Levadinho · Madeira trail answers

Which levadas need a torch or headlamp?

Every official PR trail with tunnels, from IFCN's trailhead panels and Visit Madeira, with the live status of each.

The short answer: bring a torch or headlamp on PR16 Fajã do Rodrigues (the last tunnel is about 1 km, 20–25 minutes), PR9 Caldeirão Verde (four tunnels), PR6.6 Túnel do Cavalo (about 800 m), PR17 Pináculo e Folhadal, PR10 Levada do Furado, PR28 Rocha Vermelha, PR6.4 Levada Velha do Rabaçal and PR1 Areeiro–Ruivo: IFCN tells you to on each one. PR18 Levada do Rei has only a very short tunnel, and the standard PR6 25 Fontes route has none.

Each trail below shows its status from the official IFCN list, with IFCN's own “updated” date.

Every PR trail with tunnels

Official PR trails with tunnels. “Torch?” is what IFCN's trailhead panel (or PR1 leaflet) says.
TrailTunnelsTorch?Status
PR16 Levada Fajã do Rodrigues
3.9 km (7.8 km round trip) · 3:30 h · Moderate · Fee €4.50
4 tunnels on the levada (1,229 m in total). The last is about 1 km long, 20–25 minutes to walk through. Low roof: tall walkers have to stoop. Yes (IFCN panel) …Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPEN
PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde
8.7 km (17.4 km round trip) · 6:30 h · Moderate · Fee €4.50
4 tunnels carved in the rock (Visit Madeira). Their lengths aren't officially stated. Yes (IFCN panel) …Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPEN
PR6.6 Vereda do Túnel do Cavalo
2.3 km · 45 min · Fee €4.50
The Túnel do Cavalo (Furado Novo, built 1863–77), about 800 m long. This is the “Calheta tunnel” route to 25 Fontes, a trail of its own. Yes (IFCN panel) …Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPEN
PR17 Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal
15 km · 6:30 h · Difficult · Fee €4.50
Tunnels on the Levada do Norte section; the official sources don't give a count. Yes (IFCN panel) …Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): PARTLY OPEN — Passable route between Encumeada and Bica da Cana.
PR10 Levada do Furado
11 km · 5 h · Moderate · Fee €4.50
IFCN's panel says there are tunnels (count and length not stated). Few guides mention them. Yes (IFCN panel) …Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPEN
PR28 Levada da Rocha Vermelha
10.8 km · 4 h · Fee €4.50
Tunnels on the route (IFCN panel). The famous tunnel of about 1.7 km is on Calheta council's access route from Malhada, not on PR28 itself, which starts at Fanal. Yes (IFCN panel) …Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): CLOSED
PR6.4 Levada Velha do Rabaçal
5 km · 2 h · Fee €4.50
An optional detour: turn left at the levada for the Túnel das Estrebarias (Furado Velho, 1855). The route itself turns right to Casa do Rabaçal. Yes (IFCN panel) …Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPEN
PR1 Vereda do Areeiro
6.1 km · 3 h · Moderate · Fee €10.50
Several tunnels cut in volcanic tuff on the west variant. Counts and lengths differ between sources. Yes (IFCN leaflet) …Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): PARTLY OPEN — Open: Route in both directions between Pico do Areeiro and Miradouro da Pedra Rija. Closed/restricted: One-way route between Pedra Rija Viewpoint and Pico Ruivo.
PR18 Levada do Rei
5.3 km (10.6 km round trip) · 3:30 h · Moderate · Fee €4.50
One very short tunnel (juliedawnfox; 22places). The “tunnels” in Visit Madeira's description are arches of vegetation. Not needed (one guide) …Official IFCN list (updated 14/09/2026): OPEN

On the trails board, the Has tunnels filter shows which tunnel trails are open right now.

What to bring

Tunnels people mention that aren't on the PR route

Questions

Which levadas need a torch?

IFCN's trailhead panels say to carry a torch on PR9 Caldeirão Verde, PR16 Fajã do Rodrigues, PR17 Pináculo e Folhadal, PR10 Levada do Furado, PR6.6 Túnel do Cavalo, PR6.4 Levada Velha do Rabaçal and PR28 Rocha Vermelha. IFCN's PR1 leaflet says the same for Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo.

Is a phone light enough in the tunnels?

IFCN doesn't say; its panels just say to carry a torch. A headlamp is the practical choice: your hands stay free on a wet, uneven floor and your phone battery stays for navigation and emergencies. PR16's last tunnel takes 20–25 minutes to walk.

Does Levada das 25 Fontes have a tunnel?

Not on the standard PR6 route from Rabaçal. The 800 m tunnel people mention is the Túnel do Cavalo, on the separate trail PR6.6. You need a torch for that one.

Next steps

Sources: IFCN trailhead panels for PR9, PR16, PR17, PR10, PR6.6, PR6.4, PR28; IFCN PR1 leaflet (2005); Visit Madeira trail pages; caminheirosanonimos (PR16 tunnel lengths, citing the 1952 Levada do Norte book); TheRoadReel; sayyestomadeira; juliedawnfox; CM Calheta; status from the official IFCN warnings list.