Briefly
A short, flat, and visually rewarding walk that shares the same starting point as the 25 Fontes. It leads to the base of the majestic Risco Waterfall, where water plunges vertically from a height of about 100 meters. This is one of the most accessible levadas in the Rabaçal area, perfect for families or as a warm-up before heading to the 25 Springs.
Basic information
Start: Rabaçal (Casa do Rabaçal)
Finish: Risco Waterfall (and back)
Distance: 3 km (round trip from Casa do Rabaçal)
Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
Elevation gain: Minimal (mostly flat)
Difficulty: Easy
Entrance: €4.50 (usually covered by the same ticket as PR 6)
Parking: Rabaçal Parking — Included in ticket
Best season: All year round (Spectacular after rainfall)
How to find
The trail begins at Casa do Rabaçal, which is 2 km down from the main parking lot on the ER110.
Open Miradouro do Rabaçal on Google Maps
The path is clearly signposted as “Risco” at the junction shortly after leaving the café.
Important: If you are already doing PR 6 (25 Fontes), the detour to Risco adds only about 30–40 minutes to your total hiking time.
What you need to bring:
Comfortable walking shoes (the path is wide but can be damp)
Raincoat (mist from the waterfall can get you wet)
Water
Camera (the vertical drop of the waterfall is very photogenic)
Important to know:
The Viewpoint: The trail ends at a stone balcony facing the massive waterfall. For safety reasons, you cannot walk behind or directly under the main fall anymore due to rockfall risk.
Accessibility: This is one of the widest levada paths, making it much easier to navigate than the narrow sections of the 25 Fontes.
Flora: You will see high-altitude vegetation, including massive heathers (Erica arborea) that create a tunnel-like feel in some sections.
Logistics: If you don’t want to walk the 2 km back up to the parking lot, remember to check the Rabaçal Shuttle Bus schedule at the café.
Reservations
Mandatory online booking via the government portal.
Book: SIMplifica
Similar Trails you might like:
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PR 6 — Levada das 25 Fontes: The famous sister trail that leads to the lagoon below.
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PR 6.2 — Levada do Alecrim: Starts from the parking lot level and leads to beautiful upper lagoons and smaller waterfalls.
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PR 9 — Levada do Caldeirão Verde: Another high-impact waterfall trail on the north side of the island.
*Hiked this trail? Share your photos and current conditions in the comments! 