2 July 2018 Rocha do Navio and Levada do Cantinho, Miradouro de Santo Antonio

Course

Descent from the Estrada das Covas to the Levada do Cantinho, Fio Velho, on in the direction of flow to the Vereda das Covas, descent to the upper station of the Rocha do Navio cable car, descent to Rocha do Navio, first west to the Ponte dos Sargos, then to the cave at the other end of the beach.

Ascent along the steps and the small levada above the waterfall of the Ribeira da Santo Antonio.

Climb back up to Santana, to the Continente, on the Levada do Cantinho against the direction of flow, back over the two river crossings to the Fio Velho and on to the pipe from the eastern branch of the levada. On the Avenida Bispo Jorge de Lemos towards the roundabout and, before it, ascent onto the Estrada das Covas to the start.

At the end we also went by car to the Miradouro de Santo Antonio, on the terminal branch of the Levada de Santo Antonio.

Distance: 11 Km, 500 m of ascent, 500 m of descent

Start: 09.13 Santana

End

15.30 Santana

Condition

The descent to Rocha do Navio is in places a little slippery and only slightly exposed. The Levada do Cantinho is partly narrow and somewhat exposed. One waterfall crossing has to be made under the waterfall!

The waterfall steps should be walked only with a completely steady head for heights and sure footing. I also assume that the start crosses private land that is only half-heartedly closed off, but on our day nobody was nearby!

Notes

The Levada do Cantinho is mostly very idyllically placed, in places close to civilisation with the corresponding dogs and smells, but mostly in dense vegetation.

Rocha de Navio lies in a very fine spot and is certainly worth a visit, whether by cable car or by the surprisingly short climb and descent.