PR6. Levada do Risco & 25 fontes
Two waterfalls in 1 hike: PR6. Levada do Risco & 25 fontes! All you need to know about the PR6 Levada do Risco & 25 fontes hike on Madeira can be found here!
Discover subtropical Madeira
The PR6 Levada do Risco (PR 6.1) & 25 Fontes (PR 6.2) combines 2 waterfalls into one hike. Along the way, you'll be treated beautiful views and lots of greenery. Like imagining yourself in a subtropical forest in Hawaii! The hike is relatively easy and is filled with people pretty fast. When I was on my way back up at 09:30 I met plenty of people and the parking lot was already completely full.
An overview: PR6. Levada do Risco & 25 fontes
Total distance: 11 KM (including the 1,6 KM to visit the Risco waterfall)
Time: 3 hours
Classification: Easy (several parts of the hike have some altitude)
Altitude: +/- 400 meter
Good to know
The starting point of this hike is the parking lot Levada do Alecrim - estacionamento near Madeira's flattest point: Paúl da Serra. As with most other hikes, it is not possible to get to the hike's starting point by public transportation. By the way, I found that it took a long time during the hike before there was a sign indicating the correct direction to the falls. You do encounter 2 signposts from other hikes. So the rule of thumb is: follow the road and then the correct signposts (takes a while) will come automatically!
Sounds cliché, but start this hike on time! If you would like to see the sunrise, you can first go to the Bica da Cana viewpoint, for example. Then you can drive a little further and arrive at the starting point of the hike in time. If you start the hike around 09:30 - 10:30 (I was there in September) then the parking lot is full as mentioned previously.
On some parts the path is not always that wide, so it is not that pleasant if you already have to deal with oncoming traffic on your way to the waterfalls.
What will the PR6 hike look like?
From the starting point in the parking lot you go straight down, although not very steep, but nice meters up on the way back. During the first part of the hike a car (work traffic) may pass you on the wide, paved path. Not really something that makes you feel like you are really hiking.
Once you arrive in the forest, the real hike can begin. The trail will send you through the beautiful, green-colored forest to a fork: from here it is an 800-meter walk to the Risco waterfall. You can walk to the platform for a breathtaking view of this 100-meter-high waterfall.
An impression of the Cascada do Risco
Spot the second waterfall!
25 fontes waterfall
After the photo moment and a break at the Risco waterfall you can walk the 800 meters back to the junction, after which you set course towards the 25 fontes waterfall. Here you will also notice the height difference for a while, but luckily you know what you are doing it for! Afterwards, save some energy for the way back, because that quiet first part down you may now walk up.
Once back at the parking lot you can continue the route to for example Fanal Forest, after which you can cool off in the Piscinas Naturais do Seixal!
No photos of the 25 fontes waterfall?
No, that's right! A crashed drone was our party pooper, so we didn't continue the trip and went to find the drone (in vain). A drone tip for those who want to capture the Risco waterfall from a different perspective: chances are you have a bad GPS signal. This makes it more difficult for the drone to determine the home point and you also can't always fly that high. Also, turn back in time to avoid crashing your drone due to a dead battery.
Hungry after the hike?
Get yourself a bolo do arroz or bola de Berlim at the local bakery.
Have fun on the PR6 Levada do Risco & 25 fontes hike!Veel plezier met de PR6 Levada do Risco & 25 fontes hike!
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