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PR 16 — Levada Fajã do Rodrigues

PR 16 — Levada Fajã do Rodrigues — the trail guide

The PR 16 — Levada Fajã do Rodrigues is a 7.6 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in 1 day, with 494 m of total ascent. It rates Moderate on our published rubric (65 m of gain per km, topping out at 1024 m).

Madeira's most atmospheric short levada, running west from Ginjas above São Vicente along a hand-cut water channel pinned to the wall of the Ribeira do Inferno gorge. The path is essentially flat but often barely a boot wide, with long unfenced drops and a chain of tunnels, the last close to a kilometre of unlit rock. It dead-ends at the intake below the waterfalls, so you return the way you came, roughly 7.6 km and two to three hours in all.

Quick facts

Distance7.6 km
Total ascent494 m
Typical duration1 day
Difficulty (computed)Moderate
Steepness65 m gain per km
High point1024 m
CountryPortugal
RegionPortugal

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Moderate" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 606 m · high point 1024 m · 494 m total ascent over 7.6 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 713 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan14°9°113 mm
Feb14°9°113 mm
Mar14°9°128 mm
Apr16°10°105 mm
May17°11°67 mm
Jun19°13°77 mm
Jul21°15°24 mm
Aug23°16°28 mm
Sep21°15°63 mm
Oct20°15°127 mm
Nov17°12°120 mm
Dec15°11°134 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PR 16 — Levada Fajã do Rodrigues?

The PR 16 — Levada Fajã do Rodrigues is 7.6 km, and most hikers complete it in 1 day. Total elevation gain is 494 m.

How difficult is the PR 16 — Levada Fajã do Rodrigues?

It rates Moderate on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 65 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1024 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the PR 16 — Levada Fajã do Rodrigues is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the PR 16 — Levada Fajã do Rodrigues?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.788, -17.077 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

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