To do a levada walk   means  traveling the sidepath rails along way  .  "Levada" derives from the word "lead to", "transport to"," Carring to somewhere a certain amount (ada) undetermned mesure of water" more currently saying "watercarriedge channel".   We may say that  is brought a mini-channel that takes a portion (archaic "ada" of water) of water indefinitely somewhere that we mostly had the need, specially in the southern bounderies.

Our ancestors were adventurous and itch for discoveries. They were also farmers, who, for many centuries have seen ,  the island's volcanic soil and climate were ideal for the production of sugar cane, bananas , grapes and vegetable gardens.

However there was a problem: most of the water from the mist condensation (80%) and rainfall (20%) at the mountains were farther  up  north and center, and obviously not in the southern slopes, where it was warmer and where the first sugar cane reeds and vine stocks were planted to emerge an economical strenght to start up with ,and create conditions for the trade of these very valable products of exchange rate. Then it was decided to create a single system (séc.XV, 1433, the first taken of Santa Luzia) of irrigation channels, for the sustainability of the culture of sugarcane growers, exactly where it presages the beautiful Gothic construction-repair-The Cathedral of Funchal, built in 1493 and blessed on 1514. A man made "monument", which was called  "Levadas"due to the impious insistence  of our people and our ancestors, ripping the mountains, digging tunnels ... and perhaps by instinct, calculated a small slope so that water could get where it was mostly needed.

Most of the network of LEVADAS , which in total are overall several kilometers (2 450 kilometers,1 531 Milles) was enforced before any road construction  across the island.

One of the oldest professions of the island is the "LEVADEIRO", the man responsible for opening and closing the floodgates and the general maintenance of the Levadas. Currently the agriculture and producers pay their water per hour, known as the    "irrigation's water grief" or "watering grief"or"Watering Pity" or " watering fether" or "irrigation's water fether".

Fortunately for nature lovers ,"Levadas" provide these amazing and unforgettable walks and tours rediscovering and beeing in touch  directly with nature and using it as the most NATURAL SPA as the cure for our hectic everyday's life. WELCOME TO THE MADEIRA AND ITS NATURAL SPA.

We have experienced staff  working  in Tourism market , and   qualified  Mountain official guides and tourism information tecnical drivers. For more details about our programs ,  consult us further  on this site. 

Thank you for your choyce and reservation with us!