PR 10 Levada do Furado

PR 10 Levada do Furado is on the IFCN classified-trail table updated on 2 October 2026 and read here on 12 October 2026. The official distance on that table is 11 km. The places named there are Ribeiro Frio and Portela. The status on that table is: open. Route Summary: 11 km · 3 h 30 min – 4 h 15 min · +150 m / -420 m (870 m to 600 m) · Moderate · Point-to-point transfer required. PR 10 follows one of the oldest public irrigation channels on Madeira, contouring along the northern slopes of the central massif through dense Laurissilva forest from the mountain ravine of Ribeiro Frio all the way east to the windy pass of Portela above Porto da Cruz and Machico.

Point-to-point return logistics: Ribeiro Frio vs. Portela

Although PR 10 is open in both directions on the IFCN table, its 11 km length links two separate road passes — Ribeiro Frio (on the ER 103 between Poiso and Santana) and Portela (at the junction of the ER 102 and ER 110 above Machico and Porto da Cruz). Walking out-and-back would mean a 22 km day, so almost all hikers walk PR 10 as an 11 km one-way traverse and arrange transport between the two ends:

• Walking without a rental car: Public buses from Funchal serve both Ribeiro Frio (on the Santana/Faial route via Poiso) and Portela (on eastern lines via Machico/Santo da Serra/Porto da Cruz). Check afternoon return bus times from Portela before starting at Ribeiro Frio.
• Walking with a rental car: If you park at Ribeiro Frio and walk to Portela (or vice versa), your car stays at the starting trailhead. Taxis typically wait near the Portela viewpoint restaurants and at Ribeiro Frio, or can be called from Machico or Santana to return you to your parked vehicle.
• Roadside parking: At Ribeiro Frio, parking is limited to roadside bays along the winding ER 103 ravine, which fill early with visitors walking PR 11 Vereda dos Balcões. Portela has somewhat wider parking bays around the viewpoint and restaurant terrace.

Route character, tunnels, and Lombo das Faias descent

Most of the 11 km corridor follows the gentle gradient of the Levada do Furado through ancient til, laurel, and mahogany trees, with deep views down into the valleys of Ribeira da Metade, Faial, and Penha d'Águia:

• Tunnels and rock cuts: In its middle and eastern sections, the levada cuts through narrow rock ledges and several short tunnels carved into the cliffside. Carry a torch or headlamp so you can see puddles and low rock overhangs clearly.
• Final descent to Portela: Near the Lombo das Faias forest house, the classified PR 10 trail leaves the main water channel and descends a long series of forest steps and earth paths to reach the Portela pass road, where it meets the start of PR 5 Vereda das Funduras.
• Footwear: The shaded levada wall and forest earth stay damp and muddy after rain; wear waterproof or quick-drying hiking shoes with deep tread. Pack according to What to carry on a levada.

Before you go

The IFCN fee FAQ lists €4.50 per person for one classified route other than PR 1. Note that PR 11 Vereda dos Balcões at Ribeiro Frio and PR 5 Vereda das Funduras at Portela are separate PR numbers on the table. Residents of the region, children aged 12 or under, and covered disability cases do not pay the fee and still need a reservation; see PR trail fees and reservation rules on Madeira. This site does not publish a live forecast. Source: Percursos pedestres classificados, table updated 2 October 2026, read here on 12 October 2026. The fee figures are from the IFCN fee FAQ.

Channel history and waterworks notes

• Water intake (Madre): Ribeiro Frio (870 m)
• Terminus (Fim): Casa de Água dos Lamaceiros / Levada da Portela (840 m)
• Total hydraulic channel length: 8.5 km
• Engineering and basin context: Royal irrigation channel acquired by the Portuguese State from the first Count of Carvalhal in 1822, with masonry water-division houses upgraded at Lamaceiros in 1906.

One of the oldest royal irrigation channels on Madeira, Levada do Furado was acquired by the Portuguese State from the first Count of Carvalhal in 1822 to bring water from the northern laurel forests to the agricultural parishes of Porto da Cruz, Machico, and Santo da Serra. Across its 8.5 km main mountain course from the Ribeiro Frio intake (870 m) across the Ribeira da Metade cliffs to the Casa de Água dos Lamaceiros water-division house (840 m), the channel box shares its flow with Levada da Serra do Faial; at Lamaceiros—where historical partition boxes (caixas divisórias) at Lamaceiros and Lombo da Raiz were upgraded into masonry water houses in 1906—the water separates, sending Levada do Furado's share down Levada da Portela while the remaining flow continues toward Santo da Serra.