L-REFERTA (Levada da Referta) is a 4.5 km, medium, community route. Cost: free. Whether it is worth hiking right now depends on live conditions and today's official status, re-checked every 20 minutes in the live app.
Madeira
A forecast for the nearest town is not a forecast for this path. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Go or wait today?
You have already picked the walk. The pass answers the one question left, whether today is the morning worth the drive: it reads the live weather on the trail and gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
Ten seconds, one tap, from €2.99 once. No subscription.
Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Levada da Referta as a free GPX file, no signup. Load it into Garmin, Komoot, AllTrails, Gaia GPS or OsmAnd and follow the route offline, even where there is no phone signal.
ⓘ Source & safety
Track and waypoints from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Planning aid, not a safety guarantee. Check the official trail status and conditions before you go.Estimated hiking time
1h04
About Levada da Referta
The Levada da Referta is a short, open levada walk through the farmland of Porto da Cruz, mixing mountain views with the Atlantic and the ever-present Penha de Águia. It runs mostly level, which makes it accessible and a popular training route, and can be started from either end on the ER 102.
Levada da Referta (L-REFERTA) is a one way route of about 4.5 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
The route takes in a levada water-channel path, coastal cliffs and ocean views and panoramic viewpoints.
The path runs between roughly 225 m and 311 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Levada da Referta is officially graded medium by Câmara Municipal de Machico, based on 4.5 km, 95 m of ascent and some exposed sections.
How long it takes
Allow about 2h one way, a point-to-point route.
The app's live 0-100 score also flags the latest safe start time for the day. See it in the app.
Getting there and back
Starts at Porto da Cruz. This is a one-way route, so you finish where your car is not: plan a second car, a taxi from the far end, or the walk back before you set off. The car park at the start has room for about 8.
What to bring
This trail passes through a tunnel, so bring a head torch.
Best time to walk it
Coastal walks are often at their best in soft late-afternoon light.
Most of this route sits in shade, which keeps it walkable on days when open ground is punishing.
The sun and shade reading comes from the slope's aspect and steepness, so it describes terrain shading and not tree cover.
A live 0-100 score picks the best 30-minute window for the day. See today's window in the app.
Frequently asked questions
Is Levada da Referta worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Levada da Referta, the safe-start window, how busy it is and the official IFCN status, then gives one honest go-or-wait score from 0 to 100, re-checked every 20 minutes. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance: an official IFCN closure always overrides the score, no matter how good the weather looks.
How long is Levada da Referta?
Levada da Referta is about 4.5 km (one way).
How difficult is Levada da Referta?
Levada da Referta is officially graded medium by Câmara Municipal de Machico.
Is Levada da Referta safe?
Levada da Referta has some exposed sections, where the path runs close to a drop. Part of it runs underground, so without a head torch you are walking in the dark. None of that tells you about today, and this page does not try to. Conditions decide, which is why Levadas reads the current weather on Levada da Referta, the safe-start window and the official IFCN status, then gives one go-or-wait score from 0 to 100. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance, and an official IFCN closure overrides the score however good the weather looks.
How long does Levada da Referta take to walk?
Allow about 2h.
Can I download a GPX track for Levada da Referta?
Yes. Tap Download GPX on this page: the first download on any device asks for an email so we can also send the free trail pack, then every later trail downloads instantly.
Is Levada da Referta free to walk?
Yes. Levada da Referta needs no reservation and has no fee. Only the regulated official PR trails require a paid SIMplifica booking; this one you simply walk.
Where does Levada da Referta start and finish?
Levada da Referta starts at Porto da Cruz.
What will I see on Levada da Referta?
Highlights include a levada water-channel path, coastal cliffs and ocean views and panoramic viewpoints.
Are there tunnels on Levada da Referta? Do I need a torch?
Yes, Levada da Referta passes through a tunnel, so bring a head torch.
How do I check live conditions for Levada da Referta?
Levadas scores Levada da Referta from 0 to 100 using live weather along the path and the official status, refreshed every 20 minutes. You also see how busy it is. Open the trail in the app to see the live score and the best time to go today.