Archive for the Category » Levada Walks «

Now you can plan your Madeira island holiday ahead and be sure to get the best deals for Levada and Mountains Walks. Visit our site and browse the many walks we have on offer. Madeira Explorers offers exceptional walks around the many levadas and trails criss-crossing around the island. Our professional qualified guides will ensure you enjoy your walk with knowledgeable facts and fun along the way.

We know the island better than any other walking company, so if the weather changes or you need advice about clothing, footwear or which particular walks you should choose – we are here to help.

On our website you can book your walks in advance and have the knowledge that you won’t be turned away due to overbooking once you arrive on the island. We suggest that you contact us directly using our booking form, email address or any of the telephone numbers above. Alternatively you may contact your holiday representative or hotel receptionist on arrival.

Madeira Explorers – Levada and Leisure Walks

We are a Portuguese company solely dedicated to guided leisure walks. Our tours have been thoughtfully selected and include levada, mountain and ridge walks.

Madeira Explorers is staffed by local qualified mountain guides, who will afford you the very best information about the island’s natural history.

Visit our website here: Madeira island Levada Walks

Madeira Explorers has the pleasure to announce that we will be introducing two more walks to our daily programme on the beautiful Madeira Island, the Serra de Água Valley(Half-day walk) and the Exploring the West(Full-Day walk).For more information visit our website. You can also book  here.

“Levada” is a Portuguese word derived from the word “levar” – which means to carry and is roughly translated as “carriageway”, but more correctly defined as mini-canal. The mini-canals are irrigation systems developed to distribute water from the rainfall heavy and wet regions on the north of Madeira island to the drier sun parched regions of the south. The water is usually stored in reservoirs or tanks, or captured directly from natural fountains to be redirected and channeled across a wide network of winding canals. These narrow water carriageways deliver precious water along far distances to banana plantations, vineyards, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens, as well as to hydro-electric power stations dotted around the island. The levadas criss cross the mountains and cover a total distance of 2500 km, and date back to as far as the early 16th century.

The Levada “Walks” are walking trails along the maintenance paths beside the Levadas. Although the Levadas were constructed primarily for agricultural/industrial use they are just as important for tourists and local people alike who want to enjoy outdoor adventure activities inaccessible by cars.

Visit Madeira Explorers here. – Technorati Profile