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Start & Parking: Access to the Levada da Ribeira da Janela is signposted from the ER101 road, above Porto Moniz or towards Santa. There is a large parking lot at the end of the road.
(S/E) Go down to the right of the road to join the path that runs alongside the canal. That path will be your constant companion for the rest of the hike.
Follow the well-maintained path upstream, lined with hydrangeas and agapanthus. The eucalyptus forest will gradually gives way to an increasingly dense and humid gold-tinted forest...
(1) First landmark, a path that rises to the right above the canal. Continue straight ahead. The forest becomes wetter and after a while, you stand in front of a vegetation wall.
(2) Continue along the canal, enjoying the few views over the valley. After about 4.5 Km, you reach the first tunnel.
(3) Switch on your headlamp to cross this tunnel. Be careful, the crossing is very difficult. If someone is coming from the opposite direction, look out for places where you can let them pass. At the end of the tunnel, you come to a very wet, high-walled mini-circus. Continue through the second, much shorter tunnel. After this second tunnel, take a look back to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Continue on and about 500 m further on, you'll come to a ravine where you'll discover some beautiful tree ferns and a rock face from which water runs back down to the path.
(4) Continue along the Levada to a small building (a water tower?).
(5) You can extend the pleasure to your heart's content continuing on for another 6 Km (12 round trips) and a few (long) tunnels to reach the start of the Levada.
Then retrace your steps by the reverse route back to the starting point (S/E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Easy 
