PR6.4 (Levada Velha do Rabaçal) is a 5.0 km, easy, official IFCN route that requires a SIMplifica booking. Cost: €4.50 per person. 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 1173m up on this ridge. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Is today the day?
The difference between a clear morning above the clouds and a wet, foggy drive is knowing before you go. Levadas reads the live weather, the safe-start window and how busy Levada Velha do Rabaçal is right now, then gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
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Advance booking required via SIMplifica
The slot is €4.50 per person, tied to the day and time you pick. Book it on the right day, the first time.
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Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Levada Velha do Rabaçal 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
1h21
About Levada Velha do Rabaçal
This is the old upper water channel of Rabaçal, a quieter levada walk that runs along the exposed edge of the plateau around 1,100 m, well above the busier 25 Fontes and Risco trails below. The path is mostly level beside the channel before dropping more steeply through laurel forest toward Casa do Rabaçal, and it passes through stretches of gnarled old tree heath (urze) shaped by the wind. The standout is the high vantage point over the whole Rabaçal basin, with the Risco waterfall and the green valley seen from above rather than at its foot.
Levada Velha do Rabaçal (PR6.4) is a one way route of about 5.0 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Along the way you'll find historic features, a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
The path runs between roughly 984 m and 1,173 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Levada Velha do Rabaçal rates as easy on our objective scale, based on 5.0 km, 208 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 1h 20m.
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 Pico Gordo. Ends at Casa do Rabaçal. 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. There is a car park at the start, though its size is not recorded on the map.
What to bring
A historic tunnel, the Túnel das Estrebarias (Furado Velho, built 1855), branches off if you turn left at the levada instead of heading to Casa do Rabaçal. Bring a torch if you explore it; the main route to Casa do Rabaçal does not require passing through it.
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, but pick a clear calm day; the plateau is high and exposed, so expect strong wind, cloud, and cold in winter.
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.
Booking
Levada Velha do Rabaçal is a regulated trail with a daily visitor cap, so you must reserve a timed slot in advance through SIMplifica before you go. The official fee is around €4.50 per person. Levadas does not sell tickets or make the reservation for you.
Official trail status
According to IFCN, as of 20 Aug 2026, this trail is currently officially open.
IFCN's own status page is dated 24 Jul 2026. The date above (20 Aug 2026) is ours: it records when we last read that page, not when IFCN wrote it.
Official status can change, so always check the latest before you go.
Fire and other live hazards near this trail are tracked on the Madeira trail alerts page
Frequently asked questions
Is Levada Velha do Rabaçal worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Levada Velha do Rabaçal, 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 Velha do Rabaçal?
Levada Velha do Rabaçal is about 5.0 km (one way).
How difficult is Levada Velha do Rabaçal?
Levada Velha do Rabaçal rates as easy based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Levada Velha do Rabaçal safe?
Levada Velha do Rabaçal is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. It reaches 1,173 m, and the weather up there is not the weather at the coast. 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 Velha do Rabaçal, 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 Velha do Rabaçal take to walk?
Allow about 1h 20m.
Can I download a GPX track for Levada Velha do Rabaçal?
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.
Do I need to book Levada Velha do Rabaçal?
Yes. Levada Velha do Rabaçal is a regulated trail with a daily cap, so you must reserve a timed slot through SIMplifica in advance. The official fee is around €4.50 per person.
Where does Levada Velha do Rabaçal start and finish?
Levada Velha do Rabaçal starts at Pico Gordo and finishes at Casa do Rabaçal.
What will I see on Levada Velha do Rabaçal?
Highlights include historic features, a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
When is the best time to hike Levada Velha do Rabaçal?
Year-round, but pick a clear calm day; the plateau is high and exposed, so expect strong wind, cloud, and cold in winter.
Are there tunnels on Levada Velha do Rabaçal? Do I need a torch?
A historic tunnel, the Túnel das Estrebarias (Furado Velho, built 1855), branches off if you turn left at the levada instead of heading to Casa do Rabaçal. Bring a torch if you explore it; the main route to Casa do Rabaçal does not require passing through it.
Is Levada Velha do Rabaçal open right now?
IFCN lists Levada Velha do Rabaçal as officially open. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Levada Velha do Rabaçal?
Levadas scores Levada Velha do Rabaçal 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.