Levadinho · Madeira trail answers

PR6.4: Is the Levada Velha do Rabaçal open today?

Levada Velha do Rabaçal (PR6.4) is OPEN on IFCN's official trail-warnings list. It is a paid, booking-only PR trail; access is €4.50 through the SIMplifica portal. See all Madeira trails · PR1.

PR6.4 · Quick answers

Is it open today?

Official IFCN list: OPEN

Do I need a ticket?

Yes: €4.50 per person on SIMplifica, online only, for a timed slot. Under-12s and residents are free but must be on the booking.

How long and how hard?

5 km · 2 h · Pico Gordo → Casa do Rabaçal (Point-to-point)

How do I get there and back?

No public bus reaches Rabaçal: none of the bus lines on SIGA serves the Paul da Serra plateau or the Fanal. Taxi: Táxis Calheta +351 291 822 129 (official rank); fares are metered at the official tariff. It is one way: it ends at Casa do Rabaçal, so plan how you get back.

Vertigo or tunnels?

Tunnels / headlamp: Yes · bring a torch

Weather there now

Status: IFCN's official warnings list · weather: IPMA

Do you need to book the Levada Velha do Rabaçal?

Yes. PR6.4 is booking-only: once it shows open, book your €4.50 slot on SIMplifica in advance. Under-12s and residents are free but must still be named on the booking. PR6.4 is paid on its own separate booking and not included in the multi-day passes — check the live status above before you pay.

Where does the Levada Velha do Rabaçal start and finish?

The Levada Velha do Rabaçal runs from Pico Gordo to Casa do Rabaçal. It's a point-to-point walk, so it doesn't finish where you parked — sort your return first (two cars, a pre-booked taxi, or a guided walk with transfers).

It's a long mountain drive from the coast, with no shop or reliable signal at most trailheads. Bring water, warm and waterproof layers, and a torch — the weather turns fast up high.

PR6.4 by bus

No public bus reaches Rabaçal: none of the bus lines on SIGA serves the Paul da Serra plateau or the Fanal. You need a car, a taxi or a tour transfer. From the Rabaçal car park on the ER105, the Calheta council runs a shuttle down to the Rabaçal house (pay in cash).

What's the weather at Levada Velha do Rabaçal (PR6.4) now?

The status card above shows the latest measured reading from the IPMA Rabaçal station, the regional weather station nearest the trail: temperature, wind and whether it is likely in cloud. Expect the mountains cooler and cloudier than Funchal.

Official weather warnings for the Madeira mountains: IPMA.

What if PR6.4 is closed or fully booked?

If IFCN closes PR6.4 on your date, email helpdesk.ifcn@madeira.gov.pt within 10 working days with your tickets and invoice, and ask for a new date within a year or a refund. Rain or a change of plans doesn't count, and the SIMplifica contact centre can't change bookings. Can't get a slot? Check the live board for open alternatives.

Before you go