Madeira levada permits: Caldeirão Verde and 25 Fontes

Caldeirão Verde, 25 Fontes and Risco, the three most popular levada walks in Madeira, have required an advance permit since 2023. If you walk with a private guide, the guide books it for you. On our Levada Walk (4 hours, €340 per group) I arrange the permit as part of the tour, so you arrive with nothing to organise.

Which levada walks need a permit

Since 2023, the most popular levada walks need an advance booking through the regional government's system. The three names that come up most are:

• Caldeirão Verde
• 25 Fontes
• Risco

You cannot simply turn up at the start of these trails and walk in. If the booking is not in place, you can be turned away at the entrance. That is the part most visitors learn too late, usually on the morning they planned to go.

I have not listed fees, daily limits or opening rules here, because they are set by the regional authorities and can change. Check the official regional government source before you travel if you plan to book on your own. If you walk with me, I check them for your date.

How a private guide handles the permit

When you book a private guide, the permit is part of the job. I book on your behalf, for your date and your group, so the permit and the walk line up.

That matters for a practical reason. A guide who has not arranged a permit cannot take you on these trails at all. It is one of the five questions I suggest asking any guide before you pay, which I cover in the price post. Ask directly: "Do you book the permit, and for which trail?" A clear answer tells you a lot.

It also shapes the route. Other levadas in Madeira see only a handful of walkers on a weekday and are just as good. The right trail for your group depends on fitness, the season and what you want to see. If the famous one is not the best fit that day, I will tell you.

What the Levada Walk includes

What	Detail
Length	4 hours
Guide	Licensed local guide, with years on the island
Transport	Toyota C-HR, licensed and insured, hotel pick-up in the Funchal area
Group	Private, up to 4 passengers
Price	€340 per group, about €85 each for four

The €100 deposit holds your date. The balance is paid to me on the day. For the Levada Walk that is €100 now and €240 on the day. You can read more on the Levada Walk page.

How to prepare

A levada walk is flat compared with a mountain hike, but four hours is four hours. What tires people is the distance and the uneven footing.

1. Wear walking shoes with ankle support. Trail runners slip when the paths are wet. Sandals are a poor idea. I carry spares, but bring your own.
2. Pack layers, even in summer. The mountains sit between 600 and 1,200 m above sea level, and the temperature drops fast in cloud.
3. Expect tunnels. Some levada routes pass through tunnels, from about 100 m to nearly a kilometre, dark and dripping. They are not dangerous. They are not for everyone either, so tell me beforehand if anyone in your group dislikes enclosed spaces.
4. Pick your date with the weather in mind. Cloud often makes levada photography better, not worse.
5. Pace yourselves. Tell me how fit the group is. The route adapts.

For the longer list, including difficulty and what to wear, see Levada Walks in Madeira: what nobody tells you.

Walking a levada in winter

The main levada walks are generally accessible in winter. Lower and mid-altitude trails can be especially good then: lusher vegetation, fewer walkers, cooler air. High-altitude paths can close temporarily after heavy rain or wind, so the plan may change on the day. The Madeira in winter and New Year page has a sample programme that puts a Levada Walk on 2 January.

Book the Levada Walk with a deposit

Pick your date and group size, and I will take care of the permit side. Book the Levada Walk with the €100 deposit. The link opens the booking page with Levada Walk already selected. If you would rather ask something first, use the enquiry link on that page.