The Best Guides to Madeira

“Some 250.000 people live on the Island of Madeira. If I had to choose just one of these people to guide me on a voyage of discovery around our ‘levadas’ and footpaths, I would not hesitate to choose Dr. Raimundo Quintal, unanimously considered our leading expert in this field, and who has unstintingly devoted his life to studying their every twist and turn. His passion for our natural heritage, combined with his natural gift of expression – as testified by his many writings and television series – guarantee both the excellence of this volume and the ease with which it can be consulted, making it the perfect companion for choosing and exploring these paths around our island, invariably filled with a thrilling sense of adventure and unforgettable beauty”.

Jorge Pereira,
President of the Water Management Institute of Madeira

Of course anyone could write about ‘levadas’ and footpaths of Madeira, but that wouldn’t be the same as having a local person - that for many years has had the healthy habit of walking in search of fresh air and spiritual tranquillity – writing just for you. In the book ‘Levadas and Footpaths of Madeira’, Raimundo Quintal (geography teacher, author of several documentaries and recently town councillor for the environment and education in Funchal’s town hall) gives the reader a global introduction about the Madeira archipelago, including facts like location, relief, climate, vegetation and population. In the 3rd edition of his book he has also included a chapter dedicated to the history of ‘levadas’ and ten new courses.

You can choose from 50 routes - 48 in Madeira Island and 2 in Porto Santo Island - all followed with a description, some useful advices, the duration of the ‘levada’ or footpath and a map of the course. Completed with several images of the routes and surrounding areas, the ‘Levadas and footpaths of Madeira’ is available in the shops and libraries in the region and can be read in Portuguese, English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish and Finnish.

For an enchanting souvenir book containing hundreds of colour photographs of all parts of the island, with a commentary that briefly describes all aspects of the island's history and life today, choose The Madeira Book.