PR6.2 (Levada do Alecrim) is a 3.5 km each way (7.0 km round trip), easy, official IFCN route that requires a SIMplifica booking. Cost: €4.50 per person. Whether it is worth hiking right now depends on live conditions and today's official status, re-checked every 20 minutes in the live app.
Madeira
A coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 1334m up on this ridge. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Is today the day?
The difference between a clear morning above the clouds and a wet, foggy drive is knowing before you go. Levadas reads the live weather, the safe-start window and how busy Levada do Alecrim is right now, then gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
Ten seconds, one tap, from €2.99 once. No subscription.
Advance booking required via SIMplifica
The slot is €4.50 per person, tied to the day and time you pick. Book it on the right day, the first time.
Book now on SIMplifica How to book this trail Which trails are freeDownload GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Levada do Alecrim as a free GPX file, no signup. Load it into Garmin, Komoot, AllTrails, Gaia GPS or OsmAnd and follow the route offline, even where there is no phone signal.
ⓘ Source & safety
Track and waypoints from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Planning aid, not a safety guarantee. Check the official trail status and conditions before you go.Estimated hiking time
58min
About Levada do Alecrim
PR6.2 is an easy, mostly level levada walk covering 3.5 kilometres to the levada's own spring, following the Levada do Alecrim, a channel built to feed the Calheta hydroelectric plant, staying shaded under dense UNESCO-listed laurel forest for most of its length. The path opens now and then onto wide views over the Rabaçal valley and the Ribeira da Janela, and in places it runs beneath low arches of tree heath pressed close over the water. It ends beside the Dona Beja lake, whose overflow feeds the Lagoa do Vento waterfall further down the mountain. The Rabaçal plateau sits high enough that fog, cold, and even the odd dusting of snow or ice are possible in winter, so this one rewards checking the forecast even though the walking itself stays gentle.
Levada do Alecrim (PR6.2) is a round trip route of about 7.0 km in Madeira.
How to walk it well
Rabaçal semi-loop: Alecrim → Lagoa do Vento → Casa de Abrigo: One way only: out along the Levada do Alecrim (PR6.2), back via the Lagoa do Vento path (PR6.3). Walked the other way round, it's the steep climb everybody complains about. About 8.8 km on foot in total. See the map for the full route.
Full Rabaçal circuit: Alecrim → Lagoa do Vento → 25 Fontes & Risco: One way only: out along the Levada do Alecrim (PR6.2) to Lagoa do Vento, back along the Vereda da Lagoa do Vento (PR6.3) with a detour to Levada das 25 Fontes (PR6) and Levada do Risco (PR6.1) partway, then the paved road or van back to the parking. About 16.2 km on foot in total. See the map for the full route.
What you'll see
Expect a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, a mountain summit, laurel forest (laurisilva) and a lagoon.
Landmarks on the route include Fernandes.
The path runs between roughly 1,203 m and 1,334 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Levada do Alecrim rates as easy on our objective scale, based on 7.0 km round trip, 157 m of ascent and low exposure.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 1h 52m for the round trip (you return the same way).
The app's live 0-100 score also flags the latest safe start time for the day. See it in the app.
Getting there and back
Starts at Rabaçal. Ends at Nascente da Levada. The car park at the start has room for about 50.
Best time to walk it
Year-round, but the Rabaçal plateau is high and often foggy and wet; expect cold, low cloud and occasional snow or ice in winter
High trails are best early: clear summits and the chance of a sunrise above the clouds before the cloud builds.
Most of this route sits in shade, which keeps it walkable on days when open ground is punishing.
The sun and shade reading comes from the slope's aspect and steepness, so it describes terrain shading and not tree cover.
A live 0-100 score picks the best 30-minute window for the day. See today's window in the app.
Booking
Levada do Alecrim is a regulated trail with a daily visitor cap, so you must reserve a timed slot in advance through SIMplifica before you go. The official fee is around €4.50 per person. Levadas does not sell tickets or make the reservation for you.
Official trail status
According to IFCN, as of 9 Sept 2026, this trail is currently officially open.
IFCN's own status page is dated 24 Jul 2026. The date above (9 Sept 2026) is ours: it records when we last read that page, not when IFCN wrote it.
Official status can change, so always check the latest before you go.
Fire and other live hazards near this trail are tracked on the Madeira trail alerts page
Frequently asked questions
Is Levada do Alecrim worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Levada do Alecrim, the safe-start window, how busy it is and the official IFCN status, then gives one honest go-or-wait score from 0 to 100, re-checked every 20 minutes. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance: an official IFCN closure always overrides the score, no matter how good the weather looks.
How long is Levada do Alecrim?
Levada do Alecrim is about 7.0 km round trip.
How difficult is Levada do Alecrim?
Levada do Alecrim rates as easy based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Levada do Alecrim safe?
Levada do Alecrim is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. It reaches 1,334 m, and the weather up there is not the weather at the coast. None of that tells you about today, and this page does not try to. Conditions decide, which is why Levadas reads the current weather on Levada do Alecrim, the safe-start window and the official IFCN status, then gives one go-or-wait score from 0 to 100. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance, and an official IFCN closure overrides the score however good the weather looks.
How long does Levada do Alecrim take to walk?
Allow about 1h 52m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Levada do Alecrim?
Yes. Tap Download GPX on this page: the first download on any device asks for an email so we can also send the free trail pack, then every later trail downloads instantly.
Do I need to book Levada do Alecrim?
Yes. Levada do Alecrim is a regulated trail with a daily cap, so you must reserve a timed slot through SIMplifica in advance. The official fee is around €4.50 per person.
Where does Levada do Alecrim start and finish?
Levada do Alecrim starts at Rabaçal and finishes at Nascente da Levada.
What will I see on Levada do Alecrim?
Highlights include a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, a mountain summit, laurel forest (laurisilva) and a lagoon.
When is the best time to hike Levada do Alecrim?
Year-round, but the Rabaçal plateau is high and often foggy and wet; expect cold, low cloud and occasional snow or ice in winter
Is Levada do Alecrim open right now?
IFCN lists Levada do Alecrim as officially open. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Levada do Alecrim?
Levadas scores Levada do Alecrim from 0 to 100 using live weather along the path and the official status, refreshed every 20 minutes. You also see how busy it is. Open the trail in the app to see the live score and the best time to go today.