Trail describtion:
A truly long trail that will take you through the most beautiful parts of the Rabaçal area – designed so you encounter as few tourists as possible. While the route is challenging, mainly due to its length, it’s all the more rewarding. You can comfortably complete it in a day. Except for the final section, you’ll have most of the trail entirely to yourself.
Expect stunning levadas, tunnels, and, just before the finish, a well-deserved reward at the charming Rabaçal Nature Spot Cafe. Ready to tackle a 24-kilometer adventure?
Trail characteristics:
Trail is subjectively rated as Difficult.
The length of the trail is 25 km (15.5 miles) and journey will take you around 08:00 hours. The elevation on the trail is 1147 m. The highest point on the trail is 1337 m and the lowest 814 m.
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Explore PR6.7 Vereda da Câmara de Carga do Rabaçal – PR28 Levada da Rocha Vermelha – PR13 Vereda do Fanal – PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes through photos
Personal hike notes
Given the distance, I recommend starting as early as possible – you’ll be hiking the whole day. The trail begins at the usual spot on the main road above Rabaçal, where you’ll find several parking areas. Most tourists head north from here, straight into the crowds on Estrada Regional 105. But you’ll want to do the exact opposite – take the PR6.7 trail downhill along the water channel, leading you to the entrance of a tunnel into Rabaçal. That’s where the fun begins – nearly a kilometer-long tunnel, but comfortably high and easy to pass through.
The tunnel exits at Levada das 25 Fontes, where you’ll walk for about 700 meters. Here comes another key turn if you want to avoid the crowds. After a short but fairly steep section, you’ll need to descend a few meters to reach Levada da Rocha Vermelha. Now you’re out of the tourist trap. From here, it’s all about breathtaking views and a peaceful walk along the levada.
You’ll be at the lowest point of the entire trail, followed by several kilometers of easy walking upstream along the levada. But then comes a surprise – suddenly, the levada starts flowing downhill, and quite steeply! Get ready for a solid climb up the steps where the water cheerfully flows alongside you. A truly spectacular sight.
Next, the route continues along PR28 and PR13, taking you over ridges with panoramic views. The Rabaçal valley unfolds before you, and you’ll spot the peak where you started. It might feel a bit discouraging knowing you’ll have to descend only to climb back up again.
But just remember what’s waiting for you down there – a fantastic local café with all the food and drinks you could wish for. Before reaching it, you’ll pass a few more levadas and reconnect with Levada das 25 Fontes. This is where you’ll likely see the most people, but since it’ll be afternoon, the tourist crowds will have thinned out a bit.
And then comes the promised café. I bet you’ll spend about an hour there – most of the trail will be behind you, with just the final ascent on the asphalt road back to the main road ahead. A beautiful hike, no doubt. I highly recommend taking this longer but incredibly scenic route.
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