The length of the trail is 4.6  km (2.8 miles) and journey will take you around 03:00 hours. The elevation on the trail is 337  m. The highest point on the trail is 292 m and the lowest 88 m.

Looking for a levada that won’t crush you with technical difficulty but still delivers a proper experience? Levada dos Piornais in Câmara de Lobos is exactly that. Forget boring walks – this route takes you through a maze of banana plantations and finishes with a stunning section where the levada runs along a cliff edge above a deep valley.

Amazing views? Check. Rock passages? Also check. Local bar at the end? Of course.

Where to park and how to start

Parking here is super easy. You can park along the road in the area without any problem, or drive a bit further to the bridge that the route crosses on foot. You can park there too.

Once you step onto the quieter part of Levada dos Piornais, things start getting interesting. The levada gradually takes you into an incredible maze of banana plantations – narrow paths run between them and you can slow down and enjoy banana plants at various stages of growth. The ascent is very gradual, with just a few steps here and there. Nothing long.

Tip for bad weather: If it’s raining on most of the island and cloudy inland and on the north coast, there’s a high chance it’ll be dry here. We chose Piornais as an alternative to terrible conditions in the mountains – and it was a great choice.

First third – among houses and bananas

The beginning of the route leads through local houses and homesteads. Bananas everywhere around you. It’s a nice, gentle start to the trail – walking through a quiet residential area, but you still feel like you’re on a levada.

Once you’ve covered about a third of the route, you’ll connect to Levada do Curral, which leads through built-up areas and brings you to the 3km mark. This was probably the worst section – a few new houses have been built and the path runs along the wall of one of them. It was a bit tricky for us to find, but the map said the path was there, so we trusted it. And we were right.

Descent down stairs – this is where it gets interesting

After a while, you’ll face a steep descent down stairs. They’re quite overgrown with vegetation, but they’re there – and that’s important, because otherwise there’d be no way down. The descent is an experience in itself: quite steep and the stairs aren’t wider than half a meter.

The best part – ledges, tunnels, and views into the valley

Once you descend and reconnect to Levada dos Piornais, the real thrill begins.

The levada is built literally on the rock face. You’ll encounter narrow ledges (with railings, don’t worry), views down into the valley, winding short tunnels, and rock passages. The route winds along the cliff and you’ll really enjoy the combination of technical terrain and views.

I have to say, it was quite an experience. That’s why we stopped at the local bar Pe-De-Cabra at the end and enjoyed the valley view from the terrace. Definitely don’t skip it.

What you need to know

Terrain and safety:

• Most of the route is “urban” easy, with narrow ledges and railings in places
• Several short tunnels
• Can be slippery after rain
• This isn’t an official PR trail, so expect less signage and trickier turnoffs/stairs in places

What you’ll see:

• Views of Funchal, the ocean, and banana terraces
• Transition from urban environment to “wilder” valley
• Beautiful views of Cabo Girão

Practical info:

• No fee, no turnstiles
• Suitable year-round, pleasantly breezy in hot weather
• Water in the channel may flow irregularly (depends on garden irrigation)

Who is this trail for

A great “first levada” in the Funchal area when you want to experience a levada without a long drive into the mountains. It’s less “wild” than mountain PR trails, but gives you an authentic glimpse of local life plus a good dose of dramatic views and rock passages.

And don’t forget that bar at the end. It’s worth it.