28.07.2014 Levada das Fajas (end) and Chao das Faias

Course

• 1. Levada das Faias (lowest (5th) level as far as the waterfall)
• 1. Faja do Penedo, parking in Lamaceiros, levada house on the Levada dos Tornos, tunnel to Chao das Faias, ascent to the waterfall (Levada das Casinhas) and search for the two ascents to the Levada do Caldeirao Verde inf., back to the levada house, geocaching, the car from the day before at the levada house

Distance: ca. 13 Km 400 Hm

Start

• 09.30 south-western tunnel exit of the Arco de Sao Jorge tunnel (ER-101)

• 10.20 Lamaceiros

End

17.00 levada house on the Levada dos Tornos

Condition

Levada das Faias in this section no problem apart from one somewhat exposed spot; Levada das Casinhas to the waterfall at Chao das Faias increasingly exposed, and ends at a water staircase that is quite exposed and recommended only for walkers with a head for heights and sure footing!!! At any rate, at the end you stand just short of the waterfall.

Remarks

The original plan was to walk the whole of the second part of the Levada das Faias from the tunnel exit of the Arco de S. Jorge tunnel to Lamaceiros. We started on the 5th level and got as far as the waterfall. The way on was a mystery to us and we shelved the project for the time being. A tip from the Madeira forum helped us to walk the rest of the levada the next day

Chao das Faias is a beautiful, lonely area in the middle of a wild gorge and, by contrast, the work of people trying to master this gorge. The waterfall, which is tapped a little to the north and from which the water is led via the Levada das Casinhas into the Levada dos Tornos, can be walked normally as far as a water staircase, but it becomes increasingly exposed. The intake is absolutely spectacular and recommended only for experienced walkers.

The access path branches off the old path from Chao das Faias to the Levada do Rei, which we had tried in vain to walk from the other side the day before.

The ascent paths to the Levada do Caldeirao Verde inf. are easy to find and start off in good condition. The path running north-east to Vale da Lapa has, according to various sources, only one somewhat tricky stream crossing as its crux.

The path running south-west later runs, according to reports from the Madeira forum, quite inhospitably in a stream bed.