Levada dos Tornos to Monte is an easy hike in Funchal which, as luck would have it, is very accessible from the Old Town. Now, let me be 100% honest with you: it’s not the hike with the most breathtaking views in Madeira. But – it’s still a good one to check out. Especially if this will be your first levada walk in Madeira.

Guide to help plan your Levada dos Tornos Hike

If you need help finding information on the dos Tornos levada walk, then look no further. In this post, you’ll find everything you need to plan your Levada dos Tornos hike and what to expect.

Hint: you’ll trek through forest and tiny Funchal villages, admire panoramic views of Funchal harbour, become a botanical photographer for the day, and eat cake. Yep, you read that right – there are tea houses en route… so why not! In fact, the route I’m sharing with you starts at the most popular one: Jasmin Tea House.

It’s not all beautiful scenery though. You’ll also get a firsthand look at some of the destruction that still lingers from the 2016 Madeira fires.

But before we dive into those details…

What is a levada in Madeira?

Levadas are Madeira’s irrigation channels which carry water to other parts of the island that need it. Such as farms, vineyards and banana plantations in Câmara de Lobos in southern Madeira, for instance. These narrow concrete waterways collect water from the rainy North and funnel it downstream to the much drier South.

Language Tip:  “Levada” comes from the the Portuguese verb “levar” which means “to carry”.

Details of Levada dos Tornos – Monte Hike

How to get to Levada dos Tornos by bus

To get to the starting point of Levada dos Tournos, go to the ‘Pinga’ bus station near the Funchal cable car and take either:

Bus No. 47 to Jasmin Tea House. Tell the driver to drop you off at “Tea House on Caminho dos Pretos”. Fuel up on tea, coffee or cake (unless it’s a Monday, they’re closed then) before walking up to join the levada which is immediately above the property.

Bus No. 36. Tell the driver “Levada dos Tornos”.

Here is a link to the bus schedule here.

Travel Tip: On the bus ride from Funchal to Levada dos Tornos, sit on the right side of the bus for views of Funchal Old Town and Harbour.

If you prefer to start the dos Tornos hike from Monte or Curral dos Romeiros you can take:

Bus No. 29 to Curral dos Romeiros. You’ll walk directly on to Levada dos Tornos when you disembark. This cuts out the up and down walking in Monte.

Bus No. 21 bus from Funchal to Monte. (Follow the directions in the post below in reverse)

Levada dos Tornos Hike to Monte via Curral dos Romeiros

I did this walk in the month of April. The highlight for me was the flora. The trail was lined with an abundance of wildflowers. Madeira has definitely peaked my interest in flowers and plant life.  

Tip: The levada path is muddy after rain. Wear waterproof walking shoes with good grip.

Start of Levada dos Tornos Hike

Jasmin Tea House was a great place to start the Levada dos Tornos walk in Funchal. Or, “Jasmin Tea House Levada walk” as I’ve heard someone say!

The bus puts you out at the bottom of their garden and then you can hop right on to the levada at the top of the property.

Early in the walk, I noticed a considerable number of damaged and abandoned properties. Seeing the evidence of destruction caused by the 2016 Madeira fires will make you pause.

Further along, the path opens up to a sweeping view of Funchal on your left.

To the right is Hortênsia Gardens Tea House. Continue onwards to see an example of how the levada irrigation system works.

Levada dos Tornos Hike: Choupana Hills – Curral dos Romeiros

The Levada dos Tornos walk then crosses through Choupana Hills, a former 5 star luxury resort which burnt down in the 2016 Maderia fires. A rebuild of holiday homes here appears to be halted. It’s tragic to see and feels like you’re walking through a ghost town. 

Back on the Levada path, you enter a forested area. This was the first section with a steep drop-off I encountered on the walk. Ever cautious, I had no issues moving along. The trick (for me) is not to focus on what’s below but on what’s ahead.

Levada dos Tornos Hike: Curral dos Romeiros – Monte

Next comes the village of Curral dos Romeiros. This is where you get off of the levada path and head up to Monte. Multiple trails intersect here and the signage placement is confusing. Follow the Levada do Bom Sucesso / Monte sign and go up a small hill. 

Alternative End Point for dos Tornos walk: At Curral dos Romeiros, get Bus No. 29 bus back to Funchal old town if you do not want to continue on to Monte.

The next segment of the walk is incredibly scenic, overlooking the Ribeira de João Gomes valley.

It continues towards the Monte-Botanical Gardens cable car station, or Teleférico Jardim Botânico. Make sure to pause briefly and watch as the outgoing and incoming cable cars go back and forth across Ribeira de João Gomes valley.

The second cable car station is the Funchal – Monte cable car and this will be your final stop. First, you’ll have to descend a stone paved trail. On your way down you’ll pass a fork where one path is closed off. This is the Levada do Bom Sucesso walk that is closed due to unsafe conditions. Make the right and continue on.

You will then cross a concrete bridge, and start a short, strenuous ascent up to Monte. Thankfully, it’s a very brief climb and the final push before your walk ends.

Glide back down to Funchal in the cable car to complete the wonderful day of levada walking. 

Also read: Valley of the Nuns in Madeira, a Day Trip Guide

Why you should try the Levada dos Tornos – Monte walk

After completing this hike, here’s my round-up of what makes it a good walk.

Good accessibility. The Levada dos Tornos walk is easy to access – wherever you choose to start it from. Getting the bus to the starting point by the tea house was straightforward. And remember: this isn’t a remote countryside hike. It is in Funchal so you’re never far away from civilization. If you want to get off the path and catch a bus or taxi back to Old Town, you can easily divert.

Low difficulty. I would classify the Levada Dos Tornos hike as “Easy”. This point-to-point route is flat most of the way – as levada trails typically are. Okay, small catch. It’s easy except for the final leg when you get off of the levada and head up to Monte.

Low Risk. The route I’ve shared for the Levada dos Tornos hike has a relatively low risk of injury. (Note: I can’t comment on the rest of the levada if you follow it further). Coming from someone who has a fear of edges, I don’t give “low risk” and “low difficulty” labels easily. Especially where Madeira’s levadas are concerned. There are 2 sections that I can recall along with deep ravines and no rails but I was comfortable with the space I had on the path.

Uncrowded. Levada dos Tournos does not get much people traffic as, say, 25 Fontes or Caldeirao Verde levadas. Or the famous Pico de Arieiro mountain trek. I barely saw other hikers until the second half of the walk, closer to Monte. It’s really, really nice to not have to concern yourself with gearing up to go past each other safely on the trickier bits.

Levada Dos Tornos and Monte Day Trip: What’s really attractive about this hike is that you can combine it with a visit to Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. And then end the day off nicely with a scenic cable car experience from Monte to Funchal.

The walk takes 3-4 hours and the potential to add in another fun activity is huge.

Final thoughts: is Levada dos Tornos hike worth it?

Levada dos Tornos is a good introduction to levada walking in Madeira. I recommend this to recreational walkers or anyone searching for a beginner levada hike near Funchal.

I like how it gives you a better feel for the wider Funchal area beyond the Old Town. The nature on this route is admittedly not nearly as breathtaking as on other levada walks across Madeira. But it’s an interesting Funchal levada hike nonetheless.

Hopefully this has been a helpful resource for you as you plan your upcoming levada walk. Happy hiking!