L-SERRAFAIAL (Levada da Serra do Faial) is a 10.1 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 coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 864m up here. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Go or wait today?
At 864m, Levada da Serra do Faial makes its own weather. A coastal forecast will not tell you what today looks like up here. The pass reads the live conditions 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 Serra do Faial 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
2h13
About Levada da Serra do Faial
A long, mostly gentle levada walk that traces an old irrigation channel across Madeira's eastern highlands at roughly 700 to 850 metres, linking the Funchal-side highlands through Camacha toward the Faial range. Much of the route runs under laurel forest with endemic plants and stays fairly level, opening at points to wide views over the green valleys, scattered villages, and the high central peaks on clear days. The cloud belt often drifts through here, so the forest can feel damp and the path muddy or slippery in places.
Levada da Serra do Faial (L-SERRAFAIAL) is a one way route of about 10.1 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Along the way you'll find a levada water-channel path, laurel forest (laurisilva), endemic Madeiran flora and panoramic viewpoints.
Landmarks on the route include Portela.
The path runs between roughly 593 m and 864 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Levada da Serra do Faial rates as medium on our objective scale, based on 10.1 km, 121 m of ascent and low exposure.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 3h 9m 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 Camacha. Ends at Ribeiro Frio (Faial range). 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. A car park is mapped for this route, though its size is not recorded. The car park is about 730 m from the start.
What to bring
One drinking-water point is mapped on the route. Fill up if you pass it, but carry enough to finish without it.
Best time to walk it
Year-round (low cloud and mud common; firmer underfoot in summer)
This route runs through a mix of sun and shade.
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 Serra do Faial 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 Serra do Faial, 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 Serra do Faial?
Levada da Serra do Faial is about 10.1 km (one way).
How difficult is Levada da Serra do Faial?
Levada da Serra do Faial rates as medium based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Levada da Serra do Faial safe?
Levada da Serra do Faial is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. 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 Serra do Faial, 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 Serra do Faial take to walk?
Allow about 3h 9m.
Can I download a GPX track for Levada da Serra do Faial?
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 Serra do Faial free to walk?
Yes. Levada da Serra do Faial 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 Serra do Faial start and finish?
Levada da Serra do Faial starts at Camacha and finishes at Ribeiro Frio (Faial range).
What will I see on Levada da Serra do Faial?
Highlights include a levada water-channel path, laurel forest (laurisilva), endemic Madeiran flora and panoramic viewpoints.
When is the best time to hike Levada da Serra do Faial?
Year-round (low cloud and mud common; firmer underfoot in summer)
How do I check live conditions for Levada da Serra do Faial?
Levadas scores Levada da Serra do Faial 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.