Levada do Rei: PR18 route, distance, booking and transport
Walk from Quebradas in São Jorge to Ribeiro Bonito and back. Plan the 10.6 km return, 2026 entry booking and same-trailhead pickup without confusing PR18 with PR9.
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What the Levada do Rei walk involves
Levada do Rei is PR18, an out-and-back from the water-treatment plant at Quebradas in São Jorge to Ribeiro Bonito. The full return is 10.6 km. It suits walkers who want a substantial Laurissilva forest outing without choosing the longer full PR9 route to Caldeirão do Inferno. It is not Caldeirão Verde under another name, and it starts in a different part of Santana municipality.
Visit Madeira rates PR18 moderate and gives 3 hours 30 minutes. Use that as a route estimate, then add time for stops, slower sections and the journeys to and from Quebradas. A narrow published altitude range is not proof of a flat, obstacle-free or accessible path.
Visit Madeira: PR18 Levada do ReiPR18 route at a glance
- Distance
- 5.3 km to Ribeiro Bonito plus 5.3 km back: 10.6 km return.
- Trailhead
- Water-treatment plant at Quebradas, São Jorge; the official details call it São Jorge Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- Turnaround
- Ribeiro Bonito. Return along the marked route to Quebradas, rather than expecting a road pickup at the stream.
- Official rating and duration
- Moderate; 3 hours 30 minutes for the listed outing. Allow longer if your pace or stops require it.
- Altitude range
- 535–573 m in the official description. This does not measure cumulative climbing or path width.
From Quebradas to Ribeiro Bonito
The first part passes through an exotic forest area with views towards agricultural landscapes around São Jorge and Santana. The walk follows the levada into Laurissilva forest towards the stream at Ribeiro Bonito. The water and forest are the reason to choose this route, rather than a summit view or a visit to the Caldeirão Verde waterfall.
The official description mentions tunnels formed by vegetation. That wording is not the same as the four rock tunnels specifically described on PR9. Do not transfer PR9’s tunnel count or waterfall itinerary to PR18. Take suitable shoes and a waterproof layer for a damp forest walk; do not use the lower altitude as a guarantee of dry conditions.
Visit Madeira: route landscape and Ribeiro BonitoIs Levada do Rei open, and do you need a guide?
On 26 October 2026, the individual Visit Madeira page marks PR18 OPEN, IFCN’s route table marks it ABERTO, and its notices list the route as passable. No conflicting PR18 closure was found in those retrieved notices. Recheck the named route and local instructions before departure; this is a source check, not a guarantee for a later travel date.
IFCN’s FAQ says a guide is not compulsory for classified walking routes. An independent walk is an option if the route and conditions match your ability and you have the booking and transport arranged. A guided walk can suit someone wanting route support and interpretation, but a transfer-only service does not provide that support. Neither makes weather warnings or barriers optional.
IFCN: current PR18 statusBook PR18 before travelling
For an independent visitor, the published 2026 fee for this individual IFCN trail is €4.50 if you are over 12; visitors aged 12 and under are exempt from payment. Registration is still required for exempt walkers. Reserve the named trail, date and available entry slot online through SIMplifica before travelling. IFCN does not take bookings or trail-fee payments at its physical offices.
A combined daily or multi-day tariff does not let you walk into any route without its own reservation. A transfer or guided-walk price does not automatically prove the route booking is included: establish whether you or the provider is making it. These are the published 2026 terms, not a confirmed 2027 tariff.
IFCN: reservations and 2026 tariffGet to Quebradas, then return to the same trailhead
For a car or driver booking, specify the water-treatment-plant trailhead in Quebradas, São Jorge. Do not ask simply for Santana: the municipality includes several settlements, and a drop-off in Santana town is not the PR18 start. Ribeiro Bonito is the walking turnaround, not the vehicle collection point.
A hire car keeps arrival and departure at the same location. A prearranged transfer can do the same without driving, provided the return allowance covers the whole 10.6 km and your stops. With a guided group, compare its actual trail duration, group pace, pickup location and whether it handles the trail reservation. This guide has not established a scheduled bus serving the exact trailhead or a reliable last-minute taxi supply there, so neither is used as the return plan.
Visit Madeira: Quebradas trailhead and Ribeiro Bonito endpointPR18 versus Caldeirão Verde or a short levada
Choose Levada do Rei for the São Jorge–Ribeiro Bonito forest outing and a return to the same start. Choose Caldeirão Verde when the waterfall and its four tunnels are specifically what you want; it needs a Queimadas arrival and a different walking-time allowance. Neither moderate rating is a recommendation for someone uncomfortable with narrow paths or steep slopes.
For a much shorter first walk, compare Balcões or the short inclusive routes instead of shortening PR18 by inventing an alternative exit. If weather warnings rule out a trail, change to a town day rather than assuming another forest valley will be safe. IFCN asks walkers to avoid severe weather, carry reserve food and water, tell someone their plan and finish before dark.
IFCN: safe walking precautions