 2010 for cleaning works.

Though Madeira still have several levada walks and footpaths to offer to trekking lovers and these are the paths and levadas which are in good conditions:

• PR 5 Vereda das Funduras (Portela - Maroços)
• PR 6 Levada das 25 Fontes (Rabaçal - 25 Fontes)
• PR 6.1 Levada do Risco (Rabaçal - Risco)
• PR 8 Vereda da Ponta de S. Lourenço
• PR 13 Vereda do Fanal (Assobiadores - Fanal)
• PR 15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela (Curral Falso - Ribeira da Janela)
• PR 19 Vereda do Paúl do Mar
• P A path for everyine (Queimadas - Pico das Pedras)

In Porto Santo island all paths are open and in good conditions.

Source: Madeira tourism board and Madeira Civil Defense
Updated in: 5th September 2010

After February 2010 floods now Madeira is being fustier by fires... It all started on the 13th of August at 3:00 am in the exotic forests of pines, eucalyptus and acacias but with the strong winds it spread for areas that had been reforested in the last 10 years with native forest...

Houses were threatened all the time but fortunately lives and homes have been saved. We only have to regret some cattle which was lost on these fires.

Most of these fires are facing south so Funchal has been covered by a big smoke and ash cloud. Authorities are asking people not go for the mountains so that the firemen can work properly. If you are visiting Madeira these days, so far the tips of the island (east and west) are safe and easy to reach so take the next 2 or 3 days to go there and avoid any danger. Other places where it is safe to visit are Porto Moniz, São Vicente, Ponta Delgada with a big festivity today (14th August 2010), Santana coast and Machico.

Laurel Forest is safe as it is a very humid forest and not easy to burn but it is better to avoid it these days as it can be a passage for firemen to go combat fires.

No go places on the next 2 or 3 days: Camacha, Pico do Areeiro, Pico Ruivo, Curral das Freiras, Eira do Serrado, Monte, Ecological Park of Funchal, Terreiro da Luta... Mostly, do not go to the mountains as winds are blowing at 90km/hour.

Due to the hard winter Madeira has suffered some of the levada walks and footpaths were damage and so we are here doing an update on the recommended paths (PR) and levadas that are in good and safe conditions for walkers:

• PR1 Footpath of Areeiro (Pico do Areeiro - Achada do Teixeira)
• PR 1.1 Footpath of Ilha (Achada do Teixeira - Ilha)
• PR 1.2 Footpath of Pico Areeiro (Achada do Teixeira - Pico Ruivo)
• PR 1.3 Footpath of Encumeada (Pico de Areeiro - Encumeada)
• PR5 Footpath of Funduras (Portela - Maroços)
• PR 6 Levada of 25 Fontes (Rabaçal - Risco)
• PR 8 Footpath of Ponta de São Lourenço
• PR 9 Levada of Caldeirão Verde (Queimadas - Caldeirão Verde)
• PR 10 Levada of Furado ( Ribeiro Frio - Portela)
• PR 11 Levada of Balcões (Ribeiro Frio - Balcões)
• PR 13 Footpath of Fanal (Assobiadores - Fanal)
• PR 15 Footpath of Ribeira da Janela (Curral Falso - Ribeira da Janela)
• PR19 Footpath of Paul do Mar
• A path for everyone: Queimadas - Pico das Pedras

In Porto Santo island the follwoing paths are in good and safe conditions:

• PR 1 Footpath of Pico Branco and Terra Chã
• PR 2 Footpath of Pico do Castelo
• PR 3 Footpath of Calhau

Source: Madeira Tourism Board
Last updated: 2nd June 2010

Madeira Islands are still under the influence of strong winds and heavy rains though days have been very contrasting. We can get a warm and sun shining day and on the next day heavy rains and even snow on the highest peaks.

There is still a warning for people not to drink water from the tap before it is boiled. It is also advisable to wash teeth with boiled water.

Thinks are getting back to normal despite some roads and levada walks that are still closed:

Roads closed:
E.R. 201 – Caminho dos Pretos
E.R. 101 – Ponta Delgada - Boaventura
E.R. 101 -10 – Madalena do Mar – Ponta do Sol
E.R. 104 – Serra D’ Água – Meia Légua
E.R. 105 – Boca da Encumeada - Estanquinhos
E.R. 222 – Tabua's bridge
E.R. 227 – Ribeira da Tabua
E.R. 229 – Lugar da Ribeira – Campanário

ViaExpresso:
From Ribeira Brava's exit - Cruzamento do Rosário
Serra d'Água old road - Túnel Encumeada

ViaLitoral:
Via Rápida (dual lane road) to Encumeada

Levadas and Recomended Paths (PR) closed:
- PR 7 Levada do Moínho (Ribeira da Cruz - Lamaceiros)
- PR 09 Levada do Caldeirão Verde (Queimadas - Caldeirão Verde)
- PR 10 Levada do Furado (Ribeiro Frio - Lamaceiros - Portela)
- PR 12 Caminho Real da Encumeada (Boca da Corrida - Encumeada)
- PR 16 Levada da Fajã do Rodrigues (Fajã da Ama - Ribeira do Inferno)
- PR 17 Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal (Lombo do Mouro - Caramulo - Folhadal - Encumeada)
- PR 18 Levada do Rei (Quebradas - Ribeiro Bonito).

- Levada do Norte
- Levada dos Tornos

Source: Madeira Civil Defense
Date: 02 MAR 2010 at 18:30