Santana
PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde, and the bit that gets left out
The short answer
PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde runs from Queimadas Forest Park deep into UNESCO-listed laurisilva, through unlit rock tunnels to an amphitheatre of cliff and waterfall. IFCN charges a fee and a booked timeslot. Walked to Caldeirão do Inferno and back it is a full day, not an afternoon stroll.
Trail fee, per person over twelve
€4.50
Booked as a dated timeslot on the SIMplifica portal. Free for ages twelve and under, who still have to be on the booking.
IFCN, 2026 · check it · read August 26, 2026Length, each way to Caldeirão do Inferno
8.7 km
A round trip of 17.4 km.
Visit Madeira · check it · read August 26, 2026The facts
| Where | Santana |
|---|---|
| Type | Walks and levadas |
| How long | Up to 6 hours 30 minutes |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Cost | €4.50 |
| Best season | Year round. The forest holds moisture and the tunnels stay wet whatever the season. |
| Permit | Yes — book before you go |
How long it really is
To Caldeirão do Inferno and back the route is 8.7 km, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 each way, and the tourism board gives 6 hours 30 minutes, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026. It barely climbs, moving between 872 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 and 1,020 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026, which is why the grading says Moderate and the day still eats most of the daylight.
Caldeirão Verde is a complete walk in itself, and turning back there is not cutting it short. Nothing on the trail forces a decision until the junction.
Tunnels, water and the edge
The levada passes through rock tunnels that are not lit. A torch is equipment here, not a precaution, and head height varies. The tunnels drip continuously and so does the forest above the channel.
In several places the path is the channel wall, with an unfenced drop on the outside. That is the standard levada arrangement and it is the reason this walk suits people who are comfortable with exposure.
Booking and the accessible alternative
PR9 is managed by IFCN, so it costs €4.50, source: IFCN, 2026, read August 26, 2026 with a dated timeslot booked on SIMplifica. The forest here was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and the carrying capacity is capped accordingly.
Wheelchair and pushchair users are directed instead to PR9.1, the adapted section between Queimadas and Pico das Pedras.
What is not perfect about it
Graded Moderate, but the full out-and-back to Caldeirão do Inferno is a serious day, and Caldeirão Verde is a natural place to turn round. The tunnels are unlit and dripping, the channel edge is exposed in several places, and the car park at Queimadas is small enough to fill early.
Questions people actually ask
Do you need a torch on Levada do Caldeirão Verde?
Yes. Several tunnels on the route are unlit, and the walk cannot sensibly be done without a light.
How long does PR9 take?
The tourism board gives 6 hours 30 minutes, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 for the full out-and-back to Caldeirão do Inferno, across 8.7 km, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 each way. Turning back at Caldeirão Verde cuts it substantially.
Is it suitable for a pushchair or wheelchair?
No. PR9.1, the adapted section between Queimadas and Pico das Pedras, is the route designed for that.
Where this came from
- IFCN: Percursos Pedestres Classificados — taxas e reservas (FAQ). ifcn.madeira.gov.pt/pt/atividades-de-natureza/percursos-pedes Read August 26, 2026.
- Governo Regional da Madeira: SIMplifica — reserva de percursos pedestres classificados. simplifica.madeira.gov.pt/services/78-82-259 Read August 26, 2026.
- Visit Madeira: Queimadas Forest Park. visitmadeira.com/en/where-to-go/madeira/north-coast/santan Read August 26, 2026.
- Visit Madeira: PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde. visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/nature-seekers/activities/h Read August 26, 2026.