Levadas are simply irrigation channels which are cut no more than a few inches wide and set a foot or two into the ground. They run for over 1,300 miles all around Madeira and have been there since the early days of the islands settlement. Footpaths were built alongside each levada for maintenance purposes, and since they follow the contours they make a great way to walk around the island to explore off the beaten track places. Some levadas make for an easy walk, but others have vertiginous drops and tunnels making it essential to be an experienced walker.

We did not visit Madeira with the intention of walking levadas this time, but did a short walk from Monte to Curral dos Rameiros, which is the village at the head of the Levada Los Tornos.